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Musical free play: A case for invented musical notation in a Hong Kong kindergarten

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 June 2010

Wing Chi Margaret Lau  and
Susan Grieshaber
Wing Chi Margaret Lau
Affiliation:
Hong Kong Institute of Education, 10, Lo Ping Road, Tai Po, New Territories, Hong Kongmchu@ied.edu.hk
Susan Grieshaber
Affiliation:
Queensland University of Technology, Victoria Park Road, Kelvin Grove, Qld, 4059, Australias.grieshaber@qut.edu.au
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Abstract

Drawn from a larger mixed methods study, this case study provides an account of aspects of the music education programme that occurred with one teacher and a kindergarten class of children aged three and four years. Contrary to transmission approaches that are often used in Hong Kong, the case depicts how musical creativity was encouraged by the teacher in response to children's participation during the time for musical free play. It shows how the teacher scaffolded the attempts of George, a child aged 3 years and 6 months, to use musical notation. The findings are instructive for kindergarten teachers in Hong Kong and suggest ways in which teachers might begin to incorporate more creative approaches to musical education. They are also applicable to other kindergarten settings where transmission approaches tend to dominate and teachers want to encourage children's musical creativity.

Type
Research Article
Information
British Journal of Music Education , Volume 27 , Issue 2 , July 2010 , pp. 127 - 140
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2010

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