Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-x24gv Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-05-04T02:57:25.044Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Thinking about Children's Compositions

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 December 2008

Brian Loane
Affiliation:
Head of Music, Boldon Comprehensive School, South Tyneside

Abstract

The writer offers an analysis of examples of music (which can be heard on the accompanying cassette tape) composed by pupils as part of their ordinary class music lesson. He suggests that, like any other music, children's compositions can be approached as a quasi-symbolic image of consciousness. The process of skill learning and the act of musical creation are closely connected, even in some sense identical. This way of understanding children's music has implications for the initiation of composition work in class, and for the assessment of that work.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1984

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Barron, F. (1965) The Psychology of Creativity, In Newcomb, T. M. (Ed.), New Directions in Psychology, II. London: Holt, Rinehart & WinstonGoogle Scholar
Cooke, D. (1959) The Language of Music. London: Oxford University PressGoogle Scholar
Eliot, T. S. (1932, 3rd edn 1951) Selected Essays. London: Faber and FaberGoogle Scholar
Gamble, T. (1984) ‘Imagination and Understanding in the Music Curriculum.’ British Journal of Music Education, Vol. 1, No. 1CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Holbrook, D. (1964) The Secret Places. London: MethuenGoogle Scholar
Koestler, A. (1964) The Act of Creation. London: HutchinsonGoogle Scholar
Langer, S. (1942, 3rd edn. 1957) Philosophy in a New Key. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University PressGoogle Scholar
Loane, B. (1984). ‘On “Listening” in Music Education.’ British Journal of Music Education, Vol. 1, No. 1CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Reimer, B. (1970) A Philosophy of Music Education. New Jersey: Prentice-HallGoogle Scholar
Swanwick, K. (1979) A Basis for Music Education. Slough: National Foundation for Educational ResearchGoogle Scholar
Swanwick, K. (1983). ‘Some Observations on Research and Music Education.’ International Journal of Music Education, No. 1Google Scholar