Musical improvisations as self-descriptions in late childhood

Author(s): Mollenhauer, K.

Journal/Book: Z Padagog. 1997; 43: Am Hauptbahnhof 10, Postfach 1120, W-6940 Weinheim, Germany. Verlag Julius Beltz. 697-712.

Abstract: The authors discuss the results of a research project in the course of which children with no preparatory musical training were asked to improvise on short pieces of music. These compositions are interpreted as ''self-descriptions''. To consider the musical expressions of a child as speech about him-or herself or, rather, as expressions of the ''Self'', does not, however, make them accessible to straightforward interpretations since they are not unequivocal. Still, these pieces of music carry expressions relevant to the Self which may also be approached from the pedagogical perspective. To achieve this, the authors apply the heuristic assumption that the musical material contains ''metaphors'' which may in many respects - i.e., mimetic resonance, mood, body control, interaction - be described as self-reflexive.

Note: Article Dietrich C, Univ Gottingen, Padag Seminar, Baurat Gerber Str 4-6, D-37073 Gottingen, GERMANY

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