The Development of Young Children's Musical Abilities and Musical Conservation Concepts by Their Sex and Age.

유아의 음악능력과 음악 보존개념의 발달(I)-유아의 성과 연령이 미치는 영향을 중심 으로-

The purpose of this study was to investigate developmental of young children's musical abilityes and musical conservation concepts. Two kinds of test were administered to 117 children aged 5-to 7-year-old. The musical ability test consisted of 30 tape-recorded questions regarding 5 musical ability domains, while the musical conservation test consisted of 17 questions regarding 4 musical conservation concept domains. The major findings of the study were as follows: 1)there was a significant difference in young children's musical abilities according to their sex and age. Girls developed their musical abilities better than boys did. Older children noticeable improved their musical abilities, especially, in such three domains as listening musical and rhythmic activities and playing musical instruments. 2)There was a significant difference in young children's musical conservation concepts according to their age, but not according to their sex. Older children improved musical conservation concepts specifically, in rhythm ,number of notes and duration conservation concepts. 3) the results of stepwise multiple regression analysis indicated that the most influence in variable on the musical conservation concepts was musical ability, then followed by children's age and sex. Some suggestions for future research and for the ways to increase musical abilities were discussed.