The Melodic Improvisations of Children Aged 6-12: A developmental perspective

The purpose of this study was to examine age-related differences in selected melodic, rhythmic, and structural characteristics of the improvised melodies of children ages 6-12. Participants (N = 280, n = 40 at each age level) improvised three 8-measure melodies in the C-pentatonic scale on an Orff alto xylophone as part of a rondo for the Orff instrumentarium. A total of 840 improvisations were collected. A three-part mallet/ motor coordination exercise provided a measure of mallet facility. Results revealed that the rhythmic, structural, and combined characteristics of children's alto xylophone improvisations change significantly with age, and appear to be independent of mallet facility. The melodic characteristics examined did not change significantly. Observed changes appear to be developmental in nature, moving toward increased motivic repetition and development, greater attention to the pulse, increased generation of rhythmic patterns, and greater structural organisation.