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Children's artistic responses to musical intervals
1Academic Development Office, Border Technikon, East London, South Africa. lsmith@indlovu.bortech.ac.za
The American Journal of Psychology
|March 4, 2000
Summary
Musical perception appears universal, with children across cultures consistently interpreting consonant musical intervals positively and dissonant ones negatively. This suggests a shared human response to musical harmony and discord.
Area of Science:
- Music Psychology
- Cross-Cultural Studies
- Acoustic Perception
Background:
- Understanding the universality of musical perception is crucial for cognitive science.
- Previous research suggests cultural influences on music, but the fundamental perception of intervals remains debated.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate cross-cultural perceptions of musical intervals.
- To determine if emotional and activity-based responses to consonance and dissonance are universal.
Main Methods:
- Two experiments were conducted with South African children (White and Black, urban and rural).
- Participants drew pictures in response to various musical intervals.
- Drawing content was analyzed for thematic similarities and emotional valence.
Main Results:
- Drawing content showed cross-cultural similarities.
- Consonant intervals were consistently associated with positive imagery.
- Dissonant intervals were generally perceived negatively, and a concrete-activity dimension was observed across grades.
Conclusions:
- Musical interval perception, specifically the positive/negative valence of consonance/dissonance, appears to be a universal human trait.
- Early-grade children's responses suggest a foundational, non-culturally specific understanding of musical meaning.
- Findings support the hypothesis of innate, universal mechanisms in music perception.