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The Role of Natural Abilities in Early Childhood Musical Development
Solange Glasser, Gary E. McPherson ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-sonnet-5-5This book chapter discusses the natural abilities that all children show to some degree from birth and how these relate to early musical development. It says these abilities develop through maturation and informal exercise, although genetics partly influences them. It groups them into four mental processes (intellectual, creative, social, perceptual) and two physical abilities (muscular and motor control). The chapter argues that these abilities help explain early signs in infancy that shape a child's potential to engage with music.
Key points
- Research on natural abilities and giftedness in music is less common than research on intrapersonal, environmental and developmental processes.
- Natural abilities are present to some degree in all children from birth.
- These abilities develop in early life through maturation and informal exercise, and are partly influenced by genetics.
- Natural abilities fall into four mental processes (intellectual, creative, social, perceptual) and two physical abilities (muscular and motor control).
- Early indicators in infancy help explain a child's later potential to engage meaningfully with music.
Limitations
Only the abstract is available, so no methods, data or specific findings can be assessed. It is a conceptual discussion and does not focus on any country or on an intervention.
Abstract
Abstract In contrast to the huge amount of research in music and music education that deals with intrapersonal, environmental, and developmental processes, research on the natural abilities that typify giftedness is far less represented in the research literature. To encourage further interrogation of this area, this chapter discusses the role of natural abilities that are evident to a greater or lesser degree in all children after birth. These natural abilities, evident from birth, develop further in the early years of life and beyond through maturation and informal exercise, even though they are, to a certain extent, partially controlled by genetic influences. Natural abilities fit into four mental processes (intellectual, creative, social, and perceptual), and two physical abilities (muscular and motor control). These abilities help us understand the types of early indicators and predispositions evident during infancy that subsequently shape a child’s potential to engage with music in a more meaningful way.