Macarthur, Stephanie L.R., Davidson, Jane W., and Krause, Amanda E. (2024) Uncovering children’s experiences of emergent learning difficulties in the instrumental music studio. International Journal of Music Education. (In Press)

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Abstract

When children commence instrumental music tuition, learning difficulties can emerge to disrupt predictable learning processes and impact musical development. However, children’s experiences of learning difficulties, including how they present, are managed and can be supported, are rarely examined in music research. This longitudinal, qualitative study used Participatory Action Research and Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis methodologies to examine the lived experience of fourteen 7-year-old beginner cellists. It focussed on how children’s learning difficulties emerged in the music studio and affected their continued engagement, and how the instrumental music teacher supported children with difficulties. Unexpectedly, half (N = 7) of the young learners encountered challenges, including memory and processing difficulties, impulse, attention and focus issues, intrusive synaesthesia, fine motor skill difficulty, dyslexia and persistent anxiety. Children’s highly individualised experiences of their learning difficulties were impacted by their motivations, self-perception and ratio of skill acquisition. A reflexive pedagogical approach by the teacher, together with pragmatic support and emotional guidance from parents, influenced the children’s learning behaviour and continued investment, contributing to their longer-term musical engagement. This study offers a unique contribution to the literature by providing a rare investigation of children’s emergent learning difficulties, as revealed in the instrumental music studio.

Item ID:	83826
Item Type:	Article (Research - C1)
ISSN:	1744-795X
Keywords:	Children instrumental music education, inclusion, interpretative phenomenological analysis, learning difficulties, participatory action research, music psychology, psychology of music, music education, music performance, cello, practice, music lessons
Copyright Information:	CC BY-NC
Date Deposited:	16 Oct 2024 00:13
FoR Codes:	52 PSYCHOLOGY > 5205 Social and personality psychology > 520505 Social psychology @ 60% 36 CREATIVE ARTS AND WRITING > 3603 Music > 360303 Music education @ 40%
SEO Codes:	13 CULTURE AND SOCIETY > 1301 Arts > 130102 Music @ 40% 28 EXPANDING KNOWLEDGE > 2801 Expanding knowledge > 280121 Expanding knowledge in psychology @ 60%
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