Both genes and the environment are important for individual differences in expertise, but little is known about gene-environment interactions underlying domain-specific achievement. Here we explored ...this issue in a large Swedish twin cohort (N = 6,610), using moderator modeling with musical expertise as a model domain. Specifically, we tested whether musical enrichment of the childhood environment moderates adult musical achievement, as well as the magnitude of genetic and nongenetic influences on individual differences in achievement. Musical achievement was measured using the Creative Achievement Questionnaire and enrichment of the childhood environment was indexed with a principal component derived from the number of music records in the family home, number of individuals in the family environment playing an instrument, frequency of concert visits, and music education before the age of 12. As expected, we found a positive association between childhood musical enrichment and musical achievement in adulthood. Interestingly, however, the total variance in musical achievement as well as the relative importance of genetic influences increased with a higher level of musical enrichment. Estimates of genetic and environmental influences as well as the magnitude of the environmental moderation differed for men and women. These findings suggest that, in line with recent multifactorial models of expert performance, a musically enriched childhood environment amplifies individual differences, an effect which is largely driven by an increase in the importance of genetic factors.
El estudio persigue evaluar la eficacia del uso de rutinas de pensamiento visible en la asignatura de Música y, más concretamente, en el análisis y en la interpretación con la flauta dulce, ...identificando los principales beneficios e inconvenientes. Para ello, se ha analizado una propuesta de intervención educativa aplicada con alumnos de cuarto de Educación Primaria, en la que se utilizaban distintas rutinas de pensamiento y organizadores gráficos que permitían visibilizar sus ideas. La investigación realizada es de tipo cualitativo, siguiendo el método del estudio de casos, y la recogida de datos se ha llevado a cabo mediante la observación participante, el análisis de documentos y cuestionarios de autoevaluación cumplimentados por los propios alumnos. Los resultados muestran que la aplicación de rutinas de pensamiento visible ha incrementado la capacidad crítica, analítica y creativa del alumnado, potenciando la adquisición de aprendizajes integrales y facilitando la interpretación de una partitura con cierta dificultad rítmica y melódica con la flauta dulce.
This article conveys data collected in an ethnographic case study exploring monthly participatory community singing events in one city in the American Midwest. I analyze these data through the lens ...of a “traditional” choral conductor who, prior to undertaking this investigation, had little knowledge about participatory singing traditions; I also utilize scholarship about participatory versus presentational music activities as defined by Turino. Themes that arose during data analysis include: the context of folk music culture of Middletown, the inclusivity of community singing events, the role of the song-leader in facilitating these events, and “wounding stories” from participants who were discouraged by music educators. Perhaps in reflecting on the dichotomy between performative and participatory singing events, the choral community may begin to unlearn strictures that make some singers feel unwelcome.
The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of score study and conducting gesture on collegiate musicians’ ability to detect errors in a choral score. Is there a combined effect of gesture ...and score study that impacts undergraduate conductors’ identification of errors in a score? Participants (N = 53) viewed a sequence of four choral score excerpts presented via Zoom video conferencing. We asked participants to identify errors under one of four conditions: score study with a correct model recording, conducting with a simple timekeeping pattern while listening, both score study and conducting, or neither. After listening to each excerpt, participants notified the researcher about the exact location, voice part, and error type of any error that they heard. There were significant differences among conditions, with post hoc tests indicating superior error detection scores for the score study conditions. Conducting during the error detection task resulted in lower error detection scores, especially when not preceded by score study with a correct aural model.
Background: Group singing for people with Parkinson's disease (PD) is an established intervention not only to improve voice and speech difficulties but also for emotional and social benefit. Less is ...known about the experiences of group singing on the couple--the person with PD and their spouse or partner together--and studies have not specifically tracked impact through time or in combination with songwriting. Aims: To understand the impact of group singing/songwriting on couples (participants with PD and their spouses) to unpack whether this broader view might help explain why such interventions are reported as beneficial. Using a trajectory approach, a form of longitudinal research and focused ethnography, the research sought a deeper appreciation of participation through time for the couple in a singing/songwriting group. Methods & Procedures: Four couples attending a singing/songwriting programme were observed for 10 weeks, and interviewed formally and informally weekly. Data were analysed thematically across-case through framework analysis but also within-case to explore the couples' experiences and narratives over time. Outcomes & Results: The theme of 'improved relationships' between the couples was new and extended previous studies' findings of positivity, physical benefit, sense of self and social opportunity. The stories of each couple highlighted the importance of musical reminiscence and emotional respite, and demonstrated changes with time through the singing and songwriting group. Conclusions & Implications: The benefits of offering singing/songwriting groups may be felt not only by participants with PD but also by their spouses/partners even if they choose not to attend themselves. Such benefits may include improved relationships related to the shared joy of music, musical reminiscence and emotional respite. The addition of songwriting encourages creativity and agency. A longitudinal trajectory approach is one way to appreciate how these benefits may unfold over time for participants.
This paper has two parallel components--one a storied prose account, the other a presentation of elements of the story compressed into six-word reflections to underscore or in some cases to expand on ...the narrative. Katherine Norman Dearden gathered data through means of serial interviews with the choir director and review of related media accounts and literature on gun violence and the death of children in America (Rubenstein, Levine, and Hennekens 2019), and she shares draft manuscripts with the choir director for her review, suggestions, and approval.
Objective: To understand college students' experiences with substance use at electronic music events (EME), including harm-reduction strategies and receptivity to educational intervention.
...Participants: A purposeful sample of undergraduate students at a private Southeastern university was recruited from April 2019 to May 2019 using online advertising and in-person tabling.
Methods: A qualitative, descriptive research design utilizing semistructured focus groups.
Results: Five focus groups were conducted (n = 18). A thematic analysis revealed three main themes: substance use is commonplace; substance use and protective behaviors; and universities' role in substance education. Additional categories and subcategories were identified within each theme.
Conclusion: Substance use at EME is a common experience for college students. Several challenges and opportunities exist for universities working to promote harm reduction practices. Prevention efforts should be event-specific, incorporate student input to engage learning more effectively, and work to reduce barriers that deter students from taking safety precautions when using substances.
Adults with autism spectrum disorder without intellectual impairment may benefit from a range of support services. This article presents the results of a systematic review assessing the effectiveness ...of supportive interventions for adults with autism spectrum disorder without intellectual impairment. A total of 32 studies were included; most focused on younger male participants. Although evidence was lacking for most types of intervention, employment programmes and social skills training were found to be effective for more proximal outcomes such as social skills. Evidence that any intervention improves mental health or well-being was very limited. Most interventions focused on mitigating specific deficits, rather than on providing broader support. Further research is needed on the effectiveness of supportive interventions such as advocacy and mentoring.
Curious as to why conducting gesture are both acknowledged and ignored by choral singers, this article investigates the enigmatic nature of the act of conducting. Education and research are biased ...toward gestural aspects of the choral conductor role. At the same time, research shows that gestural skills rank strikingly low compared with other musical skills and interpersonal skills. This study endeavors to unpack this enigma, based on 40 interviews with choral singers and conductors in Norway and Sweden. Taking a phenomenological approach, analysis of the fieldwork reveals that singers are more aware of gesture when something out of the ordinary happens, is unclear, or is even particularly appealing. The enigmatic role of gesture is partly due to conceptual ambiguity—gestures are signals that conductors “do” as well as embody the integral conductor “being.” Moreover, four “enigma busting” contextual dimensions were found: complexity of the music, the irreplaceability of gestures in the specific situation, singers’ receptiveness to gestures, and the gestural proficiency of the conductor. The article points at some implications for education as well as future research.
Music is motivational, accessible and engaging for individuals with learning disabilities. Several systematic reviews have addressed the effects of music activity on people with learning ...disabilities; however, none has specifically reviewed the use of musical activity with people with profound and multiple learning disabilities.
This review aimed to: 1. identify peer-reviewed studies and describe the characteristics of evidence-based musical activity used with people with profound and multiple learning disabilities and 2. evaluate and analyse the effectiveness of these music-based interventions and identify gaps within current research. A systematic search was conducted in April 2021 identifying seven peer-reviewed studies which included music-based interventions with at least one person with profound and multiple learning disabilities.
Findings reveal the interventions varied in their frequency, duration and content. The outcome of most (n=6) interventions documented the development of the participants’ social skillset. Interventions were predominantly (n=6) implemented by facilitators with musical expertise. The diverse and novel nature of the reviewed studies highlights a need to expand and enhance research with this population.
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