2022 Volume 29 Issue 4 Pages 630-649
In this study, we attempted to evaluate the performance of our original instrument, using which children can record and replay sounds by themselves, developed for the purpose of revitalizing a musical program for preschoolers. The theoretical framework behind this attempt was from the perspective of ecological acoustics, which argues that our hearing experience is based on our perception of the dynamics of interaction between agents (e.g., human organisms) and their surroundings. Inspired by this perspective, we explored the possibility of enriching children’s hearing experience in a way that was more than just hearing the sound itself, but also included learning about the ecology of sound with a technological ingenuity. We conducted pilot sessions for preschoolers and asked them to collect sounds using the instrument. Additionally, we conducted a questionnaire survey with a music instructor and a childcare worker who directed the sessions. The results showed that the instrument successfully elicited active behaviors from the children: while using it, all children were enthusiastic about exploring acoustic events (including their own vocalizations) and recording them. Moreover, children listened to their peers’ recorded sounds with concentration. The questionnaire survey also indicated that the instrument was favorably accepted by the children and had the potential to be an educational tool. From these results, we concluded that our instrument provided children with opportunities to learn about the ecological fact of auditory perception, and that using it would cultivate self-initiative and collaborative attitudes in children.
