Recording and Analysis of Musical Expression of Preschoolers Using MIDI

Individuality of Preschooler as Discussed by Teacher

Abstract

 In this paper, detailed performance data on the musical expressions of 21 preschoolers in a fiveyear-old class at T kindergarten were individually generated using MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface), and were positioned as documentation in the childcare setting.  From these records, we conducted an interactive analyzing of the data with the teacher to see if the data could contribute to a deeper understanding of the children’s exploration of sound and music, as well as to the development of ideas that would improve childcare activities.  In analyzing the MIDI information recorded, the teacher found the infants selecting methods of expression through sound, and infants experimenting with expression through sound while influencing each other.  These were specifically summarized in Cases 1 through 3 as ( i ) situations in which the teacher found “individuality” in the player’s performance, ( ii ) situations in which the teacher found the player’s performance different from his/her usual appearance, and ( iii ) situations in which the teacher found the player being influenced by the performance of others.  As a result of the discussion, the following two findings were made regarding the educational significance of using MIDI as a recording: The first is “support for analyzing expression from the perspective of pitch, note value, and velocity.  The second is “consideration of individual evaluation of expressive toddlers” in which teacher finds and reconsider the “individuality” of each infant’s expressions.