Abstract
Over the last few years, a growing number of studies has shown the effects that orchestral music training is able to evoke in children in terms of cognitive, social and emotional skills. Learning to play an instrument in an ensemble, besides often being more engaging than attending an individual lesson, implies a real and constant cognitive and emotional training requiring careful planning and monitoring of the performance, control over the focus of attention, integration of sensorimotor information, constant synchronisation to the rhythm and dynamics of the conductor and the rest of the orchestra, and several other skills. These demanding activities draw on complex neurocognitive functions, stimulating brain changes and therefore long-lasting behavioural refinements. This chapter provides a review of the present knowledge related to the effects of collective music training on different psychological skills in children. Moreover, we offer pedagogical insights related to collective music training by focusing on an inclusive orchestral program (Music’n’play) that in the last decade has involved more than 2000 children with or without diagnoses, becoming deeply rooted in the Southern Italian territory. Finally, we present the results of a recent pilot study focused on the impact of this orchestral training on children with ADHD.
Original language | English |
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Title of host publication | Arts and Mindfulness Education for Human Flourishing |
Editors | Tatiana Chemi, Elvira Brattico, Lone Overby Fjorback, László Harmat |
Place of publication | London |
Publisher | Routledge |
Publication date | Nov 2022 |
Pages | 106-123 |
Chapter | 6 |
ISBN (Print) | 9780367746308, 9780367746278 |
ISBN (Electronic) | 9781003158790, 9781000789621 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Nov 2022 |