Children's Pattern Perception, Accuracy, and Preference in Three Response Modes

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the length of patterns children perceived from melodic contexts and their preference and accuracy in three response modes for demonstrating those patterns. Eighteen students, six each from Grades 4, 2, and kindergarten, participated in 10 videotaped sessions and were asked to demonstrate their perceptions in vocal, motor, and graphic response modes. Results indicated that students were not significantly more accurate in one response mode than in another, nor were age-groups significantly different from each other in accuracy of responses. The most frequently preferred response mode was the vocal mode, and mode preferences became more varied with increased age. Results also indicated that each age-group perceived patterns fitting a four-beat duration significantly more frequently than other pattern lengths. Also, with apparent focus on figural groupings, 16 of the 18 students accurately included anacruses in their response patterns more than 50% of the time.