The effects of instruction on the singing ability of children ages 5 to 11: A meta-analysis

Abstract

The purpose of the meta-analysis was to address the varied results within the area of singing ability research by statistically summarizing the data of related studies. Across 34 studies, analyses yielded an overall mean effect size for instruction of g = 0.43. Studies were limited to pretest-posttest or posttest-only quasi-experimental designs. The largest overall study effect size across categorical variables included the effects of same and different discrimination techniques on mean singing score gains. Overall mean effects by primary moderator variable ranged from trivial to moderate. Feedback yielded the largest effect regarding teaching condition, 8-year-old children yielded the largest effect regarding age, the Boardman assessment measure yielded the largest effect regarding measurement instrument, and song accuracy yielded the largest effect regarding measured task. Regarding gender, boys and girls improved similarly from singing interventions across studies. Implications for singing instruction pertain to the importance of intervention, especially between the ages of 5 and 8. Results from the meta-analysis have highlighted a tendency for singing interventions to improve singing ability more than traditional song-singing and more than no music instruction at all. Results from the meta-analysis have also highlighted the importance of self, teacher, and computer feedback in the development of singing.