THE ROLE OF COMPOSERS AND CONDUCTORS IN THE PROCESS OF YOUNG CHORISTERS’ MUSICAL DEVELOPMENT

Abstract

We can influence the development of children’s musical and cognitive capacities as well as the increase in their general perceptive capacities by means of singing. Conductors and composers who create music literature for children significantly influence their musical development along with the development of their musical sensitivity. They must, however, be aware of the physiology of children’s voice apparatus, emotional development, and the shaping of voice and aural capacities within the age groups they deal with. An important element is also the collaboration of a conductor and a composer during the process of creation and preparation of a piece featuring a children’s choir. The author describes how children’s voice, musical and cognitive capacities develop during subsequent periods of their musical development, what differences there are in the structure of voice apparatus in adults and in children and what results from these differences, she also touches on the issue of a child’s voice range. Moreover, she outlines how, thanks to cooperation, a conductor and a composer may contribute to the improvement of music competencies in children. She then pays attention to what a composer should take into consideration while writing music for children depending on their age in order to help them shape their musical talents, and to the fact that by creating relevant children’s repertoire he can influence the shaping of a child’s personality. The author also writes what a conductor should be guided by when choosing the repertoire and constructing vocal exercises for working with children, plus how he can make his classes attractive and thus interesting for children. To conclude, she makes readers reflect on what qualities people working with children should cultivate in themselves as they are the ones that often determine the future of young singers. Keywords: children’s choirs, youth choirs, a child’s vocal apparatus, vocal apparatus development, choir compositions for children, work of a conductor with children’s ensembles.