Singing disability in school children

Abstract

In an effort to discover the cause of, and a cure for singing disability, seventy-nice children and two adults were observed and given treatment between 1939 and the present time. Fifty of them were given various tests to this end, records being kept. Fifty-three were cured, five left the district, fifteen are still having lessons, and eight were improved but not cured, though it now seems that they might have been. The main cause was slower learning than normal, due to the absence of singing at home, or a lack of interest which often went with lower musical intelligence. Slower learning, as a rule only presented difficulty where it had been the subject of comment or criticism, and where the child had not been allowed to try to sing. The mental attitude thus created was a factor in almost every case. Occasionally the cause was an affection of the ear, nose, or throat; though hardness of hearing was scarcely ever the sole reason for the trouble. In a few instances it was due to a slight fault in the vocal organs; and in others, to bad production of the voice. In no case was it due to an abnormally low register; and tine deafness was found to be non-existent. In order to remedy the defect the child was helped to locates notes, then persuaded to sing ascending scales, and also made to attempt to sing songs of very easy type. The vowel sound ‘loo’ frequently, but not exclusively used, was found to be a splendid corrective of bad voice-production. Constant encouragement was given; and great patience and determination were necessary. The good results of the work were evident in the increased interest in musical activities, and in the general enthusiasm of those who had been taught to sing.