An investigation of music and screen media in the lives of young children

Abstract

This ethnographic study explored music in screen media produced for children from birth to five years by considering the interrelationships between young children, their parents, the producers of screen media, and the screen media itself. To this end, two distinct but interrelated aspects were explored and examined: the production and content of the screen media, and young children’s viewing behaviours and responses. In accordance with sociology of childhood constructs, children’s relationships with media were viewed as integral components of social processes enacted within both local and wider contexts, and contributing to their development of understanding and meaning-making. The study also examined the potential role of screen media productions in children’s musical development and education, and considered the effects of children’s increasing engagement with audio-visual music presentations on traditional modes of music making and learning. Data were collected using a series of nested case studies that sought to investigate the production and content of music in selected screen media, and young children’s viewing behaviours and responses to this media. These case studies relied on the ethnographic content analysis of over 100 examples of screen media and qualitative observations and interviews with young children, their parents, teachers and producers of screen media. Three areas for intensive analysis were identified from the emergent data: music in screen media targeting children under the age of three; music in Australian television productions for preschool-aged children; and the effect of screen media presentations on young children’s singing practices. The study reasserted the ubiquitous influences of screen media productions in young children’s lives, and acknowledged the rise of edutainment features within these screen media, particularly for their marketing appeal to parents. Findings indicated that there was significant variation in the educative potential and value of screen media productions with musical foci produced for young children, highlighting the need for the application of standards in both production and advertising. The study identified several ways in which young children’s modes of engagement with music of screen media have transformed their music making experiences. While these experiences once relied heavily on personal, familial interactions, the study found that repertoire selection, performance practices and musical presentations are subject to current social media practices and consumer trends.