Inventing songs, inventing worlds: the ‘genesis’ of creative thought and activity in young children’s lives

Abstract

This article draws on systems views of creativity and their application in music education, to arguethat young childrens independent invented song making evolves from their early musico-communicativeinteraction with others, is evidential of their capacity for elaboration, and is foundationalin the development of creative thought and activity in music. The argument is explored throughthe analysis of data generated in a longitudinal study of young childrens (aged four to six years)early music making as composers, song makers, and notators. Focusing specifically on childrensinvented song, the article provides case study analysis of the song making of a four-year-old girlthat explores the musical and lyric content, and the environmental features (context) that supportand shape her song making (process) and invented songs (product). The implications of such aview for early childhood theory and practice are discussed.