Synesthesia-like Mappings of Lightness, Pitch, and Melodic Interval

I found this article to be very interesting, in that I have always had questions about the phenomenon of synesthesia. I know one music major who has been diagnosed with it, and he is quite fascinating to speak with. A major result of the study shows that subjects found lighter visual stimuli to fit with higher pitches, and darker visual stimuli to fit with lower pitches. The article discussed the underlying linguistic mediation of synesthesia-like mapping. This concept makes little sense to me, and I am still trying to understand the core meaning here. I found more understanding when the study discussed nonsynethetes engaging in synesthesia without it reaching their conscious. This is also interesting in relation to the idea that synesthesia is in everyone, but is later repressed. In turn, this supports the finding that the majority of synesthetes are children. Instead of discussing pitch as a single element, the study discussed both pitch height and location of pitch across octaves. This extended the range of the element of pitch in the study. I found that the three experiments were reliably set up. For instance, the first experiment had 400 trials according to the equation of 2 backgrounds x 5 luminances x 8 frequencies x 5 replications. The study found a wider response range with the usage of the black background. However, this was eliminated when the range of visual stimuli were presented. This is potentially because there were too many different elements of the variables for the subjects to comprehend. Experiment Two showed that subjects found lightness to relate to pitch in two distinct, separate ways. Experiment Three was interesting in its use of orchestral music evoking a certain color or adjective. I would definitely be interested in reading more about a study solely focused on this. It would be very interesting to perform this study using classical orchestral works that are considered to be masterpieces and well-known (potentially part of humanity's lives).

An In-Service Training for Child-Care Personnel Working with Infants and Toddlers

This study aims to test the effects of in-service music training for child caregivers. It begins by stating that most caregivers feel that including a solid music education in their curriculum is a somewhat daunting task. This is understandable. The study's results show that most caregivers would like to learn how to better implement music, as long as the training is minimal and at a reasonable price. I was pleased with the methods in which the data were collected. Researchers observed children for engagement behaviors, caregivers made use of an attitude scale, and multiple learning tests were completed by the participants in the study after the training sessions occurred. However, I do wish that the study included a greater diversity of participants. All of the participants were women college students. I do not feel as if this represents the majority of child caregivers. Overall, the study showed that the majority of caregivers' skills increased with the three training sessions. However, I was surprised that movement skills did not increase with the training sessions. Movement is such a vital part of early childhood music, that I am surprised it was not emphasized more in the training sessions. The training program improved some of the caregivers' skills while decreasing others. I feel as if the skills improved, group leadership and overall musical skill, are the most important. Because other curriculum will be focused on in this setting, I do not think it is necessary for the caregivers to have the same body of music knowledge as a music educator. I believe that one of the greatest benefits of the training sessions, was that it gave the caregivers a sense of confidence in facilitating and teaching music activities. This feeling will lead to caregivers initiating more music activities in the day-to-day curriculum taught at these child caregiving centers. I appreciated that this study gave ways for its training sessions to be improved. The conclusion of the study summed up everything that I was thinking while reading the study.