Exploring the culture of Greek children's musical games in the school playground: An ethnographic study. (April 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Saltari, Regina; Welch, Graham
• Is Part Of: Research studies in music education. Volume 45:Number 1(2023)
• Page Start: 174
• Page End: 188
• Publication Date: 2023-04
• Subjects: children's musical culture -- children's musical games -- ethnography -- Greece -- school playground; Music -- Instruction and study -- Research -- Australia -- Periodicals; Music -- Instruction and study -- Research -- New Zealand -- Periodicals; Music -- Instruction and study -- Research -- East Asia -- Periodicals; Music -- Instruction and study -- Research -- Southeast Asia -- Periodicals; 780.7105
• DOI: 10.1177/1321103X211061978
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1321-103X

Abstract

This article reports findings from an ethnographic study investigating the culture of children's musical games played in school playgrounds. The research took place in nine primary schools in Greece and lasted for 6 months. Data collection methods included open observation of children aged 6 to 11 years, focused small-group observation, semi-structured interviews of 53 children (aged 8–11 years), and video recordings of the children's musical games. Analyses of the research data, in light of the relevant literature, revealed the physical and human geographies of musical games, gender preferences, transmission sources and processes, learning and teaching practices, improvisations and variations, and communication among participants. The article concludes with implications for music education research and practice.