Gender differences in musical aptitude, rhythmic ability and motor performance in preschool children

• Published in: Early child development and care 2005-05, Vol.175 (4), p.361-369
• Main Authors: Pollatou, Elisana, Karadimou, Konstantina, Gerodimos, Vasilios
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aptitude tests; Children; Difference; Foreign Countries; Gender; Gender Differences; Greece; Motor Development; Motor performance; Motor skills; Music; Music Activities; Music Techniques; Musical ability; Musical aptitude; Pre-school education; Preschool Children; Psychomotor Skills; Rhythm; Rhythmic ability
• ISSN: 0300-4430; 1476-8275
• DOI: 10.1080/0300443042000270786

Most of the preschool curricula involve integrated movement activities that combine music, rhythm and locomotor skills. The purpose of the current study was to examine whether there are any differences between boys and girls at the age of five concerning their musical aptitude, rhythmic ability and performance in gross motor skills. Ninety-five preschool children participated in the study (50 girls and 45 boys). The measures used were the Primary Measures of Music Audiation, the High/Scope Rhythmic Competence Analysis Test and the Gross Motor Development test 2. The results revealed no significant gender differences in musical aptitude and gross motor skills performance, whereas girls outperformed boys in four of the six movements of rhythmic ability test. Considering that rhythmic competence is strongly inter-related with children's motor coordination, the concluding suggestion for the preschool physical education curriculum is to incorporate specific rhythmic activities (like Orff, Dalcroze and dance) in order to overcome the boys' performance deficiency.