The sonic imagination of children in Andalusia: A musical analysis of the TV programme «The Band

• Published in: Comunicar (Huelva, Spain) Spain), 2010-10, Vol.18 (35), p.193-200
• Main Authors: Ocaña-Fernández, Almudena, Reyes-López, María-Luisa
• Format: Article
• Language: Spanish
• ISSN: 1134-3478; 1988-3293
• DOI: 10.3916/C35-2010-03-13

In this article we present a descriptive study of the soundtrack of children’s television programmes on the Andalusian public television network. This study is part of an international research project based on Latin America which seeks to address the need to understand the sonic context in which children live and study the way in which this shapes their sonic imagination. The use of music on television may be a response to commercial needs and, therefore, it is necessary to understand its influence in an educational context. Through analysis of the permanent sections, advertising and the cartoons included in the TV programme called «The Band» which is broadcast on the Andalusian public television network we can observe the televisual and sonic environment of Andalusian children. We use a descriptive methodology which, through the creation of a listening worksheet, highlights the most significant elements in the sample. After the analysis, we concluded that the predominant musical elements in the programme analyzed were from techno-pop and cinema soundtracks and this produced certain homogeneity in musical terms which in turn led to an impoverishment of listening habits which made it difficult to understand more complex musical elements. Therefore, we stress the need for schools to accept their responsibility in the task of educating children in critical listening skills. En este artículo se presenta un estudio descriptivo de la banda sonora de la programación infantil y juvenil de la televisión pública andaluza. Este trabajo se encuentra inmerso en un proyecto de investigación internacional de ámbito latinoameriano que atiende a la necesidad de comprender el contexto auditivo en el que vive la población infantil y estudiar el modo en el que se configura su imaginario sonoro. El uso de la música en la televisión puede responder a intereses comerciales por lo que es necesario comprender su alcance desde el punto de vista educativo. A través del análisis de las secciones fijas, la publicidad y las series de dibujos animados del programa «La Banda» de la televisión pública de Andalucía se muestra el entorno sonoro televisivo de los niños y niñas andaluces. Se utiliza una metodología descriptiva que, a través de la creación de una plantilla de escucha, pone de relieve los elementos más significativos de la muestra. Tras el análisis se concluye que los elementos predominantes en la programación analizada provienen de la música tecno-pop y de la música cinematog