Musical Beginnings. Origins and Development of Musical Competence

From where, and by what mechanisms, does an individual`s musical ability originate? The interest surrounding ­this question has recently been heightened by research into prenatal perception of sound, particularly among developmental and music psychologists. This timely volume provides an up-to-date, integrative account of research on the development of musical ability, particularly in infancy and early childhood. Each chapter addresses central issues and charts a child`s developmental progress with reference to his or her changing environment: from the intense and semi-exclusive mother-baby bond, to the wider contexts provided by family, school, and society at large.