In this study I promote a view of children's aesthetic decision-making as a non-verbal process evidenced in the structural features children employ in their musical discourse as composers. I draw on the work of Polanyi and Wittgenstein to support the view that knowledge may be demonstrated as well as 'stated' verbally, and that the examination of children's musical discourse as composers provides us with direct access to their musical thinking and aesthetic decision-making. Through the analysis of the form and structure of one hundred and thirty-seven compositions collected from children aged between five and twelve years children's aesthetic decision-making is identified and described. Findings of the study suggest that children's aesthetic decision-making as demonstrated in their use of structure and form in their musical discourse as composers is not necessarily linked to age or prior experience. © 1996 International Society for Music Education.

Item Type:	Refereed Article
Research Division:	Education
Research Group:	Specialist Studies in Education
Research Field:	Learning Sciences
Objective Division:	Education and Training
Objective Group:	Other Education and Training
Objective Field:	Education and Training not elsewhere classified
Author:	Barrett, MS (Professor Margaret Barrett)
ID Code:	7099
Year Published:	1996
Deposited By:	Early Childhood and Primary Education
Deposited On:	1996-08-01
Last Modified:	2011-08-16
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