Parental Background Information Qualitative Data

In order to present a valid and reliable ecological study, it is important to explore the context of the quantitative data provided. Therefore the parental background information sheet also requested data on several other areas of interest, as now described. This qualitative data serves to illustrate the range of issues apparently typically developing children are facing in school and at home. All italicised data is reported verbatim.

Table 2.15. Qualitative responses from parents

Question Please note any parental diagnoses, or difficulties with learning, reading, writing, vision, hearing, memory, movement or coordination

Music Group Number of times

question was not answered 21 _SSM=11 EMT=10 Number of Answer simply ‘No’ or ‘None’ 12 _SSM=7 EMT=5 Number of qualitative answers 5 _SSM=1 EMT=4 Verbatim Answers “Vision”; _EMT

“Mild dyslexia”; _EMT

“possible dyslexia but not diagnosed”; _EMT “lazy eye, wears contact lense” SSM

“both parents are dyslexia (Mother diagnosed at 8,

Father diagnosed at 11)” EMT

Question Please note if parents suffered from, were diagnosed with or suspected any psychological difficulties, for example with anxiety, lack of confidence, issues with bullying, mood changes or behavioural issues

Number of times question was not answered 23 _SSM=13 EMT=10 Number of Answer simply ‘No’ or ‘None’ 11 _SSM=6 EMT=5 Number of qualitative answers SSM=1 EMT=3

Verbatim

Answers “stress & anxiety sometimes, but not abnormal levels” SSM

“Anxiety. Mood changes. (PMT?!)” _EMT “Lack of confidence. Bullying as a child (aged 7-11) –

mild” EMT

“not confident”. _EMT

Question Please note parental musical background Number of times

question was not answered 12 SSM=8 EMT=4 Number of Answer simply ‘No’ or ‘None’ 2 SSM=2 Number of qualitative answers 24 SSM=9 EMT=15 Verbatim

Answers “Theory of Music - Grade 2; Piano - Grade 1; Always listening to music, on a daily basis, cheers me up - memories.”

SSM

“Piano/Recorder/Guitar as a child - basic level.

Participant's Father plays guitar to a high level & has a very good ear for music.”

SSM

“Played piano, oboe and flute – all very badly!” SSM

“Clarinet & Saxophone for 2 years - no grades. Aged 8- 11. Music used to pass time or relax.”

SSM X 2 (TWINS)

“Clarinet & Saxophone for 2 years - no grades. Aged 8- 11. Music used to pass time or relax.”

SEE ABOVE

“Music is a vital part of my childhood to date. Piano Grade 3, Clarinet Grade 1, Singing Grade 6 and tried Violin.”

SSM

“Recorder, some attempts at others but generally none.

Like singing. Have music on in the house.” SSM

“Recorder. Tenner.” SSM

“Electric guitar (basic rhythm) and listens to music

daily” SSM

“Learned violin at school aged 8-14. Learned piano at uni and took grade 3 (+grade 5 theory). Also played recorder for as long as I can remember (not very well). Music has always been v. important to me, listening as much as playing.”

EMT

“Listened to music at home. Grade 6 French Horn –

stopped at 17.” EMT

“Enjoyed singing – part of school choir EMT

“Grade Guitar Aged 12”

“Piano lessons up to Grade 5. Everyone in the family played an instrument (some 2) and parents sang in the choir.”

EMT

“Vocal, Piano, Guitar – music plays an important part

of our daily lives.” EMT

“Played descant recorder at school” EMT

“No musical instruments; sing in a choir and have done

so since school. Music not generally important.” EMT “Mother was/is musical, singing and playing piano. I

played the piano (and started viola). Love to sing but not in a choir or group. Husband professional musician and

wish our children to achieve musically where I felt I didn’t.”

“My parents and grandparents loved and encouraged music. I learned piano to Grade 5, Guitar Grade 2, percussion in school briefly (orchestra), choir at school, university and local amateur.”

EMT

“Father – self taught guitar as youth – in a band – talent but not training as a child (no money). Church choir (scholarship but not taken up) – currently takes bass lessons as an adult, sings and plays in a work band – music playing in the house a lot – general love of listening to music. Mother – recorder and clarinet to very low level – just basics, no exams (tone deaf!) But love music – wanted to be good and learn piano – but not enough money when young.”

EMT

“Violin at school and recorder. Tried saxophone and clarinet which I went back to as adult. Music in all its forms very important.”

EMT

“I had (classical) piano lessons from age 5-17 (Grade 7) and clarinet from 13-16 (Grade 5). Have spent much of my adult life going to gigs – from raves to classical to

opera!!” EMT

“Piano – on and off since 6 years old. Choir – national and secondary school performance – singing constantly at home with Mother and siblings. Irish dancing and tin whistle – 2 years as part of school band and melodica also for 2 years as part of school band.”

EMT

“General recorder at school, Clarinet Grade 5, Classical guitar for 6 months, Grade 1 Piano, Choir at school, DJ lessons aged 30. Music is very important to get extra enjoyment in listening to and performing and creating and dancing. Also took ballroom and Latin dance lessons age 32 for 1 year.”

EMT

Question Please note if their child had any suspected or diagnosed learning difficulties, for example with reading, writing, vision, hearing, memory and/or movement and

coordination Number of times

question was not answered 15 SSM=10 EMT=5 Number of Answer simply ‘No’ or ‘None’ 13 _SSM=7 EMT=6 Number of qualitative answers 10 SSM=3 EMT=7 Verbatim Answers

“Previous hearing issues at 3 years, hearing since

perfect – 100% both ears.” SSM “Struggles a bit with reading and spelling SSM

“Some issues noted at school regarding numbers and

maths” SSM

“Participant has a delayed speech disorder & has had a lot of speech therapy. His speech is almost up to where it should be for his age now. He sometimes seems

uncoordinated, although this has improved recently.”

“Dyslexia” EMT

“ADD and a bit clumsy” EMT

“Difficulty movement of hands and coordination and above normal hearing range resulting in over sensitivity to high pitch noises.”

EMT

“Vision” EMT

“Participant did have a lot of ear trouble and has had 2 lots of grommets - appears to be OK now. Speech 'appears' to be behind but was monitored by a speech therapist who had no concerns.”

EMT

Question Please note if your child has any suspected, or diagnosed, psychological difficulties, for example anxiety, lack of confidence, issues with bullying, mood changes or behavioural issues,

Number of times question was not answered 19 SSM=10 EMT=9 Number of Answer simply ‘No’ or ‘None’ 12 SSM=7 EMT=5 Number of qualitative answers 7 SSM=2 EMT=5 Verbatim

Answers “Lacks confidence, easily bullied – follows the crowd, feelings of injust and finds it difficult to comprehend adult and child appropriate behaviour e.g. why can't I cook the dinner, drive us to school…?”

SSM

“Seems to lack confidence in groups” SSM

“I think [participant] does seem to suffer lack of confidence, linked to the above [speech development

delay], but this has also improved hugely in the last year

or so. He is also what I would describe as being very sensitive. Participant was assessed for Asperger’s – some but not all aspects found. Finds number reasoning easier than words.”

EMT

“Provisional diagnosis (age 4) Asperger’s and ADHD” EMT

“Occasionally lacks confidence” EMT

“Participant is the youngest in his school year and can

be emotionally immature.” EMT

“Some anxiety I suspect” EMT