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First through fifth graders' vocal pitch accuracy was examined as a function of grade level gender, and the presence or absence of a unison accompanying voice. Subjects (N = 169) were tested individually, and taped responses were analyzed with Visi-Pitch technology. The vocal model was a tape-recorded child's voice singing a four-beat melodic pattern on the neutral syllable "loo. " For individual singing; subjects echoed the model; for unison siinging, subjects echoed the pattern simultaneously with the model. Statistical analysis revealed no significant difference between individual and unison accuracy. Fourth graders were significantly more accurate than third graders in both individual and unison conditions. Gender differences were not significant.

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To investigate 6-11-year-olds' ability to detect pitch differences within a semitone, the Modified Sergeant Pitch Discrimination Measure (MSPDM), based on Sergeant's (1979) pitch test, was developed and administered to 169 subjects. On each of the 30 items, subjects indicate which one of five tones differs from the others and whether it is higher or lower than the standard. The MSPDM facilitates direct comparison of performance on two types of task: detection of a difference, and labelling the direction of the change. The MSPDM was group-administered in grades 2-5. and individually administered using a manipulative response mode in grade 1. Statistical analyses revealed that subjects in grades 2-5 were more successful at detecting differences than at labelling their direction; no significant difference between these tasks was evident in grade 1. Older subjects received higher mean scores than younger subjects. No significant gender differences were evident.