Improvised Song in Schools: Breaking Away from the Perception of Traditional Song as Infantile by Introducing a Traditional Adult Practice

‘I'm not sure if I can . . . but I want to sing!’ Research on singing as a soloist through the art of improvising verses

“…In Catalonia, the circumstances of this singing type of communicative activity are conditioned by two related factors: the break in the chain of transmission from one generation to another and the revival of this genre among a part of the younger generation in Catalan society (Casals et al, 2010). In the past, the figure of the glosador -the singer of gloses -and the activities surrounding the improvisation of verses were very common in many towns and villages (Serrà, 1999).…”

“…The lack of surviving models and the sensation the generation of singers who lead this movement have of being newcomers in the world of the glosa might be the explanation. • This activity is encouraged as a practice for everyone (Casals et al, 2010) (see supplementary Fig. 1).…”

“…• The main role taken by the pupils when learning (Lebler, 2007): motivation and facilities to help the children progress autonomously and learn to identify the most effective resources. • The break with the implications of the idea of traditional as applied to song (Casals et al, 2010): disappearance of the traditional connotations of an old repertoire destined for the first years of schooling.…”

“…In Catalonia, the circumstances of this singing type of communicative activity are conditioned by two related factors: the break in the chain of transmission from one generation to another and the revival of this genre among a part of the younger generation in Catalan society (Casals et al ., 2010).…”

“…1 The most usual approach has been based on the idea of singing as a social experience and, more specifically, as a collective singing activity. This circumstance is fruit of the enormous influence of choral singing in Catalan society and music education (Casals et al, 2010), but it is also the consequence of the psycho-pedagogic conception that singing in a group has a positive effect on learning and psychological well-being (Rinta, 2008).…”