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

Abstract

This article revolves around a project aimed at incorporating improvised song into primary school education. Among its objectives, this pilot scheme aimed to solve the problem of infantilization and the lack of functionality affecting the traditional school repertoire of songs in Catalonia by introducing a hitherto untested genre of traditional song into the official curriculum. The findings obtained in five centers suggest that this traditional form of oral expression through singing obtains positive results in the 10-12- year-old age group, and manages to break free of the clichés about traditional song pre-existing in the school environment.

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Map of Països Catalans Marc Belzunces.

Graphic by Albert Casals.

Corrandistes singing after a special lunch.

Photo by Oriol Clavera.

Lo Teixidó, one of the last traditional singers of Jotes de l’Ebre.

Photo by Sergi Palau.

Carles Belda, a leading singer from the new generation of corrandistes.

Photo by Sergi Palau.

Anyone can become the soloist.

Photo by Sergi Palau.

A corrandista singing Cançó de pandero.

Video by Albert Casals.

The arrangement of the participants in a circle encourages communication and participation as soloists.

Photo by Col·legi Mare de Deú del Roser (St. Vicenç de Castellet).

Children improvising verses in a special school event.

Video by Albert Casals.

Pupils improvising corrandes in a final special session.

Photo by CEIP Dr. Ferrer (Artés).

Figure 1. The building of group identity.

Graphic by Albert Casals.

The atmosphere in a class during an improvised song performance.

Video by Albert Casals.

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