The role of musical resources in childhood social construction

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to foster discussion about childhood as an ideological and cultural construction where a musical approach to games and verbal interactions between children can be interpreted as a social hallmark of childhood as opposed to a particular consideration of adulthood. This presentation provides ethnographic empirical data about children's social interaction through musical creativity in a playground context. It also aims to link the image of childhood to other childhood images as in 19th century Spanish Zarzuela, so as to lead to an analytical reflection. Among other important issues, a holistic view of childhood focuses on public and private domains, gender relations and power hierarchies. In understanding the meaning of “constructing childhood”, the children's view of their own age and the role of musical resources in indicating age categories are particularly significant.