Effects of musical training on key and harmony perception

Corrigall, Kathleen; Trainor, Laurel J.

Effects of musical training on key and harmony perception

Author

Corrigall, Kathleen

Trainor, Laurel J.

Date

2009

Keywords

children, music training

Abstract (summary)

Even adults with no formal music lessons have implicit musical knowledge acquired through exposure to the music of their culture. Two of these abilities are knowledge of key membership (which notes belong in a key) and harmony (chord progressions). Studies to date suggest that perception of harmony emerges around 5–6 years of age. Using simple tasks, we found that formal music training influences key and harmony perception in 3- to 6-year-olds, and that even nonmusicians as young as 3 years have some knowledge of key membership and harmony.

Publication Information

Corrigall, K. A., & Trainor, L. J. (2009). Effects of musical training on key and harmony perception. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1169, 164-168. doi:10.1111/j.1749-6632.2009.04769.x