Children's Experiences of Choral Singing: Evaluating Reflexive Choir Journals with Primary School Pupils

Krüger Bridge, S ORCID: 0000-0001-8587-5719 (2025) Children's Experiences of Choral Singing: Evaluating Reflexive Choir Journals with Primary School Pupils. Music Education Research. ISSN 1461-3808

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Abstract

This article explores the lived experiences of primary-aged children participating in the Liverpool Cathedral Schools Singing Programme (SSP), a choral outreach initiative delivered in schools across the Liverpool City Region. Based on 288 reflexive choir journals completed over ten weeks in Spring 2023 (April–July), including tick-box responses, written prompts and drawings, the study examines how children reflect on their educational, cultural, social and emotional engagement with choral singing. Through thematic analysis, four key domains of experience are identified: musical learning and skill development, aesthetic encounter, social connectedness, and emotional expression and regulation. The findings are situated within broader debates on pupil voice, reflective pedagogy and children’s musical agency, arguing that reflexive journalling constitutes a valuable method for accessing children’s musical subjectivities and the meanings they attach to their choral participation. The study offers new insights into how choral participation supports children’s cognitive, cultural, interpersonal and affective development, and contributes to interdisciplinary scholarship on music education, wellbeing and children’s flourishing. The article also informs policy and practice by demonstrating how inclusive, reflective music education can support children’s holistic development.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	choral singing; pupil voice; reflective pedagogy; children’s musical experiences; holistic development; human flourishing; Liverpool Institute for Research in Education (LIFE); Centre for Cultural, Social, and Political Research (CSPR); 1302 Curriculum and Pedagogy; 1303 Specialist Studies in Education; 1904 Performing Arts and Creative Writing; 3603 Music; 3901 Curriculum and pedagogy
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General) L Education > LB Theory and practice of education > LB1501 Primary Education M Music and Books on Music > M Music
Divisions:	Art and Creative Industries
Publisher:	Taylor and Francis Group
Date of acceptance:	17 September 2025
Date of first compliant Open Access:	2 October 2025
Date Deposited:	18 Sep 2025 15:22
Last Modified:	02 Oct 2025 14:15
DOI or ID number:	10.1080/14613808.2025.2565150
Editors:	Burnard, P
URI:	https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/27180

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