A Cross-Cultural Examination of Music Compositions in South Korea and the United States: A Pilot Study

ABSTRACT

In this pilot study, we cross-culturally examined notation-based music compositions of upper-level elementary students in South Korea and the U.S. using the ratings of judges from both countries. Research participants were 32 South Korean and 35 U.S. upper-grade elementary students. After taking four weeks of music composition sessions, the students composed 8 measures of melody. Students’ music compositions were judged using the Consensual Assessment Technique. As a result, we did not find statistically significant differences by these variables. But when we conduct further analysis of twelve high and low scored compositions in creativity in both countries, there were remarkable differences. Music compositions with high creativity manifested various sound potions, development/ contrast, and organization/structure. Low creativity groups has limited sound options and simplicity/repetition. But adoption of pre-existing melody was found only in Korean low-creativity composition.