by Andrea King
The Pentatonic scale is a five-note scale that has been used in both modern and traditional music throughout the world. From Europe to Asia, Africa to Latin America, this 'simple' scale shows up in traditional, sacred, classical, and pop music. And while currently in the United States we may be more exposed to the seven-note heptatonic major scale (Do Re Mi Fa Sol La Ti Do) the use and recognizability of the pentatonic scale (Do Re Mi Sol La Do) is far more wide spread.
Bobby McFerrin demonstrates the mass recognition of this scale at the 2009 World Science Festival at the event, "Notes & Neurons: In Search of the Common Chorus." It brings to mind that age old debate in music: nature or nurture. Is the propensity humans have toward this scale innate or something that is developed over time through exposure?
Neurological studies have found that children as young as infants (and possibly even in the womb!) can recognize and categorize pitch intervals and have a preference for consonant over dissonant intervals. In other words, even infants have been shown to prefer intervals found in the pentatonic scale over those not present in the scale. This points towards humans having some kind of pre-programed preference toward the pentatonic scale, however this does not rule out the strong influence of culture.
In Kindermusik, the first scale your child is exposed to is the pentatonic scale because of its fundamental nature. And, in accordance to the National Standards for Music Education written by the National Association for Music Education, this scale is introduced in a developmentally appropriate manner by introducing specific intervals in order (first Sol & Mi, then La, then finally Re & Do). This is yet another example of how Kindermusik utilizes scientific research to implement developmentally appropriate teaching practices in a classroom setting.
Enjoy the video clip and feel free to sing along. See how well you recognize the scale!
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