Procena muzičkih sposobnosti u procesu identifikacije muzički talentovanih učenika mlađeg školskog uzrasta

Starting from the fact that musical potentials of a considerable number of children remain undiscovered, this dissertation is structured around the basic goal – to create a process of identification of musically talented young school-aged children and to implement it in the system of primary education. The theoretical framework of the research rests on the studies of the general concepts of giftedness and attitudes aimed at defining musical talent which prompted the creation of the Basic Model of Musical Talent Development. According to the model, talent is determined by the interaction of musical abilities, motivation and a specific process of studying, the elements triggered by favorable environmental conditions. The work elaborates the specificities of the music-pedagogical and psychological approach in assessing musical abilities, analyses the existent programs for identification of musically talented children, and presents some options to stimulate musical development at different ages and in various educational contexts. The empirical research was carried out with the aim to identify and survey all relevant aspects of identification of musical talent, in order to have positive effects on the structuring and implementing of this process. A sample consisting of the second-, third- and fourth-grade pupils (N=514) was made for the needs of the research, as well as a sample of classteachers (N=169) from the general primary schools located in the cities of Niš, Leskovac and Vranje. The data was collected on the basis of the questionnaires for the pupils and teachers, as well as by means of a specially created instrument for assessing pupils’ perceptive musical abilities. The research confirmed that a considerable number of schoolchildren with high musical abilities were not included in the formal musical education (79.8%). A particular problem refers to only 1.8% of schoolchildren from suburban areas and villages who attend music schools (as compared to 11.7% of the pupils from urban areas). The acquired theoretical and empirical data served as a basis to create a proposed model of identification of musically talented young school-aged children, which could find its practical application in the primary schools in Serbia and enable more effective identification and stimulation of the children with musical potentials