PERSPECTIVES OF CHILDREN (7 TO 12 YEARS OLD) TOWARDS WESTERN CLASSICAL AND ENGLISH POPULAR MUSIC EDUCATION IN MUMBAI

The perspectives of children (7 to 12 years) towards selected aspects like the type and description of music classes being attended, attitudes towards their music education, benefits and challenges faced with regards to their western classical and English popular music education in Mumbai and suggestions about some teaching methods/styles that could be incorporated in their music lessons, were explored. Judgmental sampling was used to select the sample size of 40 children. A selfconstructed interview schedule was used for the children attending western classical and/or English popular music classes. The data was analysed quantitatively (frequencies) and qualitatively (theme extraction and thick description). The subjects of music classes attended by the children were piano, violin, vocals, guitar, recorder, etc. which were individual and/or in a group. Majority of the children who went for other classes besides their music class stated that they enjoyed their music class the most. The common challenge that was found amongst children was the ‘music practice time' the child invests in. Through this study, it can be acknowledged that even though Western Classical and English Popular Music education in Mumbai has its challenges, there are multiple overall benefits for children.