Encounters with Children

Abstract

Abstract In studies of musical parenting, researchers have found parents to have a natural tendency to share musical experiences with their infants and young children. Conrad provides a comparative analysis of Darwin’s diary and his published scientific report of his own infant’s development. In his diary, there was a change from “detached observer” to “embodied participant” that involved reciprocal actions and acknowledgment. This exchange with young children produces an unmasking of the objective, distantly academic, and controlled persona, revealing a vulnerability to surprise and delight. Such a response may perhaps best be described as enchantment, which, Bennett writes, is “to be struck and shaken by the extraordinary that lives amid the familiar and every day.” A case study of the Scottish Opera’s creation for infants called BambinO draws from interviews and focus groups with the composer, director, stage manager, instrumentalists, and singers. Their experiences of mutuality and enchantment provide support for the impact of being with children.