Family and its role in the cultivation and preservation of traditional folk music at junior primary school age

The cultivation of folk tradition begins in the family, and continues in a systematic and organized way in school as a certainly important task in the education and upbringing of children of junior primary school age. Factors contributing to the realization of this task include: a) school; b) family, and c) other out-of-school factors. Starting from the fact that the cooperation between one’s family and school should be based on partnership, and that learning about traditional folk music requires coordinated action, authors organized a survey aimed at: 1) examining the extent to which the cultivation of musical tradition within the family is reflected on the learning and adoption of related content in music education classes at junior primary school age; 2) determining the extent to which traditional folk music is cultivated in the family by listening to and playing such music; 3) examining the role of family in the process of introducing students to traditional folk music at junior primary school age with regard to other in-school and out-of-school factors. The authors have concluded, teachers believe that cultivating traditional folk music in one’s family is reflected in the form of recognition and improved student motivation for learning content, related to traditional folk music. Students believe that the activity of listening to folk music within family is an insufficiently utilized resource. The survey results confirm the hypothesis that the role of family should be significantly encouraged in relation to other out-of school factors.