School of Psychology

I trained as a ‘cellist at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, London and am also a qualified teacher. My main area of work has been as a ‘cello teacher, music kindergarten teacher and directing church music. However, more recently, my long-term interest in psychology was furthered by studying at Keele University for an MSc in Music Psychology, graduating in 2002. Since then I have continued my contact with Keele University as an Honorary Research Fellow.
I am particularly interested in applied psychology, carrying out research that can lead to greater understanding and identifying appropriate ways for encouraging musical development at any age.

My research so far has included:

• children’s singing development in early schooling
• a longitudinal study of children’s singing development
• an exploration of the influences of home, culture and school on musical identity in primary school children, in a multi-ethnic context

My projects have been funded by ‘Arnold Bentley New Initiatives’ Awards from SEMPRE (Society for Education, Music and Psychology Research).

I have also worked with Dr. Alexandra Lamont as a research assistant in the evaluation of an intervention project using whole-class instrumental lessons, for which I designed of many of the test materials. I have also contributed to other projects.

I am especially interested in researching music psychology in real-life situations. These include:pre-school and primary school children’s singing development and influences on the development of musical identity (home, culture, in and out of school musical activities. Musical development, perception and cognition. Musical participation throughout the lifecourse.

I am a member of the Centre for Psychological Research within the Social Sciences Research Institute and within this I am also a member of the ‘Children and Young People in Society Group’.

Leighton, G.S. & Lamont, A.M. (2006) Exploring Children’s Singing Development: Do experiences in early school help or hinder?  Music Education Research, 8(3) 311-330

Conference Presentations:

• Poster September 14-15 2012: ‘A musician is ........’ – windows into children’s musical self-identity’ SEMPRE 40th Anniversary Celebration Event (Institute of Education, London)
• Presentation April 12- 16 2011: ‘A musician is ........’ – windows into children’s musical self-identity’.  7th International Conference for Research in Music Education, University of Exeter.

• Presentation March 5 2011: ‘Opportunity and choice – Encouraging children to develop positive musical identity’. SEMPRE Conference on ‘Developing the Musician’, University of Reading

• Presentation 10-12 September 2008: ‘Bridging the Gaps – the effects of parent and teacher musical expectations on primary school children’s musical identities’. Second European Conference on Developmental Psychology of Music at Roehampton University, London

• Vocal Consultation Conference 25-26 April 2007, Trinity College, London. Invited delegate
• Poster April 2007: Contributor to poster ‘Exploring Contexts in Music Education’ Geraldine Leighton, Jodie Underhill and Alexandra Lamont, Research in Music Education Conference, Exeter
• Presentation August 4 2005 (invited speaker):  ‘How well are they really singing? – an investigation of the singing ability of individual children in a class-singing context’.     Association of the Teachers of Singing Conference, Birmingham April
• Poster July 2005: ‘How well are they really singing? – an investigation of the singing ability of individual children in a class-singing context’ Mtpp Conference, Reading
• Presentation March 62004 (invited speaker): ‘Does the singing context influence how young children perform the melody of a song?’   EARS forum, Cambridge
• Poster October 25 2003: ‘Does the singing context influence how young children perform the melody of a song?’ SEMPRE Keele University, UK
• Presentation April 12 2003: ‘Meeting the needs of young ‘developing’ singers in school – a study of song-learning accuracy’ Society for Education, Music and Psychology Research, University of Surrey Roehampton, UK.
• Presentation April 8-12 2003: ‘Meeting the needs of young ‘developing’ singers in school – a study of song-learning accuracy’ Third International Research In Music Education Conference, Exeter, UK.
• Poster April 2002: ‘Factors influencing song-learning accuracy in young children’ Society for Research in Psychology of Music and Music Education: Royal College of Music, London, UK.