Angklung Music-Based Mindfulness to Improve Cognitive and Emotional Intelligence in Early Childhood
Journal for Lesson and Learning Studies July 25, 2026 DOI: 10.23887/jlls.v9i2.116047 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Quasi-experimental one-group pretest-posttest study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 75 |
| Population | Children aged 5–6 years |
| Intervention | Mindfulness-based learning through angklung music |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key findings | Children's cognitive and emotional intelligence scores improved significantly from pretest to posttest after mindfulness-based learning with angklung music (Z = -7.533, p < 0.001, r = 0.87), with gains noted in attention control, working memory, emotional regulation, self-control, empathy, and social responsiveness. The authors argue this supports integrating mindfulness with traditional music as a culturally responsive early childhood pedagogy. |
Abstract
Difficulties in attention control, emotional regulation, and social responsiveness among young children highlight the need for learning approaches that holistically support both cognitive and emotional development. This study aimed to analyze the effect of mindfulness-based learning through angklung music on the cognitive and emotional intelligence of young children. A quantitative approach with a quasi-experimental method and a one-group pretest-posttest design was employed. The participants were 75 children aged 5–6 years. Data were collected using structured observation instruments based on indicators of executive function and emotional intelligence. Instrument validity was established through expert judgment, while reliability testing using Cronbach’s Alpha yielded a high reliability coefficient (α = 0.89). Data were analyzed using the Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test because the data were not normally distributed. The results demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in children’s cognitive and emotional intelligence following the intervention (Z = -7.533, p < 0.001), with a very large effect size (r = 0.87). Improvements were particularly evident in attention control, working memory, emotional regulation, self-control, empathy, and social responsiveness. These findings indicate that mindfulness-based learning integrated with angklung music positively influences young children’s cognitive and emotional development. The study implies that integrating mindfulness practices with traditional music can serve as an innovative, holistic, and culturally responsive pedagogical strategy for supporting early childhood development.
Comparable studies
Other experimental studies on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| The benefits of being present: Mindfulness and its role in psychological well-being. Cancer patients (clinical intervention study) | 2003 | Mixed methods: scale development, correlational, quasi-experimental, laboratory, experience-sampling, and clinical intervention study | |
| Loving-kindness meditation increases social connectedness. | 2008 | Controlled laboratory experiment | |
| Mindfulness and mind-wandering: Finding convergence through opposing constructs. | 2012 | Two studies: correlational study and experimental study | |
| Mental Training Enhances Attentional Stability: Neural and Behavioral Evidence | 2009 | Experimental study | |
| Mindfulness meditation and substance use in an incarcerated population. Incarcerated population | 2006 | Quasi-experimental with treatment-as-usual control condition |
Citations in the library
Cites 2
- Promoting prosocial behavior and self-regulatory skills in preschool children through a mindfulness-based kindness curriculum. Developmental Psychology November 10, 2014
- Enhancing Chinese preschoolers' executive function via mindfulness training: An fNIRS study. Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience August 25, 2022