The thesis presents a theoretical generalization and a new solution of the scientific problem of the development of musical and creative abilities of 6 and 7-year-old children in out-of-school education institutions. The theoretical foundations of the development of musical and creative abilities of 6 and 7-year-old children were determined. The method of development of musical and creative abilities of 6 and 7-year-old children in out-of-school education institutions was worked out, theoretically grounded and experimentally tested. The pedagogical conditions and methods of development of musical and creative abilities of 6 and 7-year-old children were described. The criteria and levels of the development of musical and creative abilities of 6 and 7-year-old children in out-of-school education institutions were determined. The definition “musical and creative abilities” was defined as a complex of personal individual and psychological special characteristics that enable the person to successfully provide musical and creative activity, the result of which is characterized by a certain level of the objective or subjective novelty. The term “development of musical and creative abilities of 6 and 7-year-old children” was interpreted as specially organized, purposeful process and the result of integrated influence on a child with the goal of achieving positive qualitative and quantitative changes in motivational-creative, listening-creative, vocal-creative, plastic-rhythmic, instrumental-creative person’s abilities. To ensure positive dynamics of indicators of development of musical and creative abilities of 6 and 7-year-old children we developed a methodology. It includes the following stages: adaptive-motivational, activity-heuristic, self-creative. Complexes of scientific approaches (active, personally oriented, personally developmental, competence-creative, systematic, culturological) and didactic principles (developmental and heuristic learning, visibility, systematisity and consistency; graduality; accessibility; individual approach, strength of assimilation of knowledge, abilities and skills, cultural conformities, stimulation of interest, emotional learning; consciousness and activity in teaching, hedonism) are organized. Pedagogical conditions of development of musical and creative abilities of children in out-of-school educational establishments are: organizational-pedagogical; emotional-psychological, didactic-methodological. The complex of methods and techniques for the development of musical and creative abilities of children is presented by such blocks: general methods (verbal, visual, game, interactive, problem, emotional influence) and special methods of musical training (provision of emotional adjustment, verbalization of content of musical works; focusing children’s attention on the tracking of the deployment of musical images, vocal, rhythmic, plastic, instrumental improvisation, incitement to self-control of the own musical and creative activity). Methods of development of musical and creative abilities of 6 and 7-year-old children were experimentally tested in the process of musical education in out-of-school education institutions. The experiment included adaptation-motivational, activity-heuristic and self-creative stages. A comparative analysis of the results of the study showed the expediency and effectiveness of implementing the methods of developing musical and creative abilities of 6 and 7-year-old children.
