As Nan checked in and unpacked her things, she reveled in the rustic atmosphere of her surroundings. The holly, and rhododendrons creates a feeling reminiscent of Nan’s former home in western Washington. She has come home. Arriving in the early afternoon, Nan noticed the fall foliage of the idyllic upstate New York village, incredulous that someone like her would ever do something like attend a weeklong music camp. For years Nancy devoted her life to her husband, raising children, and serving her community and church. Life’s path has changed for Nan since she began to play the cello. Chautauqua brought others like her to the same place for the same purpose, to make music.
With the expected aging of baby boomers in the next two decades, the United States will soon experience unprecedented growth in its population aged 65 and older. As these baby boomers turn 65, it will be important to study how older adults negotiate the transition from professional to retirement life (Wang, 2005). What activities will senior adults participate that will contribute to maintaining a productive quality life? Four factors significant to aging and music education research justify the need for this study: (1) The rapidly increasing section of the population aged 65 and over, (2) the changing perception of aging, (3) participation in arts education programs among senior adults, and (4) the need for further research in senior adult music learning and participation.
The purpose of this study is to investigate the motivations and meanings of music making and participation among members of two New Horizons ensembles. Adults ranging from age 50 and older participate in New Horizons bands, orchestras, choirs, and folk ensembles organized in over 120 towns and cities across the United States, Canada, Ireland, and Australia. New Horizons ensembles provide access and entry points for musical involvement and participation for nearly 700 senior adults. Many New Horizons members played a band or orchestra instrument as schoolchildren and young adults, while others join a New Horizons group to learn a new instrument.
Methods, Settings, Participants, and Themes
This video summarizes the methods of the study, introduces the settings and participants, and shares preliminary findings and themes from interviews, observations, and artifacts.
Click on the following link to download and read this paper: Senior Adult Music Learning
Click on the following link to read the literature review for this study: Literature Review
Posts
