Music for Life : Music Participation and Quality of Life of Senior Citizens

'Music for Life' presents an exploration of the impact of musical experiences on the quality of life of senior citizens, and charts a new direction in the facilitation of the musical lives of people of all ages. Music for Life: Music Participation and Quality of Life of Senior Citizens presents a fresh, new exploration of the impact of musical experiences on the quality of life of senior citizens, and charts a new direction in the facilitation of the musical lives of people of all ages. Authors Fung and Lehmberg clearly define the issues surrounding music education, music participation, quality of life, and senior citizens, discussing the most relevant research from the fields of music education, adult learning, lifelong learning, gerontology, medicine, music therapy, and interdisciplinary studies. At the heart of the book is Evergreen Town, a retirement community in the southeastern U.S.A., that serves as the backdrop for three original research studies. The first of these is in two phases, a survey and a focus group interview, that examines the histories and rationales for the music participations and non-participations of community residents. The second and third case studies take an in-depth look at a church choir and a bluegrass group, two prominent musical groups in the community, and include the perspectives of the authors themselves as group members and participant-observers. Fung and Lehmberg conclude with a challenge for the profession of music education: to act on this research and on the current advances in the field, to enable all people to benefit from the richness of music as a substantial contributor to quality of life Music For Life: Music Participation And Quality Of Life Of Senior Citizens Presents A Fresh Exploration Of The Impact Of Musical Experiences On Daily Life In Older Age, And Charts A New Direction For The Facilitation Of The Musical Lives Of People Of All Ages. Authors Fung And Lehmberg Clearly Define The Issues Surrounding Music Education, Music Participation, And Quality Of Life Of Senior Citizens. They Bring Into The Discussion The Most Relevant Research From The Fields Of Music Education, Adult Learning, Lifelong Learning, Gerontology, Medicine, Music Therapy, And Interdisciplinary Studies. At The Heart Of The Book Is Evergreen Town, A Retirement Community In The Southeastern Usa, That Serves As The Backdrop For Three Original Research Studies. The First Of These Studies Is In Two Phases, A Survey And A Focus Group Interview, That Examines The Histories And Rationales For The Music Participations And Non-participations Of Community Residents. The Second And Third Studies Look In-depth At A Church Choir And A Bluegrass Group, Two Prominent Musical Groups In The Community, And Include The Perspectives Of The Authors Themselves As Group Members And Participant-observers. Fung And Lehmberg Conclude With A Challenge For The Profession Of Music Education: To Act On This Research And On The Current Advances In The Field, To Enable All People To Benefit From The Richness Of Music As A Substantial Contributor To Quality Of Life. - Back Cover. Music Education And Quality Of Life -- Impact Of Music Participation On Quality Of Life -- A Big Picture From Evergreen Town -- Delving Deeper Through Their Words -- The Role Of Music In Senior Citizen's Lives -- The Graceful Singers : A Traditional Church Choir -- The Pickers And Grinners : A Bluegrass Group -- Juxtaposing The Graceful Singers And The Pickers And Grinners -- A New Mindset For Music Education -- Practical Suggestions : Music Education For Life. C. Victor Fung And Lisa J. Lehmberg. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Preface vii Acknowledgments ix PART I: Setting the Stage 1. Music Education and Quality of Life 3 2. Impact of Music Participation on Quality of Life 13 PART II: Looking Into a Retirement Community 3. A Big Picture from Evergreen Town 63 4. Delving Deeper through Their Words 76 5. The Role of Music in Senior Citizens’ Lives 104 PART III: Case Studies of Two Contrasting Musical Groups 6. The Graceful Singers: A Traditional Church Choir 123 7. The Pickers and Grinners: A Bluegrass Group 160 8. Juxtaposing the Graceful Singers and the Pickers and Grinners 207 PART IV: Toward a New Path for Music Education 9. A New Mindset for Music Education 219 10. Practical Suggestions: Music Education for Life 234 Appendices 245 References 305 Index 317 Part one : Setting the stage. Music education and quality of life Impact of music participation on quality of life Part two : Looking into a retirement community. A big picture from Evergreen Town Delving deeper through their words The role of music in senior citizens' lives Part three : Case studies of two contrasting musical groups. The Graceful Singers : a traditional church choir The Pickers and Grinners : a bluegrass group Juxtaposing the Graceful Singers and the Pickers and Grinners Part four : Toward a new path for music education. A new mindset for music education Practical suggestions : music education for life This title addresses the impact of musical experiences on the quality of life of senior citizens. 'Evergreen Town, ' a retirement community in the southeastern United States, serves as the backdrop for three research studies examining the role of music in the lives of its residents: a two-phase study (survey and focus group interview) and two in-depth case studies (a church choir and a bluegrass group)