Music in the Lives of Older People

This qualitative study examines the meaning of music in the lives of older people. It maps the diversity of the experience of music for older people and focuses on the emotional, social, intellectual and spiritual roles that music plays in their lives. In-depth and focus group interviews are used to explore the meaning, importance and function of music for 52 older people living in the community aged 60 years and older. The findings reveal that music provides people with ways of understanding and developing their self-identity, connecting with other people, maintaining well-being, experiencing and expressing spirituality, and enhancing cognitive and physical functioning. The results also show how music can contribute to quality of life and positive ageing. Participants revealed how music provides ways for them to have positive self-esteem, feel competent and independent, and avoid feelings of isolation and loneliness. The study highlights the need for health practitioners, community workers, and educators working in gerontology to be better informed of how music can facilitate and sustain older people's quality of life

\u27Through the eyes of the dying\u27 - Identifying who may benefit from bereavement follow-up: A qualitative study

Introduction: Bereavement support is an integral element of palliative care. Emerging evidence stipulates that bereavement support should be reserved for those most at risk of poor outcomes. While this evidence makes identifying those at risk of experiencing a complex bereavement a necessary first step, it has been difficult to arrive at a consensus as to whom that should be. Aim: To explore whether palliative care in-patients with advanced disease are concerned about the bereavement needs of others and, if so, is it their next-of-kin. Design: A qualitative study using semi-structured interviews, and thematic analysis using a constant comparative method. Setting/participants: Patients identified by their physicians as being aware of their limited prognosis (n = 19) in a specialist palliative care service in Sydney, Australia. Findings: Three key themes emerged: 1) Families considered close and supportive may not require bereavement follow-up; 2) Families with previous significant losses or who have more complex lives are perceived by patients as having greater risk; and 3) Asking palliative care patients about whom they are most concerned in their network after their death is difficult but possible. Conclusions: There are potentially people in the palliative patients’ networks who may be in need of bereavement support, but who are unlikely to be informed about available bereavement services. New strategies are needed to identify people who may benefit from bereavement support

Mentor Relationships: Their Construction and Meaning in the Training of Musicians

This qualitative study documents the importance of the mentor relationship in the training of musicians who wish to pursue a career in music. The thesis explores the diversity, similarities, construction and meaning of the mentoring relationship by interviewing 15 musicians who hold senior teaching positions in tertiary music faculties. The findings show that the relationship is significant for both the mentor and the protege and identifies key functions that relate to both the psycho-social and career development of the protege. The study highlights the need for music teachers to be more aware of the developmental importance of mentor relationships and for music faculties to develop programs that better facilitate such relationships

Grandparent Tales: Exploring the Intergenerational Transmission of Life Stories through Photographic Expressive Arts

The aims of this qualitative study are (1) to learn what grandparents most want their grandchildren to know about them; (2) to investigate how grandparents communicate family history and their own life stories to their grandchildren; (3) to explore the role and meaning of family photographs in the communication of grandparents' stories; and (4) to gather the experiences of grandparents within expressive arts workshops as they create and illustrate their own life story books to be shared with their grandchildren. Workshop participants will attend six weekly, two hour sessions in which they will be invited to tell, write and/or record their stories through narratives, photographs, voice recordings, art, poetry and other expressive techniques of their choosing. Data will be collected from approximately 30 participants through the use of open-ended interviews before, during and after they have attended the workshop series. The results of this investigation could serve as a guide for community agency counsellors, family therapists, parent educators, senior activity directors, gerontologists, social workers and support group facilitators who wish to incorporate expressive arts, phototherapy and/or storytelling techniques into their work with older adults and families. "Now that I am old and infirm I fear I shall no more be able to roam among the beautiful mountains...I can only paint my pictures and spread my colour over the cloud-topped mountain to transmit for future ages the hidden meaning which lies beyond all description in words." [c.A.D.400] (The Quote Cache 2006

Body Mapping: Self-reflective Views of Student Musicians

This study examines student musicians' perceptions of their performance and development as a result of using Body Mapping (BMG) technique. BMG is a somatic (mind-body) education technique designed to teach musicians skills in self-evaluation and change for performing with sensory-motor integrity. A qualitative research design guided by an interpretive framework was used to collect data from undergraduate students and their studio teachers at an American university. Data involved in-depth interviews, self-reflective journals, and course materials. A typology for how participants were able to master BMG in performance is used to describe their experiences and learning outcomes. The main findings show BMG positively impacted the majority of students in the study. The data reveals enhanced ability for musical expression (e.g. dynamics, phrasing, conveying emotional information), the ability to focus more easily on elements contributing to expressive outcomes, and greater personal confidence to be musically expressive. The study also shows improvements in technical development and performance skills including a perception of a clearer understanding of breathing, better physical coordination and flexibility, enhanced arm movement, improved articulation, feeling centered or grounded, the ability to retain focus under pressure, and the freedom to make artistic choices during musical performance. BMG enhanced students' development of self-awareness which was demonstrated by their ability to find solutions to technical challenges, understand how tension inhibits movement, increase their awareness of movement pattern consequences on pain symptoms, and gain more accurate perceptions of movements. Some participants reported an absence of playing-related pain at the end of the study. All shared a belief in the value of BMG derived from positive personal experiences and observation of improvements in others. Many students displayed characteristics of successful self-regulated learners. Determinants of student success include a positive attitude, consistency of work, realistic expectations, ability to transform problems, willingness to commit sufficient time to the process of change, and positive studio teacher support. BMG also shows promise for inclusion in a therapeutic team-approach for treatment of playing-related pain/injuries. In sum, the study confirms the efficacy of BMG instruction for enhanced technical and performance outcomes in musical settings. Study outcomes are relevant for musicians, educators, and health practitioners in the field of music medicine

Well-being in Later Life Through Music

Objectives: This qualitative study maps the diversity of the experience of music for older people and focuses on the emotional, social and time management roles that music plays in their lives. Methods: In-depth and focus group interviews were used to explore the meaning, importance and function of music for 54 older people living in the community aged 60 years and older. Results: The findings revealed that music provides people with ways of understanding and developing their self-identity and maintaining well-being. Music contributes to positive ageing by providing ways for people, to maintain positive self-esteem, feel competent, independent, and avoid feelings of isolation and loneliness. Conclusions: The study argues that music can be used by older people to facilitate and improve well-being, and the need for gerontologists to become more aware of the potential of music. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved

The Role of Mentorship in the Training of Professional Musicians

This paper explores the nature of mentor relationships in the training of musicians. The study focuses on the life experiences of university faculty staff actively involved in the training of professional musicians and specifically focuses on the functions and meaning of the experience from the perspective of a person having been mentored and now in their role of mentoring others. The study uses a qualitative framework to describe the construction and meaning of the relationship for musicians from the participants' life experiences of having been mentored and now as educators in the role of mentoring others. The findings identify the key functions of mentorship as per the psychosocial and career development of the protégé, and the meaning of the experience from a protégé and mentor perspective. The study highlights the developmental and sociological importance of the relationship and the need for institutions and music faculty staff to fully understand the scope and function of the role in the training of professional training

Bridging the Gap between Ideas and Doing Research: Proceedings of the 4th Annual Postgraduate Research Conference

Welcome to the proceedings of the fourth volume of Postgraduate Research Conference held in July 2009. The papers are based on the presentations made by students at the Conference. To ensure we meet the requirements of publishing peer reviewed papers, each paper was blind reviewed independently by two academics. Papers were subsequently revised by authors according to reviewers comments. The final copy has also been reviewed by the editors to improve clarity and ensure consistency of style and language

Well-being in later life through music

Objectives: This qualitative study maps the diversity of the experience of music for older people and focuses on the emotional, social and time management roles that music plays in their lives. Methods: In-depth and focus group interviews were used to explore the meaning, importance and function of music for 54 older people living in the community aged 60 years and older. Results: The findings revealed that music provides people with ways of understanding and developing their self-identity and maintaining well-being. Music contributes to positive ageing by providing ways for people to maintain positive self-esteem, feel competent, independent, and avoid feelings of isolation and loneliness. Conclusions: The study argues that music can be used by older people to facilitate and improve well-being, and the need for gerontologists to become more aware of the potential of music

The Psychosocial Aspects of Music in the Lives of Older People: An Australian Perspective

This study examines the personal meaning and importance of music in the lives of older people, paying particular attention to the ways music contributes to self-identity and quality of life. The data is derived from qualitative in-depth interviews with a purposeful sample of 56 older Australians aged 65 years and over living in rural and urban settings. The findings reveal that music provides people with ways of understanding and developing their self-identity, connecting with other people, maintaining well-being, experiencing and expressing spirituality, enhancing cognitive and physical functioning, and providing strong associations and memories with a person's life stages. Music also provides ways of knowing and identifying self that is critical to quality of life issues. The results reveal how music promotes quality of life by contributing to positive self-esteem, helping people feel competent and independent, and lessening feelings of isolation and loneliness. The data maps the emotional, social, intellectual and spiritual roles that music can play in older people's daily lives. The significance of this study is that it argues how music can be a symbol that older people can use to develop a better quality of life. The study highlights the need for health practitioners, community workers, and educators working in gerontology to be better informed of how music can facilitate and sustain older people's quality of life