English Helen, Corderoy Aimee
School of Humanities, Creative Industries & Social Sciences, College of Human & Social Futures, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia.
Australas J Ageing. 2025 Jun;44(2):e70057. doi: 10.1111/ajag.70057.
While evidence for the benefits of engagement with music-making as we age is well-established, we know less about older adults' perceptions of and aspirations for involvement in music-making. This article aimed to discover older adults' experiences of connectivity through and in music, and what enables positive experiences. It draws on a community music case study with older adults in Hobart, Tasmania, in 2023, one of five in a larger research project on creative ageing with music.
The methodology was phenomenological, using a participatory approach to engage diverse participants in collaborative and culturally sensitive research that foregrounded the participant voice. Fifty-five participants were recruited from five music groups: two choirs, a ukulele group, a string band and a four-piece band. Methods were observation, participation, discussions and interviews. The analysis employed a reflexive thematic approach.
Four themes relating to connectivity were generated from engagement with the data: connecting with music; support to learn and realise musical selves; connections through music and beyond; and heightened connections and musical experiences.
Participants stressed the importance of the welcome and accessibility they experienced in music groups to overcome self-doubt and shared how important connections and social support were for their motivation and personal and musical growth.
虽然随着年龄增长参与音乐创作有益的证据已确凿，但我们对老年人参与音乐创作的看法和期望了解较少。本文旨在探寻老年人通过音乐及在音乐中建立联系的经历，以及促成积极体验的因素。它借鉴了2023年在塔斯马尼亚州霍巴特市针对老年人开展的一项社区音乐案例研究，这是一个关于音乐促进老年人创造力的大型研究项目中的五个案例之一。
采用现象学方法，运用参与式方法让不同参与者参与协作且具有文化敏感性的研究，突出参与者的声音。从五个音乐团体招募了55名参与者：两个合唱团、一个尤克里里乐队、一个弦乐队和一个四人乐队。方法包括观察、参与、讨论和访谈。分析采用反思性主题分析法。
通过对数据的分析得出了与联系相关的四个主题：与音乐建立联系；学习和实现音乐自我的支持；通过音乐及音乐之外建立联系；以及增强联系和音乐体验。
参与者强调了他们在音乐团体中感受到的受欢迎程度和可及性对克服自我怀疑的重要性，并分享了联系和社会支持对他们的动力以及个人和音乐成长的重要性。
