![[PDF]](/pb-assets/Icons/adobe-pdf-icon-1498649896243.png){kind=icon}
Abstract
As people age, they naturally experience sensory, perceptual, and cognitive changes. Many of these changes necessitate adaptations in designing programs for older adults. Choral singing is an activity that has many potential benefits for older adults, yet the rehearsal environment, presentation style, and content of material presented may need to be modified in order for older adults to participate to their fullest. The purpose of this article is to discuss sensory, perceptual, and cognitive changes that may occur in old age and, based on the implications of these changes, provide recommendations on designing a choral singing experience for older adults. I offer suggestions for adapting choral singing experiences based on empirical evidence as well as my own experience leading a choir for mature singers with Parkinson’s disease. Adaptive strategies are given so those working with older adults might help mature singers more fully participate when engaging in choral singing.
References
|
Bruhn, H. (2002). Musical development of elderly people. Psychomusicology, 18, 59–75. Google Scholar | Crossref | |
|
Bygren, L. O., Konlaan, B. B., Johansson, S. (1996). Attendance at cultural events, reading books or periodicals, and making music or singing in a choir as determinants for survival: Swedish interview survey of living conditions. British Medical Journal, 313, 1577–1580. Google Scholar | Crossref | Medline | |
|
Clift, S. M., Hancox, G. (2001). The perceived benefits of singing: Findings from preliminary surveys of a university choral society. Journal of the Royal Society for the Promotion of Health, 121, 248–256. Google Scholar | SAGE Journals | |
|
Coffman, D. D. (2002). Music and quality of life in older adults. Psychomusicology, 18, 76–88. Google Scholar | Crossref | |
|
Cohen, A., Bailey, B., Nilsson, T. (2002). The importance of music to seniors. Psychomusicology, 18, 89–102. Google Scholar | Crossref | |
|
Fisk, A. D., Rogers, W. A., Charness, N., Czaja, S. J., Sharit, J. (2009). Designing for older adults: Principles and creative human factors approaches (2nd ed.). Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press. Google Scholar | Crossref | |
|
Hooyman, N. R., Kiyak, H. A. (2008). Social gerontology: A multidisciplinary perspective (8th ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson. Google Scholar | |
|
New Horizons International Music Association . (2013). Comprehensive listing of New Horizons organizations. Retrieved from http://www.newhorizonsmusic.org/music_groups/groups.html Google Scholar | |
|
Prickett, C. A . (2000). Music therapy for older people: Research comes of age across two decades. In Smith, D. (Ed.), Effectiveness of music therapy procedures: Documentation of research and clinical practice (3rd ed., pp. 297–321). Silver Spring, MD: American Music Therapy Association. Google Scholar | |
|
Roulston, K. (2010). “There is no end to learning”: Lifelong education and the joyful learner. International Journal of Music Education, 28(4), 341–352. Google Scholar | SAGE Journals | ISI | |
|
Saxon, S. V., Etten, M. J., Perkins, E. A. (2010). Physical change & aging: A guide for the helping professions (5th ed.). New York, NY: Springer. Google Scholar | |
|
VanderArk, S., Newman, I., Bell, S. (1983). The effects of music participation on quality of life of the elderly. Music Therapy, 3, 71–81. Google Scholar | Crossref |
