News
Music research to prove well-being
Andy Barrett Oct 29 2009, 10:09am
Research project explores how making music enhances the quality of older people’s lives
The Institute of Education, London is initiating Music for Life, the first large-scale examination of the potential of community music making to contribute to older people’s physical, social and mental well-being.
The Music for Life project will:
* investigate what prevents older people from participating in musical activities and how these barriers can be overcome
* explore the best ways of getting older people involved in musical activities
* examine the benefits of group music for older people and
* consider how leaders of musical activities can encourage older people to get involved in these and gain the most out of the experience.
“Music has proven benefits for health and well-being," said Professor Susan Hallam, the lead researcher. "It helps concentration, aids relaxation, can influence moods and emotions and brings a sense of togetherness when people play or sing in groups.
“Music has advantages for people of all ages, but there has been little research on how it can help older people in particular.
“Our study, which will involve up to 1,500 people in culturally diverse settings, aims to demonstrate the extent to which singing or playing musical instruments can bring all-round improvements to older people’s lives.”
The team will study three organisations that run community music projects for older people – the Silver Programme at the Sage Gateshead in Yorkshire, the Connect Project at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama, and the music department of the Westminster Adult Education Service.
Researchers will observe musical activities, interview participating groups and individuals and run comparison studies of groups of individuals involved in non-musical activities to see if music really does make a difference.
“We hope our findings will identify the most effective ways to provide older people with access to musical activities so that investment in such services can be better focused,” concluded Hallam.
Music for Life, launched in the government’s Year of Music, is funded by the Economic and Social Research Council.
