Preferences of Elderly Individuals for Selected Music Education Experiences

Abstract

This study surveyed the musical interests and preferences of persons aged 55 or older to determine whether musical activity preferences are related to living setting or community size. Information was gathered through nationwide administration of a 54-item musical interest survey. Of 400 surveys distributed, 279 were sufficiently completed for use in data analysis. Mean response scores for survey items revealed that subjects preferred observational activities over experiences involving more active participation. A strong preference for older tunes was also noted. Response differences to the survey were also assessed via the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences subprogram multivariate analysis of variance using living setting and community size as the independent variables and scores on the 5 survey subscales as dependent variables. This analysis yielded] significant response differences for both living setting (p < .004) and community size (p < .001), with no significant interaction.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Butler, R. M.

Why survive?

Being old in America. New York: Harper & Row, 1975.

Fromme, A. Live and learn. 50 Plus, 1980, 20, 10, 64.

Gibbons, A. Popular music preferences of older people. Journal of Music Therapy, 1977, 14, 180–89.

Gibbons, A. Musical aptitude profile scores in the elderly and their relationships to morale and selected other variables. Unpublished doctoral dissertation (University of Kansas, 1979).

Hull, C. H. , & Nie, N. H. SPSS update 7-9. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1981.

Ives, K. O. A preference study of musical activities of senior citizens. Unpublished master's thesis (University of Kansas, 1980).

Leonhard, C. Lifelong learning in music: a challenge to music educators. Paper presented at the Loyola Music Symposium IV, New Orleans, Louisiana, 25-27 February 1981.

National Assessment of Educational Progress. An assessment of attitudes toward music, 1974. (Report No. 03-MU-03).

United States Bureau of the Census. Population profile of the United States: 1980 (Series D-20, No. 363). Washington: U. S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, 1981.