Lisa Lehmberg and Victor Fung present a groundbreaking look at quality of life via the music participation of older adults in diverse US senior centers. The state of musical activities in senior centers pre- and mid-pandemic is elucidated through original research conducted in senior centers across six states. Featured are older adults' stories told in their own words; insights from senior center activity leaders, manage-ment, and staff; and data, analyses, and syntheses from the authors' senior center visits and a survey of center managers. The authors document the adjustment process undergone by these centers during the pandemic and leading into a new normal. Recommendations are offered for policy makers, school and community music educators, music activity leaders, older adults, caregivers, and service providers to enhance the quality of life of older adults. The critical role that music plays in supporting their quality of life is emphasized.

Music for Life: Music Participation and Quality of Life of Senior Citizens presents a fresh, new exploration of the impact of musical experiences on the quality of life of senior citizens, and charts a new direction in the facilitation of the musical lives of people of all ages. Authors Fung and Lehmberg clearly define the issues surrounding music education, music participation, quality of life, and senior citizens, discussing the most relevant research from the fields of music education, adult learning, lifelong learning, gerontology, medicine, music therapy, and interdisciplinary studies. At the heart of the book is Evergreen Town, a retirement community in the southeastern U.S.A., that serves as the backdrop for three original research studies. The first of these is in two phases, a survey and a focus group interview, that examines the histories and rationales for the music participations and non-participations of community residents. The second and third case studies take an in-depth look at a church choir and a bluegrass group, two prominent musical groups in the community, and include the perspectives of the authors themselves as group members and participant-observers. Fung and Lehmberg conclude with a challenge for the profession of music education: to act on this research and on the current advances in the field, to enable all people to benefit from the richness of music as a substantial contributor to quality of life.

Age does not mean that a person no longer has any value. In Coming of Age at the Focal Point: How Senior Centers Enhance Quality of Life for Older Adults, author, Dr. Althia Ellis, reveals the challenges that older adults face that can potentially compromise their quality of life. She offers solutions to help them prepare for and adapt to a changing lifestyle that can make them feel healthy, fulfilled, independent, and valued. Joining a senior center or participating in similar programs in their community is a great way for older adults to improve their social, physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. The interactions and the relationships that are formed are invaluable. Likewise, those who prepare as aggressively for their transportation security as they do for their financial security during retirement, stand a better chance of achieving the value of independence. Dr. Ellis encourages older adults to accept help from people they trust and who care about their well-being. More importantly, she believes older adults hold the key to a life of social, emotional, physical, and spiritual health; independence; and dignity. This is a must read for older adults and caregivers!

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of rhythm-based music therapy on the quality of life of well older adults. Seven well older adults residing in an assisted living facility participated in four 30-minute rhythm-based music therapy sessions over a period of four weeks. The sessions consisted of structured group percussion activities. Subjects completed the Quality of Life Inventory pretest and posttest measuring quality of life. A t-test for related samples was used to analyze the data. Quality of life did not increase significantly (p

"The Oxford Handbook of Care in Music Education addresses ways in which music teachers and students interact as co-learners and forge authentic relationships with one another through shared music-making. Concepts of care addressed in this Handbook stem from philosophies of relationship, feminist ethics, musical meaningfulness, and compassionate music teaching. Authors highlight the essence of authentic relationships and shared experiences between teachers and learners, extending previous conceptions of care to meet the needs of contemporary music learners and the teachers who care for, about, and with them. Handbook authors offer approaches to care that intersect with a broad range of topics set within the context of music teaching and learning, including: anti-racism and anti-sexism; bullying and harassment prevention; critical perspectives; dialogic education; disability/ability; eco-justice; gender identity and sexual orientation; inclusivity of a range of musical styles and genres; intercultural sensitivity; mindfulness; musical creativity; online/remote learning; nonviolent communication; pedagogy as a culturally sustaining force; self-care; social emotional learning; transgressive pedagogy for critical consciousness; and trauma-sensitive pedagogies. Principal handbook themes include (a) philosophical perspectives on care and music education; (b) co-creating caring relationships; (c) caring for wellbeing and human flourishing; and (d) care, social activism, and critical consciousness. The handbook offers a comprehensive overview of literature relating to care in music and education, along with practical implications that are applicable to a broad array of music-learning settings"--

In Coming of Age at the Focal Point: How Senior Centers Enhance Quality of Life for Older Adults, author Althia Ellis reveals the challenges that older adults face that can potentially compromise their quality of life, and offers solutions to help them prepare for and adapt to a changing lifestyle that can make them feel healthy, fulfilled, independent, and valued. Joining a senior center or participating in other programs in their community is a great way for older adults to help improve their social, physical, emotional, and spiritual lives. Likewise, those who prepare as aggressively for their transportation security as they do for their financial security during retirement, stand a better chance of reaping the value of independence. Althia encourages you to accept help from people you trust and who care about your well-being, but more importantly, realize that you hold the key to a life of social, emotional, physical and spiritual health; independence; and dignity.