Music, Senior Centers, and Quality of Life

Description

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.

Lisa J. Lehmberg is Professor of Music Education at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, USA. She holds a PhD degree in music education and has extensive experience as a school music specialist. Her publications include research- and practice-based books, chapters, and articles, including the book Music for Life: Music Participation and Quality of Life of Senior Citizens (co-authored with C. Victor Fung, 2016). C. Victor Fung is Professor of Music Education at the University of South Florida, USA. He authored Music for Life: Music Participation and Quality of Life of Senior Citizens (with Lisa J. Lehmberg, 2016) and A Way of Music Education: Classic Chinese Wisdoms (2018). He was a Fulbright researcher in Japan and has given open lectures at over thirty institutions across four continents.

'In this timely volume, Lehmberg and Fung capture the experiences and voices of musically engaged seniors across multiple sites. A valuable contribution to the field of lifelong music learning, this book offers much to consider for those interested in providing access to quality music making for older adults in center and community settings.' Kari Veblen, Don Wright Faculty of Music University of Western Ontario, Canada