The facilitator of community music-making with older learners: Characteristics, Motivations and challenges

Abstract

Although there is now an accepted need for initiatives that support older people’s well-being, little attention has been paid to the role of those facilitating such activities. This research explored the benefits and challenges for those working in facilitating musical activities with older people. The research was undertaken at three UK case study sites, and involved 14 music facilitators who completed questionnaires and were interviewed about their work. The findings showed that there were many rewards in working with older people but also considerable challenges in terms of venues, resources, and a lack of initial and ongoing training opportunities.

‘It’s much harder than I thought’: Facilitating a singing group for people with Parkinson’s disease

“…In addition to the pedagogical skills noted by Camlin and Zeserson (2018: 715) and Hallam et al (2016), results show that facilitators must be highly sensitive when giving feedback to singers with PD. Beyond an awareness of learning being 'overwhelming or uncomfortable' for group members (Camlin and Zeserson 2018: 715), facilitators must understand the different ways that PD can affect individual group members as learners-for example, some may enjoy and relish the encouragement, others may feel deeply embarrassed by it.…”

“…Beyond an awareness of learning being 'overwhelming or uncomfortable' for group members (Camlin and Zeserson 2018: 715), facilitators must understand the different ways that PD can affect individual group members as learners-for example, some may enjoy and relish the encouragement, others may feel deeply embarrassed by it. Jin (2016) and Hallam et al (2016) discuss this in terms of the acknowledging and accommodating of heterogeneity in community music groups. Indeed, the word 'facilitation' itself as noted by Higgins and Bartleet (2018: 280) encapsulates managing different people and perspectives.…”

“…Extant research on the facilitation of music activities is far ranging with reports of facilitators' music activities with older people (Hallam, Creech, McQueen, Varvarigou, and Gaunt 2016), asylum seekers (Jin 2016), women with postnatal depression (Perkins et al 2018) and people in refugee camps in Palestine (Ruud 2012). Quality activities and skilled facilitators have been acknowledged as two important elements for successful interventions for older people (Hallam et al 2016: 20) with Vella-Burrows and Hancox (2012: 15) suggesting that the recruitment of a skilled facilitator for PD singing groups is crucial, not only to the establishment, but also the ongoing success of the group.…”

Individual difference correlates of continuing versus ceasing musical participation

“…While the present study adopted an individual differences approach to propensity to continue musical activity, it seems plausible that additional contextual factors likely also play a role. Potentially relevant contextual factors include the presence and nature of facilitators (e.g., Hallam, Creech, McQueen, Varvarigou, & Gaunt, 2016) as well as the specific nature of the musical activities in question (e.g., quantity and type of practice, see McPherson et al, 2012). Future research is needed to better understand the role of these contextual factors in on-going music participation, and particularly how they relate to the individual difference variables considered here.…”

Designing Responsive Music Making Devices: Creating Positive Exercise Experiences for Seniors

“…Individuals' music preferences depend on their personal favorites and cultural background (Karageorghis et al, 1999). Older adults tend to prefer music that was popular while they were young adults (Flowers & Murphy, 2001;S. Hallam et al, 2016).…”