Abstract

This webinar explores research dedicated to adult music learning across the lifespan and music making experiences in community contexts. Previous research has shown that music participation can contribute to the quality of life among aging and older adults, and that several of the stereotypes once associated with the aging process have been reexamined. Participation in community ensembles designed for adults and intergenerational learners have been linked to enhanced self-confidence, identity, and a sense of purpose. Still, music educators continue to search for ways to involve adults in meaningful musical endeavors. These and other considerations might contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the ways in which individuals participate in musical experiences across their life, and how tenets of healthy aging can be applied to music education.

Nathan B. Kruse is Associate Professor of Music Education and Coordinator of Graduate Studies in Music Education at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. He teaches courses in research methods, music cognition and learning, vernacular music, and classroom guitar. Kruse’s research interests include adult music education and lifespan learning, ethnographic traditions of community music, and school-university partnerships. He earned a B.M.E. from Butler University, an M.M. in Music Education from the University of New Mexico, and a Ph.D. in Music Education from Michigan State University.