Preferences of elderly music listeners residing in nursing homes for art music, traditional jazz, popular music of today and country music.

Journal/Book: Journal of Music Therapy. 1991; 28: Silver Spring, Maryland, USA. National Association for Music Therapy 8455 Colesville Rd., Suite 930 20910 Silver Spring, Maryland USA. 149-160.

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to investigate seniors' comparative music preference for four generic styles including art music, country music, popular music of today, and traditional jazz. The study also attempted to identify certain variables that have an effect on preference. Sixty-three subjects with a mean age of 82.5 from four nursing homes in the South Central Michigan area participated in the study. An interview and musical preference test were administered to the subjects individually. The listening test consisted of sixteen musical selections, four from each style. The seniors judged how much they liked the selections on a scale from 1 to 5, with 5 indicating greatest preference. Results indicated that country music style was preferred the most, followed by traditional jazz, art music and lastly popular music. Variables that were found to affect preference were education level, community size in which the seniors grew up, and music training outside the school setting. ABSTRACT 2: Investigated seniors' comparative music preference for 4 generic styles including art music, country music, popular music of today, and traditional jazz. 63 Ss (aged 59-101 yrs) from 4 nursing homes were administered an interview and a musical preference test. The listening test consisted of 16 music selections, four from each style. Country music style was preferred the most, followed by traditional jazz, art music, and, popular music, respectively. Ss made comments about preferring the "old songs."

Note: preferences for classical art music vs country vs popular music vs traditional jazz; 59 101 yr old nursing home residents; implications for music therapy

Keyword(s): preferred-music, preferred-music-test, music-listening, music-listening-preference, elderly, nursing-home.. Music ; aesthetic preferences; aged ; very old; adult attitudes; music therapy; adulthood

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