A preference study of musical activities of senior citizens

M. Mus. Ed. University of Kansas, Music Education and Music Therapy 1980The study of musical activity preferences of older persons is important because it can establish the activities in which the elderly tend to involve themselves in a program setting. More effective and efficient programs can be planned through an understanding of musical preferences. The purpose of this study was to determine whether or not senior citizens had a significant preference for one of four musical activity categories: (1) singing, (2) Orff-Schulwerk, (3) kitchen band, and (4) dancing. Twenty-two senior citizens from two set tings, a senior citizen center arid a congregate development, were subjects in the study. In weekly one-hour sessions, subjects were presented with the four musical activity categories of singing, Orff-Schulwerk, kitchen band, and dancing during each session. At the end of each session, the subjects ranked the activity categories from the most preferred to least preferred. Results indicated that one or more activity categories were significantly preferred over others in combined settings. The rank order of the other activity categories from most preferred to least preferred was Orff-Schulwerk, kitchen band, and dancing. Further results showed that there was significant agreement among the subjects in both settings concerning the rank of activity categories. From these results, it can be concluded that singing perhaps has great potential to provide for successful experiences and to increase commitment within a senior citizen program. As the least preferred musical activity in this study, however, dancing perhaps has the least potential to provide for successful experiences. These conclusions may provide a focus for program planners within other senior citizen settings to design musical activities which increase commitment and most enhance successful experiences. Further research on activity preferences for the elderly is necessary