By Dr. Alician Ann Clair and Karl Bruhn



Participating in and learning to make one’s own music appeals to people of all ages. However, it is often especially appealing to older adults who value wellness and prevention of disease, because involvement with music tends to promote physical and psychological well-being. When people have success with music, boredom is relieved and efforts are directed toward personal productivity and pleasurable results. In addition, feelings of accomplishment and satisfaction tend to dominate feelings of pain and discomfort. People experience positive emotional responses and report that generally they “feel good.” Many healthy older adults have the time and energy to pursue a host of interests, including music-making. Some have long desired to develop musical skills or to relearn a music skill acquired earlier. Regardless of the age at which people begin, music-making provides great potential for enhanced quality of life and subsequent wellness.

Active Music-Making and Wellness
Active music-making and its role in wellness is receiving much attention around the country. So, why all the interest? First of all, people are demanding more than the absence of disease to be well. They also want reduced illness risk, managed stress, better energy, daily enjoyment, personal development, satisfying relationships, and feelings of belonging.

A three-year research undertaking called the Music-Making and Wellness Research Project found that anxiety, depression and loneliness scores decreased in a group of older adults taking wellness-enhanced keyboard lessons. Though this research was complex, it is based on two very practical components that are readily available to virtually everyone in daily life—making music and doing simple music-based wellness exercises. So why is this combination successful? Active music-making can powerfully influence people’s thoughts and feelings; and, it differs from passive music listening in several ways. First, music-making expands mental abilities that are essential to good mental function, while music listening allows the mind to wander. Second, active music-making can help provide relief from daily stressors by directing focus and awareness of the whole person. Third, music-based wellness exercises can provide practical ways to learn to manage stress. All of this can contribute to feeling better both emotionally and physically, and can lead to the motivation to continue involvement. Though passive music listening provides some diversion from stressors, it cannot afford the success and the self-esteem that can come from actually making music. This success leads to positive self-regard and good self-care which are essential to well-being.

An additional consideration for health and wellness through music is the positive use of time. Active music-making can help structure time, both while playing and while planning a daily schedule. It helps to make time meaningful and purposeful. Also, active music-making provides opportunities to declare individual interests and preferences, to express strong emotions, to display individuality and flare, to derive feelings of worth, and to have something to anticipate. While passive listening provides some of these outcomes, making music goes beyond the boundaries of prerecorded sounds to unique and personal expressions and communications. Through lessons and formal or informal performances, making music gives a sense of belonging, of being important, and of having a vital part in the community.

Dramatic Benefits of Group Music Instruction Are Just Beginning to Be Understood
Humans have the need to belong—to be part of a group of individuals who share interests, and who come together for a common purpose. Such needs are as important to children and teens as they are to people in mid-life and to senior adults. In fact, it is increasingly understood that this need for connection with others may be the most important component contributing to quality of life. That’s just one—albeit an important—reason why learning to play a musical instrument in an organized group setting can be so beneficial.

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