AIRS 3rd Annual Meeting: 2013

Title: A musical portrait of singing and identity: Elderly Angelinos' experiences and
impressions of singing in youth and as seniors
Authors: Lisa A. Crawford (Department of Music, University of Southern California), Eun Cho
(Department of Music, University of Southern California), Beatriz Ilari (Department of Music,
University of Southern California)

Abstract

Music research has considered the role of musical experiences in the construction of identity
(Cool, 1981; Dabback, 2010; North & Hargreaves, 2010) and importance of adult learning
opportunities (Bowles, 2010; Flowers, 2001) yet, little is known about current singing practices
of aging populations or their experience of music during their lives. Limited research has
focused in other areas including the power of music and intergenerational music-making
(Conway & Hodgeman, 2008; Creech, et al., 2013; DeVries, 2012), effects of aging on music
cognition or music therapy for aging populations (Halpern et al, 2000; Halpern & Bartlett, 2002),
and sense of self and identity (DeNora, 1999). Aiming to describe elders' impressions of their
own singing identities throughout life, this study interviewed Korean, Hispanic, and Anglo
elders (over the age of 65 years) living in Los Angeles County. The purpose of the study was to
understand singing practices of elderly men and women living in a large, ethnically diverse
urban center. Using an in-depth, researcher-developed interview protocol, eight elders were
interviewed and both their speech and songs recorded. Interviewees reported limited memories
of musical experiences in childhood related to school music, and half remembered the Standard
School Broadcasts, the Standard Hour, and The Firestone Hour radio and television broadcasts
of classical music as having shaped their musical appreciation. Furthermore, elders recalled
little about school music classes or ensembles but some remembered private lessons or singing
in church. The presentation will include an analytical overview of elders' responses about
singing and identity, elders' experiences and impressions of music at different life stages, and
segments of elders' singing during their interviews. A full description of data will be presented
at the conference, along with implications for future research.