ADVANCING INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH IN SINGING A Musical Portrait of Singing and Identity: Elder Angelenos’ Experiences and Impressions of Singing in Youth and as Seniors Lisa Crawford Eun Cho Beatriz Ilari University of Southern California ADVANCING INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH IN SINGING OVERVIEW Part of: AIRS Theme 2.1 - Education Began the study with the idea of exploring intergenerational learning and songs of the elderly in an urban context-Angeleno families of different ethnicities Our data pointed a different direction which explains why the report is different from the original protocol objectives ADVANCING INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH IN SINGING Posters were developed to invite the community to participate in the AIRS study ADVANCING INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH IN SINGING Interview Protocol 4 sections • About yourself • • • • Childhood memories of singing experiences Teenage years Singing, music learning, and elders Fifth section for added questions if immigrants Stereotyped images of elders did not emerge in the study from the original protocol…“images of singing grandmothers, mature caregivers, singing with children and grandchildren…” ADVANCING INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH IN SINGING Research Questions • What do elders recall about singing at different times in their lives? • What songs and artists do elders identify? ADVANCING INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH IN SINGING Method Participants Selected eight (n = 8) participants 4 Koreans, 2 Anglo, 2 Hispanic Between ages 65 – 93 In-depth, semi-structured interviews we followed the interview questions but wanted a semistructured approach so that we could adjust or expand questions Transcriptions, Analysis, and Interpretations Even with eight participants, we have so much data Began data analysis focusing on similarities ADVANCING INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH IN SINGING Findings Main categories focused toward similarities of participants, as related to SINGING, that emerged from the data: • expression of feelings • surfacing emotional memories • connections to forgotten moments • issues related to recall of music and artists ADVANCING INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH IN SINGING Expression of feelings • Memories of enjoying music in their younger years • Sadness about limited formal experience, yet • Do not feel their lives would have been “better” with formal music education • Highlight “on-the-spot memory” as challenged • Range of “feelings” about singing for camera • Wisdom – many anecdotes and opinions ADVANCING INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH IN SINGING Surfacing emotional memories • Strong nostalgia for songs from birth country • Musical tastes influenced by religious and familial experiences • Positive memories of American presentations such as Standard Oil and Firestone (radio/television) classical music broadcasts as introduction and reason for continued music appreciation ADVANCING INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH IN SINGING Connections to forgotten moments • Music has held importance to elders throughout their lives • Report being extremely isolated as elders, and, increasingly so the older they get • Desire social interaction with peers • Wish for more opportunities for musical engagement offered in the community ADVANCING INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH IN SINGING Issues related to recall of music and artists • Repertoire recalled originated from childhood • Most frequently from familial and community sources or experiences • Pop music source for English language learning when immigrating to United States ADVANCING INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH IN SINGING Lessons Learned Implications for Education In our three studies we observed how elder attempts to recall music repertories and experiences actually related to elders’ identities Further understanding: • interested in cues researchers can use to better assist elder recall • understand more about elders’ early musical learning • more song recall and improved ways to support it • considerations of health and well-being for elders • continued care in reporting ADVANCING INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH IN SINGING Thank you AIRS! YouTube: Delfina http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqn3OFnkrLY Abraham