Jammin' the Blues: Experiencing the "Good Life".

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Music Psychology
• Lifespan Development

Background:

• Subjective well-being is a crucial aspect of aging.
• Music engagement is increasingly recognized for its positive impact on mental health.
• Eudaimonic well-being, focusing on purpose and self-realization, offers a framework for understanding lifelong benefits of activities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the characteristics, attitudes, and perceptions of older musicians in a blues jam setting.
• To examine how music-making contributes to subjective well-being across the lifespan.
• To identify implications for music education based on older adults' experiences with music learning.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study utilizing interviews and observations over a 2-month period.
• Focus on understanding lived experiences of older adult blues/rock musicians.
• Framework based on six core dimensions of eudaimonic well-being.

Main Results:

• Active, goal-directed engagement in music fosters eudaimonic well-being.
• Music-making contributes to self-realization of talents and dispositions over a lifetime.
• Lived musical experiences positively impact personal well-being and development.

Conclusions:

• A fulfilling life involves purposeful, goal-directed activities like music-making.
• Music education should adopt individualized approaches to enhance learner well-being.
• Encouraging musical engagement supports lifelong well-being and self-discovery.