Perspectives of Children and Elders Living with Dementia on Intergenerational Collaboration in a Participatory Music Project
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“A Lot of Stories in My Mind”: Perspectives of Children and Elders Living with Dementia On Intergenerational Collaboration in a Participatory Music Project Cameron Dusman A thesis submitted to the Graduate Faculty of JAMES MADISON UNIVERSITY In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the degree of Master of Music School of Music May 2020 FACULTY COMMITTEE: Committee Chair: Dr. David Stringham Committee Members/ Readers: Dr. Jesse Rathgeber Dr. Erika Sawin Table of Contents List of Tables ....................................................................................................................................................... iii List of Figures ...................................................................................................................................................... iv Abstract .................................................................................................................................................................. vi Chapter One: Introduction ............................................................................................................................ 1 Statement of Problem and Need ................................................................................................................. 6 Procedural Overview and Research Questions ..................................................................................... 9 Chapter Two: Review of Literature ........................................................................................................ 12 Relationships Across Generations............................................................................................................12 Music Engagement and Generational Trends ......................................................................................28 Music, Dementia, and the Brain ................................................................................................................49 Connecting Research and Practice ...........................................................................................................61 Chapter Three: Methodology .................................................................................................................... 81 Positionality ......................................................................................................................................................83 Sample .................................................................................................................................................................85 Session Procedures ........................................................................................................................................90 Data Collection and Analysis ......................................................................................................................96 Chapter Four: Results ................................................................................................................................. 105 Quantitative Survey Data .......................................................................................................................... 105 Qualitative Data: Creative Sessions and Discussion ....................................................................... 116 Integrating Data: Mixed Methods Analysis ........................................................................................ 140 Chapter Five: Conclusions ........................................................................................................................ 142 Conclusions .................................................................................................................................................... 142 Discussion ....................................................................................................................................................... 148 Limitations, Implications, and Recommendations ......................................................................... 157 Epilogue ........................................................................................................................................................... 163 References and Appendixes.................................................................................................................... 165 References ...................................................................................................................................................... 165 Appendix A: Session Plans ....................................................................................................................... 178 Appendix B: Surveys ................................................................................................................................... 185 Appendix C: Consent and Assent Forms ............................................................................................. 187 Appendix D: Songs ....................................................................................................................................... 194 ii List of Tables Table 3.1 Child Participants from Private Faith-based Elementary School (ES) Table 3.2 Overview of Creative Sessions at RC Table 4.1 Children’s Responses to Pre-Session Survey Question 1, “How do you feel about visiting RC today?” Table 4.2 Children’s Responses to Pre-Session Survey Question 2, “How did you feel about the story/song the group created last time?” Table 4.3 Children’s Responses to Pre-Session Survey Question 3, “How do you feel about getting to know the people living at RC?” Table 4.4 Children’s Responses to Post-Session Survey Question 1, “How did you think the visit to RC went today?” Table 4.5 Children’s Responses to Post-Session Survey Question 2, “How do you feel about the story/song the group created?” Table 4.6 Children’s Responses to Post-Session Survey Question 3, “Did you feel included in the group today?” Table 4.7 Children’s Responses to Post-Session Survey Question 4, “Were you able to make connections with the people at RC?” Table 4.8 Comparison of Corresponding Questions on Pre-Session Surveys and Post-Session Surveys Table 4.9 Children’s Change in Response on Comparable Questions from Pre-Session Survey to Post-Session Survey Table 4.10 Mixed Methods Data Analysis iii List of Figures Figure 4.1 Students’ Perceptions Over Time Regarding Pre-Session Survey Question 1, “How do you feel about visiting RC today?” Figure 4.2 Amount of Change in Responses to Question 1 from Pre- to Post-Session Survey Each Week Figure 4.3 Students’ Perceptions Over Time Regarding Pre-Session Survey Question 3, “How do you feel about getting to know the people living at RC?” Figure 4.4 Amount of Change in Responses to Question 3 from Pre- to Post-Session Survey Each Week Figure 4.5 Dialogue Referencing Four Common Creative Session Themes Figure 4.6 Discussion of Thanksgiving Food Figure 4.7 Maggie’s Parallel Storytelling Figure 4.8 Georgia’s Ideas for Next Week Figure 4.9 Dialogue on Change and Transition Figure 4.10 Sophia and Gemma Crafting a Song Figure 4.11 Georgia’s Contributions When Ending a Song Figure 4.12 Georgia’s Contributions When Beginning a Song Figure 4.13 Maggie Deferring to Children Figure 4.14 Brainstorming Song Content Figure 4.15 Children’s Impressions of Dementia Figure 4.16 Finding Enjoyment in Humorous Interactions Figure 4.17 Enjoyment in Shared Experiences Figure 4.18 Perception of Medicalization Figure 4.19 Gemma and Sophia Discussing Relative Group Identity Figure 4.20 Gemma and Sophia Discussing Changing Group Identities Figure 4.21 Gemma’s Perception of Seniors’ Identity iv Figure 4.22 Children’s Perceptions about Adjusting Communication Figure 4.23 Gemma’s Perceived Connection with Annie Figure 4.24 Dolly’s Impressions of Interacting with the Children Figure 4.25 Maggie’s Impressions Regarding Participation Figure 4.26 Gloria’s Impressions of Interacting with the Children v Abstract Trends of music engagement include a shift towards presentational music culture, as well as inequitable access to participatory music-making for some populations. Meanwhile, trends of societal engagement include ageism and age-segregation. Especially for people living with dementia, stigma often prevents equitable access to creative participatory arts. This convergent, mixed-methods case study design explored participation in an intergenerational, participatory creative arts project. Participants included children from an elementary school and senior adults with dementia in a memory care neighborhood. The purpose was to explore the meaning of participation and interaction in the project from participants’ perspectives. Participants collaborated in eight sessions of original storytelling/ songwriting, as well as discussion and surveys about the sessions. I concluded participatory creative arts were valuable not only in making space for participants, but also in honoring diverse access routes to the creative process. Both senior adults with dementia and children perceived these utilities for participatory creative arts. While seniors’ perspectives remained relatively stable and positive throughout the program, children demonstrated increasing cross-generational connection. Data discrepancies likely indicated cognitive dissonance for some children in processing the experience, yet overall, more consistent program attendance corresponded with more positive experiences for children. There is a need for more research