Songwriting for nature: increasing nature connection and well-being through musical creativity

Abstract

We conducted two field studies to examine whether songwriting retreats held in a natural setting would increase nature connectedness, as well as improve emotional well-being and performance on a creative reasoning task. In the first study, high school students took part in songwriting instruction either in their school or at a national wildlife conservation area. Results showed that the natural setting uniquely increased nature connection, while both settings improved mood and creative reasoning performance. In the second study, we observed similar effects for adults who attended songwriting retreats at the same conservation area and compared this to results from a science-based workshop in another remote natural area to assess whether nature connection effects were entirely attributable to nature contact. The findings of these studies imply that both musical creativity and outdoor education experiences improve well-being, while outdoor education also increases nature connectedness, and songwriting also increases creative reasoning.

Keywords:

• nature connection
• environmental education
• music education
• emotion
• songwriting
• creativity

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Acknowledgements

We thank Tricia Lawrie for several contributions to Study 1, including data collection. We are grateful to Dr. Mark Brigham for collecting the Study 2 science camp data. Funding for this research and the Songwriting for Nature retreats was provided by Environment and Climate Change Canada.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Funding

Environment and Climate Change Canada.

Author Bios

Katherine D. Arbuthnott, Professor of Psychology, Campion College, University of Regina. Her current research focuses on conservation psychology, especially the health benefits gained from contact with natural environments. She is also a member of the UN-University Regional Centre of Expertise on Education for Sustainable Development (RCE Saskatchewan).

Glenn C. Sutter, Curator of Human Ecology, Royal Saskatchewan Museum. He strives to keep ecosystems and human communities healthy by fostering a ‘culture of sustainability’ to help us meet the challenge of living well on a limited planet. He is an adjunct professor of Geography and Environmental Studies at the University of Regina and a Fellow of the International Leadership for Environment and Development program. He also focuses on sustainability issues as a performing songwriter.