Straining to Hear the Singing: Toward an Understanding of Successful Intergenerational Singing Curriculum

Abstract

Assuming that intergenerational singing curricula can facilitate well-being through the production of expansive learning opportunities and relationship-building between skipped generations, this study aimed to discover the prevalence, form, and characteristics of intergenerational singing programs in a 50 kilometer radius of one urban center in Ontario, Canada. Of the 170 organizations serving children and older adults with the potential to offer intergenerational singing programs, the study found that only 36 had offered some form of intergenerational singing activity. Informants from seven of these organizations were interviewed to probe deeper into the initiators, sustainers, and potential for future programming.

Keywords:

• intergenerational programming
• singing
• curriculum

Notes

1. The larger research project in which this initiative is embedded is titled AIRS: Advancing Interdisciplinary Research in Singing and is funded by a Major Collaboration Research Initiative Grant from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. About 75 researchers in singing from around the world are involved in a variety of research projects related to singing. The AIRS website can be found at www.airsplace.ca.

2. Comments in quotations are taken directly from the discussions during the interview with the various respondents.