Benefits of Intergenerational Music Making and Play

Guest Expert Blog By Deborah A. Confredo

Dr. Deborah A. Confredo is a respected music educator, conductor, and researcher, currently serving as Professor of Music Education and Director of Online Graduate Studies at Temple University. She is the 2024–2026 President of the National Association for Music Education (NAfME) and co-author of the widely used Measures of Success band method series. Known for her leadership in music teacher education and community engagement, Dr. Confredo has made significant contributions to music education through teaching, research, and performance. We were delighted when she agreed to appear on our latest episode of the Music Made for the Great Outdoors podcast, "Beyond Early Years: Evolving Music Education for Every Stage."

We often think of music learning as limited to the early school-age years. Even more remarkable is the idea that music learning, in a broad sense, is trained on the very young, while only the older students with a certain degree of mastery can continue along in school music experiences through large ensemble performance. Indulge me for a few moments while I dispel these limitations and open us up to greater possibilities.

The Lifelong Benefits of Music Engagement

Through research and anecdotal evidence, we know that engaging in music is good for us. That goodness applies to everyone at any age. The benefits of music engagement are abundant:

• Brain growth and development
• Improved coordination, reading, and language skills
• Enhanced listening, comprehension, and memory
• Increased fun and enjoyment

Fortunately, the advantages of musical engagement continue well beyond early childhood, affecting us through adolescence, the teenage years, adulthood, and into our senior years. Whether engaging formally or informally, preparedly or spontaneously, rehearsed or improvised, music has impact and meaning over a lifetime.

Some of the most important aspects of musical engagement throughout the lifespan are its call to us to gather, to cooperate, and to be social. While it is our great good fortune to exist in a time when digital means contribute to living more comfortably than ever before, our devices also tend to impose a certain solitude.

As we interact more often with screens, social connections may wane. The social aspect of making music with others cannot be understated:

• Boosts feel-good hormones (dopamine, serotonin, endorphins, oxytocin)
• Reduces cortisol levels (the stress hormone)
• Lifts mood and promotes joy
• Acts as a lifeline for those who feel isolated

The Role of Play in Music

Interacting with music throughout the lifespan provides humans with a mutually understood pursuit, even when it is unstructured, off-the-cuff, and impromptu.

The element of play, which for many is the very definition of childhood, is at the heart of musical experiences. That playfulness can remain with us as we age—especially when our playmates are intergenerational: the young and the young-at-heart playing, laughing, and singing together.

When younger and older folks interact musically, the benefits go beyond the music. We open ourselves to:

• Greater and more meaningful community and neighborhood connections
• Reinforced lifelong learning
• Improved quality of life through stronger social bonds
• Reduced age-related stereotypes
• Strengthened empathy across generations

Friendships often spring from intergenerational music experiences. An unspoken concept is demonstrated:

Because making music involves making mistakes, these become a natural part of enjoying time together, fostering trust and support.

Playing together and making music across generations offers:

• A sense of purpose
• Feelings of acceptance
• A strong sense of identity

Imagine… all of these wonderful things to be gained simply by making a joyful noise together.

Music making past early childhood is essential to human growth and development.

Let’s take a page out of the little ones’ playbook and have some fun! Let’s keep on singing and playing together.

Further Reading and Resources

For more reading on this subject, here is a brief list of resources:

Anderson, E. L. (2024). Cultivating harmony across generations: Exploring the benefits of intergenerational music making. ProQuest Dissertation

Anderson, K., & Willingham, L. (2020). Environment, intention and intergenerational music making. International Journal of Community Music, 13(2), 173–185. doi: 10.1386/ijcm_00018_1

Beynon, C., & Lang, J. (2017). The more we get together, the more we learn. Journal of Intergenerational Relationships, 16(1–2), 45–63. doi: 10.1080/15350770.2018.1404405

David, J. et al. (2018). Connecting the young and the young at heart: an intergenerational music program. Journal of Intergenerational Relationships, 16(3), 330–338. doi: 10.1080/15350770.2018.1477436

Highman, C. et al. (2023). Music connections: Participants’ perceptions of benefits. Journal of Intergenerational Relationships, 23(1), 71–90. doi: 10.1080/15350770.2023.2296987

Marsella, R. (2021). The musical playground as a vehicle for community-building. ProQuest Dissertation

Parrott, H. M., & Cohen, L. E. (2021). Advocating for play: The benefits of unstructured play in public schools. School Community Journal, 30(2), 229-254. Link