AIRS News  

• Marju Raju  of the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre successfully defended her doctoral dissertation December 7, 2015 entitled  "Some aspects of singing development, the song creating process and favorite songs of Estonian children"  under the supervision of  Professor Jaan Ross. LINK
  

The thesis consists of four research articles, one of which is a case study observation of vocal development from birth to 25 months, and the others are based on data acquired from the AIRS Test Battery of Singing Skills (ATBSS) from two waves of data, one of 26  Estonian children ages 4-12 years and another of 43 Estonian children age 2 to 8 years.  Together the studies reveal an inter-relation between language and singing development, a relative weighting on verbal over musical challenges in children's songmaking,  the early acquisition of the Western tonal musical canon (as early a 2 years of age), and the reflection of the Estonian musical culture in the favorite songs of Estonian children.  Congratulations Marju on your outstanding accomplishment in this pioneering work  which has greatly furthered the goals of AIRS, particularly in the Developmental theme.

Conferences, Symposiums, Workshops     view all upcoming

• 33rd PsyArt International Conference to be held at the Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, France, June 29-July 4, 2016.
  

• 14th biennial International Conference on Music Perception and Cognition (IMPC14) will be held in San Francisco July 5-9, 2016.  Abstract submissions due: January 22, 2016.  LINK
  

Conferences, Symposiums, Workshops     view all upcoming

• 14th biennial International Conference on Music Perception and Cognition (IMPC14) will be held in San Francisco July 5-9, 2016.  Period for abstract submission is now open.  LINK  
  

AIRS News  

Article abstracts in the journal Music and Medicine, October 2015:

• Singing for Health, Connection and Care, Amy Clements-Cortés, University of Toronto, Music and Health Research Collaboratory, Baycrest Centre
  

Singing Together was the third part of a multi-phase investigation examining the benefits of singing with older adults in an adult daycare program (Phase 1), and in a long-term care facility (Phases 2 and 3). Phase 3 focused on residents of a long-term care facility who were diagnosed with mild to moderate cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease, and was unique in its extended scope of examining their choral participation with caregivers, or significant others. Pain, energy level, and mood were assessed using multiple objective and self-reported tools. Results of 16 weeks of choir sessions indicate statistically significant reduced perceptions of pain and increased energy and mood for both residents and significant others. Qualitative themes in this study included: encourages maximized participation; facilitates interaction and bonding; promotes enjoyment and fun; encourages improved mood and attitude; facilitates energy and motivation; promotes stress release and relaxation; and singing as a recognized therapy. Future implications of these findings will be discussed as well as overall analysis of the research project. A literature review outlining the effects of clinical choral singing with respect to older adults was provided in Part1: Clinical Effects of Choral Singing for Older Adults [1]of this two part paper.

• Clinical Effects of Choral Singing for Older Adults, Amy Clements-Cortés, University of Toronto, Music and Health Research Collaboratory, Baycrest Centre
  

This paper presents a literature summary overviewing the clinical effects of choral singing with a focus on older adults. As part one of a two part paper, this review helps to establish the framework for the research study “Singing for Health Connection and Care” presented in part two. Information is offered on the psychophysiological effects of singing; social benefits of singing; emotional benefits of singing; music in long-term care facilities and outcomes for persons with dementia and their caregivers. To date, the studies conducted as examined in this review show promising results for physical, emotional, and mental health, however further research is needed. This analysis of the literature provides the necessary background information to implement future choral singing studies with older adults and their caregivers, and serves to support the need for the study undertaken in part two.