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Author ORCID Identifier

https://orcid.org/0009-0002-7214-0734

Date Available

3-2-2026

Year of Publication

2026

Document Type

Master's Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Music (MM)

College

Fine Arts

Department/School/Program

Music

Faculty

Alaine E. Reschke-Hernandez

Faculty

Martina Vasil

Abstract

Autobiographical storytelling can be a meaningful way for older adults to reflect on life experience and support social and emotional well-being. Music has been widely documented as a cue for autobiographical memory. Although the benefits of storytelling and music as a memory cue have been independently examined, limited research has explored its combination with older adults. The purpose of this study was to explore music-based autobiographical storytelling in the lives of older adults. There were three research questions: (1) How do older adults describe their experiences with music-based storytelling? (2) How do they describe the social experience with music-based storytelling? and (3) How do they describe the emotional experience of music-based storytelling? To answer these questions, I conducted a qualitative adapted multiple case study with four cases comprised of seven participants. I analyzed the dataset in two ways: thematic analysis and music-based autobiographical memory (MEAM) analysis, which was adapted from past quantitative MEAM research. Four MEAM themes emerged from the music-based storytelling data: (1) Music as an Autobiographical Anchor, (2) Threads of Belonging: Music as Relational Glue, (3) Solace in Sound and (4) The Sounds of Change. Four themes emerged from the thematic analysis of autobiographical detail and interview data: (1) Emotional Impact of Music, Storytelling and Reflection, (2) The Value of Being Heard (3) Social Connections and Interpersonal Meanings and (4) A New Movement: Changing Sounds and Perspectives Across Time. Findings of this study provide insight into possible clinical applications of music-based storytelling with older adults as an impactful, personally meaningful experience.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

https://doi.org/10.13023/etd.2026.01

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Archival

Funding Information

University of Kentucky, College of Fine Arts

Graduate Student Research Funding

2025

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