Archived

This content is available here strictly for research, reference, and/or recordkeeping and as such it may not be fully accessible. If you work or study at University of Kentucky and would like to request an accessible version, please use the SensusAccess Document Converter.

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

Archival?

Archival

Funding Information

University of Kentucky, College of Fine Arts

Graduate Student Research Funding

2025

Download

Included in

Music Therapy Commons

Share

COinS