Music education opportunities for older people: A case study from Macao

This article describes education and training in music for older people in the Seniors Academy of the Macao Polytechnic Institute. Relevant literature and documents were studied to investigate context; focused interviews were conducted with students of the Seniors Academy to collect views on provision and on the effects of music education on health and wellness. Findings indicate that the music education programmes offered in The Macao Polytechnic Institute are practical, popular, seem to have substantial social value and are viewed by older people as contributing to a healthy life. However, there is plenty of room for further development. The article concludes with a discussion of implications for the sustainable development of music education for older people in Macao. Copyright © 2012 International Journal of Education and Ageing.