New horizons in print: A synthesis of primary sources

Abstract

Abstract Over the past 25 years the New Horizons International Music Association (NHIMA) has grown from its roots as a local programme in Rochester, New York, to an international organization that comprises more than 200 programmes touching thousands of participants in the United States, Canada, Australia and Europe. The organization’s unique mission and older adult population have offered expanded opportunities for research, but no review has exclusively focused on the literature related to New Horizons music populations. The authors identified 64 articles, book chapters and dissertations that have investigated questions related to participation in these programmes. They categorized the NHIMA-based publications into three overarching strands: (1) research literature from research journals (n=35), dissertations (n=12), book chapters and conference proceedings (n=10), (2) articles for practitioners from periodicals such as the Music Educators Journal and the Instrumentalist (n=7) and (3) semi-annual newsletters published by NHIMA from 2004 to 2016. This review focused on the research articles, dissertations and the newsletters. A consideration of studies offered insights into who has been researched and the programmes in which they participate. Psychosocial constructs have emerged as integral to New Horizons research and comprise the roles and nature of social interaction, identity formation, motivation and perceived musical, social and health benefits. Finally, an analysis of studies that have investigated pedagogical concerns revealed trends, best practices, resources and approaches that New Horizons programmes have utilized over the last quarter of a century.