Successful Online Choir for People Living with Dementia: A Qualitative Case Study

Abstract

Group singing as a social musical activity can be used to improve the quality of life, well-being, and overall health of people with dementia and caregivers. Online choirs have gained awareness since the COVID-19 pandemic; however, singing in an online choir is an unsatisfying experience for most choir members in the general population. In order to report on the feasibility of creating an online choir for people with dementia, we studied a successful case of such a choir. This choir began and continued online for over a year, maintaining a group of about ten people. The objectives were to understand the participants' experience and explore factors contributing to its success. We surveyed 12 members using closed and open-ended questions (5 choristers with dementia, 5 caregivers, the choir director, and a volunteer). The thematic analysis of the responses revealed that (1) an online choir is better than no choir for participants with dementia, (2) participants sought and found in the online choir an accessible way to socialize and enjoy singing, and (3) obstacles to participate in an online choir (mostly technology-related) are not the same as those to participate in an in-person choir (mostly travel related). The success of this online choir may in part be attributed to the fact that it first started online (the members did not compare the experience to previous in-person rehearsals and had more flexible expectations); most participants with dementia had mild cognitive symptoms and had extensive previous choral singing experience.