Krause, Amanda, Taylor, Hannah, McGuckin, Teneale, Garrido, Sandra, Crooke, Alex, Whitehead, Eloise, and O'Leary, Matt (2026) Examining communal, focused music listening experiences. In: [Presented at the MUSICONNEX Conference]. From: MUSICONNEX Conference, 22-24 September 2026, Jyvaskyla, Finland and Online.

PDF (Abstract only) - Accepted Version Restricted to Repository staff only

Abstract

Background and aims: Recent research suggests that communal, focused music listening experiences have real potential for improving individual well-being, but research is needed to understand how these types of events are developed as well as their specific well-being impacts. The present research was guided by two research questions: (1) What outcomes (e.g., benefits to mood, self-regulation, mind/body awareness) arise from people experiencing focused listening experiences; and (2) What role do programming elements (e.g., physical space, acoustics, music, facilitation) have on people’s attendance motivations and outcomes? Method: We used a qualitative, collaborative action research paradigm. Individuals who attended a focussed listening experience (n = 4 sessions) were invited to participate in individual, semi-structured interviews following their session participation. All interviews were transcribed and the transcripts were used to undertake a thematic analysis. Additionally, observation notes were taken by a researcher during each session. Results and Discussion: Data analysis is underway (n = 26 [Mage = 36.42]). A thematic analysis in progress has identified three preliminary themes: session parameters, experienced outcomes, and perceived participation barriers/enablers. Additional analyses drawing on the Context-Mechanism-Outcome framing of realist evaluation will be discussed. Discussion of the results will centre on people’s subjective experiences including their perceived impact on self-regulation and connection to self and others, alongside the role that programming elements play in perceived outcomes. Study findings have implications for our understanding of the ways that focused music experiences can be used in in peoples' everyday music engagement as well as more formal practices to promote well-being.

Item ID:	94058
Item Type:	Conference Item (Abstract / Summary)
Keywords:	psychology of music, music psychology, social and applied psychology of music, music listening, focused music listening, intentional, focussed, communal, community, well-being, self-regulation, music engagement, everyday
Related URLs:	https://www.jyu.fi/en/events/musiconnex
Date Deposited:	28 Sep 2026 23:46
FoR Codes:	52 PSYCHOLOGY > 5205 Social and personality psychology > 520505 Social psychology @ 60% 36 CREATIVE ARTS AND WRITING > 3603 Music > 360301 Music cognition @ 40%
SEO Codes:	13 CULTURE AND SOCIETY > 1301 Arts > 130102 Music @ 50% 28 EXPANDING KNOWLEDGE > 2801 Expanding knowledge > 280121 Expanding knowledge in psychology @ 50%
	More Statistics