Musical processing across the life course

Abstract

The chapter focuses on the development of music processing in the musical mind throughout the lifespan. It introduces the general dimensions of musical processing and follows the developmental ages from prenatal stages and early childhood to the ages of schooling, adolescence and adulthood and to the maturation of cognitive abilities and their neural conditions, finally shedding light on the opportunities of music-making in the third and fourth ages with a special view on geragogy (teaching and learning for older adults). The chapter concludes with some reflections on the constraints of cognitive processing and its application to music education in view of the enormous emotional power which accompanies any musical experience.

Topics & Concepts