Primary measures of music audiation scores in an institutionalized elderly population

The purpose of this study was to determine whether persons at various age levels in an institutionalized elderly population vary significantly in their musical aptitudes as indicated by their scores on the Primary Measures of Music Audiation test. (Gordon, 1979). Age was not related to either tonal subtest, rhythm subtest, or composite test scores. In addition, this study attempted to determine which of the following variables were related to or predictive of PMMA scores: (a) musical experience and training, along with current musical activity levels; (b) frequency of music listening; (c) general morale; (d) sex; (e) care home classification; (f) location of the care home; (g) duration of institutionalization; and (h) location for the majority of one's life. No attribute variables were found to be related to PMMA scores. This result differs from that found in a study of variables related to Musical Aptitude Profile (Gordon, 1965) scores in noninstitutionalized, Caucasian, elderly female subjects (Gibbons, Note 1).