Music geragogy: How sounds enrich the lives of older people

Music geragogy: How sounds enrich the lives of older people

On March 8, 2025, Prof. Dr. says goodbye. Theo Hartogh is retiring from the University of Vechta. He has made a significant contribution to the development of music geragogy, an emerging field concerned with musical education in old age. Hartogh's career includes numerous research projects and the founding of the German Society for Music Geragogy in 2009, such as mynewsdesk.com reported.

Born in Cloppenburg in 1957, Hartogh laid the foundation for his successful career by studying school music, piano and musicology in Hanover and Hamburg. He began his career as a teacher in Vechta and director of the Quakenbrück Philharmonic Choir. After completing his doctorate at the Chemnitz University of Technology in 1998, he completed his habilitation at the University of Leipzig, which made him a pioneer of music geragogy. This discipline is particularly important because it focuses on emphasizing the right to joy and participation through music rather than emphasizing the therapeutic aspect, such as alle-noten.de highlights.

Music geragogics in old age

Musical geragogy, which Hartogh had a decisive influence on, aims to convey fun and a good attitude towards life rather than demanding perfection in music-making. Research shows that playing music has particularly positive effects on older people. Music activates the reward system in the brain and can help reduce stress hormones and improve mood. Musical offerings play a crucial role, especially for people with dementia. They promote the networking of nerve cells and can, demonstrably, slow down the deterioration of nerve cells, which is particularly important for older people goldene-senioren.de explained.

Singing together has become a popular activity for seniors and brings back many memories. Care facilities or volunteers often organize music offerings that are individually tailored to the preferences of seniors. Instruments such as guitar or simple percussion instruments are often used. These music offerings are not only available in retirement homes, but also for seniors in their own homes, which benefits the quality of life of those affected.

The future of Hartogh and music geragogy

Hartogh's involvement in music education will not simply go away after his retirement. He plans to continue to be active as a journalist and to supervise theses. It is his goal to pass on the findings of music geragogy in order to enrich the lives of older people and to promote awareness of the positive effects of music. Studies show that older people's emotional health, memory and social interaction can be strengthened through musical activities.

Hartogh's influence in the field of music pedagogy remains noticeable even in his absence from the university, as he leaves behind a reliable network of colleagues and interested parties who will carry on the principles of his work. His commitment not only promoted the development of a new field, but also challenged numerous people to recognize and use the positive effects of music in old age.