ABSTRACT
Responses to music can be physical, physiological, emotional, cognitive and psychological, and as such they are complex and multidimensional and have the potential to be either positive or negative. This chapter explores responses to music across the lifespan, in particular how individual responses are constructed and shaped by our cultural and social contexts and experiences. By exploring recent cross-cultural studies and research situated in community and education settings, we propose that responses to music promote musical engagement. Understanding the diversity of responses to music, alongside changes in musical engagement across the lifespan, has the potential to encourage extrinsic cognitive, social and health benefits and strengthen ties between individuals and their communities.
