ABSTRACT
This chapter explores motivation for musical engagement across the life course. Motivation functions as a driver for music learning and participation, be it within contexts where individuals concentrate on the acquisition of professional expertise or in environments where the activities and purposes are more aligned with human expression and communication in everyday life, aesthetic pleasure, belonging within musical communities and transitional life situations. Motivation theories from general psychology are discussed with regard to their potential to explain perseverance with musical learning that leads to musical expertise as well as musical behaviour in everyday life. Expectancy-value theories, self-theories and needs satisfaction theories of motivation each address facets of motivation that lead to musical learning and experience. Music fulfils a human need that is looked at in depth, the need to belong to and participate in worlds of imagination, in worlds beyond. Educational implications are addressed, focusing on the need for music education to be accessible and inclusive.
