MacPhail Music for Life™

Let music play a part in your health and wellbeing

MacPhail Music for Life™ offers adults ages 55+ an array of interactive music education and creative arts opportunities. Group classes focus on singing, playing instruments, movement, relaxation, music history, and more. Our adult choirs include a new partnership between MacPhail and the Minnesota Chorale and Connecting Voices, a chorus for people with dementia and their care partners. Teaching artists are specially trained to create an environment that promotes wellness and artistic growth for adults 55+. We welcome anyone ages 55 and older regardless of experience level, ability, and musical goals.

Group Classes & Ensembles

Enjoy learning and making music with others? MacPhail Music for Life classes bring like-minded adults ages 55+ together to create and learn about music in a fun and supportive setting. Classes are a great place to learn together and socialize with peers with common musical interests.

What sets MacPhail Music for Life™ apart from other adult classes?

• MMFL™ teaching artists are specially trained, supportive, and passionate. They have extensive experience specifically working with adults 55+. 
• Topics and Curriculum are based on research, student feedback, and the expressed interests of students. 
• Class sizes are smaller. The safe and supportive environment encourages greater opportunities for personal expression, social engagement, and community building. 
• Classes are scheduled at convenient times to allow for avoiding rush hour traffic and nighttime driving.
• Physical and programmatic accessibility is ensured with easy navigation of building, elevators, and restrooms; well-lit classrooms; enlarged text instruction materials; and adaptive musical instruments for those who need them.

Improved Health

Classical music is linked to a drop in heart rates, breathing rates, and the heart’s oxygen demands. Music and musical instruction can also reduce stress, which is linked to decreases in heart disease, heart attacks, strokes and other conditions. Singing and playing instruments gives you more energy, renewed purpose, and a stronger link to those around you.

Stronger Brain Function

Known as “The Mozart Effect,” playing musical instruments and listening to classical music has been shown to increase mathematical ability, cognitive function, and spatial-temporal reasoning. Musical instruction has even been shown to help recover from a stroke and slow the onset of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

Better Movement

Studies have shown that those who are trained to walk and perform various movements in time to music experience 54% fewer falls. Similar programs have also been shown to improve the mobility of patients with Parkinson’s disease.

Enhanced Mood & Well-being

Studies have shown that music can reduce chronic pain, depression, and the effects of disability. Music-assisted relaxation can also improve the quality of sleep in patients with sleep disorders. Music makes people feel more happy, energetic, and alert, and even plays a role in lifting the mood of people with depressive illnesses.

Better Memory

Music engages areas of the brain that are involved with paying attention, making predictions, and updating events in our memory. Musicians are found to have a superior working memory when compared to non-musicians.

MacPhail Music for Life™ Community Partnerships

Through our community partnership program, our trained teaching artists come to your site delivering a program that is tailor-made for the older adults you work with. Classes include a variety of musical activities and adult music lessons, such as: singing, playing instruments, movement, composition, learning music history, and much more.

Experiential and sequential teaching creates an environment that promotes wellness, artistic growth, engagement, community, and self-expression. MacPhail Music for Life™ classes are tailored to all Care Levels: Adult Day, Assisted Living, Independent Living, Intergenerational Programming, Memory Care, and Skilled Nursing.

Meet Our Music for Life Faculty

View All Faculty

Faculty member: Audrey Dykstra

Music Therapist – MT-BC

Faculty member: Jerry Rubino

Artistic Director and Conductor – Voices of Experience Choir, Piano, Voice

Faculty member: Jeremy Hanson

Piano, Composition

Individual Music Lessons

One-on-one musical instruction gives students the full attention of one our experienced teaching artists. These private music lessons are specially designed for your music level; beginners are welcomed. We will match you with a teacher based on your musical interests, schedule, learning style, and level of ability, allowing you to learn at your own pace to achieve your chosen goals. Our teaching artists are experienced in working with adults ages 55+.