Researchers from the MARCS Institute for Brain, Behaviour and Development are running a free 10-week program for older adults to learn the piano.

Participants must be 60+ years and have less than two years of prior music training. Those with no musical training are very welcome to the study.

Session commitment

Sessions will take placetwo times per week (for 10 weeks), 45 minutes each session and the piano keyboard will be the instrument learnt.

Sessions take place at Manly library on Tuesday’s, 2:30-3:15pm and Wednesday’s 1:30-2:15pm each week from 6 April running until 9 June 2021.

As this is a research study to test how far memory, functioning and quality of life improve through the creative music-making, participants will be asked to complete some online assessments pre and post the 10-week training.

The program is facilitated by Anita Connell, PhD student and music therapist at Tuned In Music Therapy. Read more about the study.

To register, email Anita