Synthesis

In concluding Collaborative Insights: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Musical Care throughout the Life Course, the Synthesis identifies the ebb and flow of the place of musical care throughout the life course. The Synthesis brings together the ideas presented throughout the book. These ideas include areas of outcome, context, focus of care, and musical activities. Then two models of disciplinary relationships within musical care that present opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration are introduced. The magnet model refers to situations in which disciplines are seen to be drawn together; the person receiving musical care attracts a range of disciplines that act together. The concurrent model refers to situations in which several disciplines can be relevant to musical care or its research and are likely to run alongside one another, but are less likely to interact directly. Next, the Synthesis develops further the conceptualization of the term musical care: from blurring to breaking boundaries, emphasizing the commonalities among practices and research. Then comes consideration of the book’s limitations, which, in turn, leads to identification of opportunities. These opportunities include implications of the term musical care; the use of the life stage structure; to whom musical care is relevant and where, when, and why; and the importance of considering cultural context for future work. The Synthesis closes by bringing together suggestions for future work with a final call to action that invites readers to embark on interdisciplinary research and practice in musical care.