The motivation of women over 60 to learn music: a study at the Violovoz school in Natal/RN
motivation; women aged 60+; acoustic guitar and voice; basic psychological needs; Violovoz.
This dissertation investigated the motivation of women aged 60+ to learn acoustic guitar and voice at a private music school in Natal/RN – Violovoz. The research, with a qualitative, exploratory, and descriptive approach, was grounded in the Basic Psychological Needs Theory (autonomy, competence, and relatedness) by Deci and Ryan (1985, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2008, 2011, 2017, 2020). The methodology combined an online questionnaire, applied to ten students, with in-depth semi-structured interviews with four participants. The results indicated that the school’s educational environment contributed to the satisfaction of the three Basic Psychological Needs. The perception of autonomy was manifested in the participants’ freedom to manage their own study pace and to explore the available repertoire. The development of competence was evidenced by feelings of pride and personal accomplishment as they recognized their technical progress. Finally, relatedness was reinforced by the welcoming environment and the mutual support dynamics in intergenerational classes, which promoted a sense of community and collaboration. Data analysis suggested that the simultaneous satisfaction of basic psychological needs in specialized music education contexts may have enhanced intrinsic motivation and emotional well-being, contributing to the retention of students aged 60 and above.