Table 10.

Examples for qualitative themes and subthemes.

Theme/Subtheme	Example of qualitative data
Theme 1: Pragmatic elements of the sessions shaped the experience
Subtheme 1.1: Singing Is Accessible	“…even if you can't sing. Other people do that and even if they're very old or young they can still do something like that.” (participant with dementia, quoted in Unadkat et al., 2016). “I think it brings a lot of people to a same level, you know, so that everyone's the same. We're all singing.” (care-partner, quoted in Unadkat et al., 2016) “I see people there that are very, very ‘far gone', and yet I see them participating, which I think is wonderful” (care-partner, quoted in Osman et al., 2016)
Subtheme 1.2: Intentional design elements made programs accessible	“…they have structured the whole thing around the needs of these people, very much with them as the centre and the focus.” (care-partner, quoted in Unadkat et al., 2016)
Subtheme 1.3: Role of the Facilitator	“…they went to [local dementia organisation] for advice on how to deal with it… because the ones that were toiling with it were the musicians, but they had to get advice from organisations that's used to dealing with people with behavioural issues, and it got sorted' (care-partner, quoted in McCabe et al., 2015)
Subtheme 1.4: Sustainability	“Everybody's talking about when's it going to finish. And they're not just talking about it—they're really concerned about it. I know it's research—and I know it's incredibly important and I think it's wonderful that it's happening, but I think it's such a shame that when the people are in the here and now, that they're actually benefitting from it. It's like being given a trial drug and then it fixes you but you can't keep going” (care-partner, quoted in Clark et al., 2018)
Subtheme 1.5: Getting Involved	“We were very apprehensive” “I don't sing and if it hadn't been for my husband, I would not have dreamed of going” (care-partners, quoted in Camic et al., 2011)
Theme 2: Social benefits of group singing
Subtheme 2.1: Group singing fosters a sense of connexion and belonging	“…singing seems to break down barriers and to open up sort of, not only companionship, but a sense of belonging, and that's great” (participant with dementia, quoted in Osman et al., 2016)
Subtheme 2.2: Social Support	“…because you know that the person over there has the same sort of problems I have, and the person sitting beside you, you can talk about it” (participant with dementia, quoted in Lee S. et al., 2020)
Subtheme 2.3: Increased Social Engagement	“She enjoyed doing something normal with other people. We both did. She has become more engaged with other activities” (care-partner, quoted in Camic et al., 2011)
Theme 3: Singing impacts mood
Subtheme 3.1: Singing is enjoyable in the moment	“As time passes and you get to know people more, you can see the singing shaping their mood. Someone comes in grumpy and leaves happy and smiling. I work to achieve those sort of outcomes” (facilitator, quoted in Davidson and Almeida, 2014)
Subtheme 3.2: Singing improves Mood Explicitly	“We go away feeling uplifted, the lightness and brightness follows us home…” (care-partner, quoted in Unadkat et al., 2016)
Theme 4: Participating in singing groups impacts sense of identity
Subtheme 4.2: Sense of Fulfilment	“…it made you feel that you were important, which is important in itself” (participant with dementia, quoted in Unadkat et al., 2016)
Subtheme 4.3: Connecting to Other Parts of Identity	“It's something to live for. I was still a little bit less than I am now – in being able to find the words and things—and the first day we went, [another participant] they were anxious. You could tell, and somehow or other I was just able to talk to one of them. I was really thrilled, because that was me” (participant with dementia, quoted in Clark et al., 2018)
Theme 5: Benefits to memory	“…they [the songs] were all coming back to me [during the sessions]” (participant with dementia, quoted in Lee S. et al., 2020) “Aye, usually at our state right now you forget things quite quickly. We've never forgot the theatre group which is strange. Because I remember still the same…I can feel it.” (participant with dementia, quoted in McCabe et al., 2015)
Theme 6: Flow on effects of community group singing
Subtheme 6.1: Change in Routine	“She enjoyed doing something normal with other people. We both did. She has become more engaged with other activities” (care-partner, quoted in Camic et al., 2011)
Subtheme 6.2: Building Resources	“So, I learned out of it as well, about how to get my dad involved in things, where we're both involved, and get him to get the most out of it…” (care-partner, McCabe et al., 2015)
Subtheme 6.3: Ripple Effects	“Some people exchanged e-mail addresses, and some of the couples made plans to meet for lunch a few weeks later” (author observations in Harris and Caporella, 2014)
Theme 7: Singing together supports care-partner relationships
Subtheme 7.1 Opportunity for change in relationship dynamics	“it was some- thing we could do together, where I wasn't responsible…I was relieved of any responsibility as it was all taken care of.” (care-partner, quoted in Unadkat et al., 2016)
Subtheme 7.2 Shared experiences help to maintain relationship	“was excited when I learnt that I could also be involved… It wasn't just – did my mum want to – but do you both want to… it was something that we could do together that was a happy thing” (care-partner, Clark et al., 2018)
Subtheme 7.3 Care-partners benefit from seeing partner benefit	“The thing I've noticed about this experience is how it shows him in a good light. I often look at him and think “that's not the man I married.” But then since I've been hearing him singing and looking and behaving like a normal man and I think “that's him, he's still my husband in there.” (care-partner, quoted in Davidson and Almeida, 2014)