Reconceptualizing 'musicianship': Music performance and training through to music reception and engagement

Musicianship is traditionally denoted by a history and level of expertise achieved through formal music training. In research investigating cognitive and health benefits of music, it has been usual for a distinction to be made between =musicians' and nonmusicians'. In this chapter, we explore a range of other forms of engagement with music, including active listening, and affective, analytical, social and physical styles of engagement. The more controversial evidence that other forms of music engagement may confer similar non-musical cognitive benefits (albeit to a lesser degree) as formal music training is reviewed. The implications of revisiting the definition of musicianship in research on music benefits for health and cognition are presented. This chapter highlights the need for a more continuous and comprehensive measure of music engagement for the investigation of the benefits of music on mental health and well-being.