注重人文涵養，提供符合學生需求的課程，已成為近年來高等教育通識音樂發展的趨勢。研究指出成人學生的學習方法與需求有別於一般正規的學生，另有研究結果顯示，古典音樂是大專學生最不喜歡的音樂類型。面對技專校院廣為開設以介紹古典音樂為主的通識音樂欣賞課程，如何引導廣大的進修部成人學生進行有效的學習，已成為課程設計的重點。本文以針對某技職院校所進行的研究為例，呈現如何藉由通識音樂欣賞課程之設計，在配合教育趨勢並兼顧成人學生學習需求下之教學與運作，並列舉與生活連結之創意教學原則。

Recent restructuring in the tertiary sector has resulted in a more humanistic orientation of the curriculum. This emphasizes the meeting of individual needs in a conducive, supportive learning environment and requires fundamental shifts in the approaches of music appreciation courses. While Music Appreciation has traditionally been a staple feature of tertiary education, meeting the unique demands of mature-age extension students and motivating them are new challenges facing course designers. Research has indicated that the learning strategies and needs of mature age students are different from 'regular' students, and classical music has been found to be the 'least preferred' music style of college students. This paper presents aspects of research undertaken at a Technological College that successfully meet these challenges with mature-age extension students. It will highlight the principles of course design using a creative and life-connected approach.