  This paper describes a qualitative study of retirees' social and personal
practices via digital music technologies in the context of community music. We
conducted a diary study, and interviewed retired community musicians who are
experiencing transition to retirement. Amongst challenges due to ageing and
retirement, retirees participating in community music often experience
discontinuity of identity caused by the lack of social and personal support
after retirement, and also report lack of interest in using new technologies.
Life transition theory was used to understand retirees' perception and
strategies of identity navigation, informing the design of community-oriented
online music services. We deepened our understanding of retirement transitions
with technologies by showing how retirees participating in community music make
sense of new rules and norms after retirement. A key finding is that retirees
reconstruct identities by connecting with music communities, through which they
can develop an understanding of unfamiliar patterns of the retired life, and
gain support musically and socially. Technologies act as 'boundary objects' for
communication between digital and physical artefacts, personal and social
relationships. We highlight the importance of managing artefactual and
interpersonal boundaries when designing online services for individual and
communities in transitions.
