Background: There is a need for index research on music therapy activities for the elderly in Korea. Purposes: This study aims to suggest application standards in music therapy by surveying the elderly's preference for music therapy activities. Methods: A survey of music-related actions and musical instrument preferences was conducted with 91 older people in 4 nursing homes. The questionnaire consisted of information about music activities, genres of songs, types of instruments, methods of movement, and purpose of participation in activities. Results: The preference for musical activities was for playing musical instruments, followed by singing, music appreciation, flowing movements, and concert-oriented activities. Music genres appeared in the order of popular songs, folk songs, and children's songs. The instrument type preferred drums, followed by shakers and woodblocks. As a movement application method, movement using themes is preferred. Participating in music activities was leisure, followed by stress relief and emotional cultivation. Conclusion: When applying music therapy to the elderly, it predicted that the treatment effect would be high when the elderly focus on playing musical instruments and singing activities preferred by the elderly. Music genres selected from popular music and folk songs, and musical instruments are drums and shakers. Therefore, if you use it, you can expect a more significant effect.