scholarly journals Service Learning Within the Community Music Therapy Approach (CoMT)

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Soo-Jin Kwoun

The paper explores service learning as one of the pedagogical methods for music therapy students in supporting them to become professionals who can adapt and practice a holistic approach. Community music therapy (CoMT) is proposed as a conceptual framework that can guide the development and practice of music therapy service learning projects. Accordingly, a case example is presented of music therapy student service learning project based from a CoMT orientation. More specifically, this example reflects on participation in the Creative Music Making program as a service learning project for music therapy students. Creative Music Making is an annual collaborative music performance project conducted by the Maryville University Music Therapy Program, St. Louis Symphony, and St. Louis Arc, a non-profit organization that serves individuals with developmental disabilities. The paper outlines the details of the project and discusses the positive impact of the Creative Music Making project on the community participants, the over-arching community, and the music therapy students’ personal and professional development.

Author(s):  
Brydie-Leigh Bartleet ◽  
Dawn Bennett ◽  
Anne Power ◽  
Naomi Sunderland

Community music educators worldwide face the challenge of preparing their students for working in increasingly diverse cultural contexts. These diverse contexts require distinctive approaches to community music-making that are respectful of, and responsive to, the customs and traditions of that cultural setting. The challenge for community music educators then becomes finding pedagogical approaches and strategies that both facilitate these sorts of intercultural learning experiences for their students and that engage with communities in culturally appropriate ways. This chapter unpacks these challenges and possibilities, and explores how the pedagogical strategy of community service learning can facilitate these sorts of dynamic intercultural learning opportunities. Specifically, it focuses on engaging with Australian First Peoples, and draws on eight years of community service learning in this field to inform the insights shared.


Author(s):  
Friederike Barbara Haslbeck ◽  
Lars Schmidli ◽  
Hans Ulrich Bucher ◽  
Dirk Bassler

Developmental problems in extremely preterm (EP) infants and the associated longitudinal burden for their families are major health issues worldwide. Approaches to social-emotional support such as family-integrating Creative Music Therapy (CMT) are warranted. We aimed: (1) to explore parental perspectives on the use of CMT with EP infants in the neonatal hospitalization period and (2) to examine the possible longitudinal influence of CMT. A qualitative design was used to examine the perspective of six families from various backgrounds. Semi-structured interviews were carried out when the infants reached school age. We used an inductive–deductive thematic analysis to identify three main themes, each with three sub-themes: (1) the positive impact of CMT on the infants, the parents, and bonding; (2) the attitude toward CMT, from being open-minded to recommending it as complementary therapy; and (3) the experience of overall healthy infant development despite unique developmental delay issues. The findings elucidate the positive and formative impact of CMT on both infants and parents in the stressful NICU setting and beyond. CMT may empower positive transformation in the parents through individualized early nurturing musical interactions, capacity building, and positive reinforcement. Further research may help to identify and implement potentially modifiable factors for improving health care in this vulnerable group through early family-integrating, resource-based approaches such as CMT.


Author(s):  
Parmela Attariwala

Within days of Vancouver locking down in March 2020, NOW Society’s artistic director, Dr. Lisa Cay Miller, crafted an imaginative means of engaging local and international improvisers in an online series, Creative Music Series #8 (CMS#8). The series showcased not only the musicians’ improvisatory skills, but their compositional abilities. Drawing upon conversations with musicians who took part in CMS#8, Parmela Attariwala reflects upon how the series shaped the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic for her and fellow improvisors involved in the series. She also considers the artistic potency enabled by the mode of creation developed for CMS#8.


2020 ◽  
Vol 38 (2) ◽  
pp. 112-118
Author(s):  
Natasha Thomas

Abstract Black/African American adolescents from limited-resource communities face challenges and circumstances that are unique to their racialization and socioeconomic status; this merits community-engaged resources, such as community music therapy, that are equally unique in creating culturally responsive opportunities for limited-resource adolescents to engage socially with peers and experience meaningful success in a safe, supportive environment. The purpose of this study was to pilot and explore the feasibility of and behavioral processes in a community-based referential music-making intervention for limited-resource adolescents labeled as “at-risk.” The methods consisted of a concurrent nested (embedded) mixed methods design based on the principles of participatory actions research (PAR), during which qualitative data were collected during 8 focus group style music-making sessions. Quantitative data assessing self-efficacy were collected prior to first and following the 8th music-making session. The validity of quantitative results was challenged by the lowered reading level of participants and a high amount of mis-labeled (and thus unusable) data. Qualitative data suggest 3 themes, including creating community, artistic prioritization, and pride. All results were impacted by issues, such as inconsistent attendance and malfunctioning recording equipment. Nevertheless, participants expressed a collective desire to share their work with their community group. Discussion points are raised including how participants in this community music therapy-based approach were able to create and direct their own stories. The implementation of community music therapy approaches seems a valuable way to bring authentic representations of limited-resource adolescent participants into clinical practice.


2021 ◽  
Vol 33 (S1) ◽  
pp. 7-7
Author(s):  
Kevin Whitford ◽  
Angela Ulrich ◽  
Travis Dockter ◽  
Brianna E. Larsen ◽  
Christina Wood ◽  
...  

ContextMusic therapy is frequently provided to patients at the end of life, and studies have shown a benefit in relief of symptoms and a positive impact on quality of life (QoL), but little is known regarding the effect of music therapy (MT) on caregivers. Caregivers are at risk for anxiety, emotional distress and experience anticipatory grief as the patient nears death. Caregivers are present with patients and may also benefit from MT.ObjectiveTo assess the impact of MT on caregivers for hospice patients and determine the feasibility of research in this population.MethodsTwenty caregivers of patients hospitalized for general inpatient hospice care were enrolled. MT was provided by a board-certified music therapist, and sessions included pre-MT assessment, 20-45 minutes of MT, and post-MT assessment. Caregiver stress was measured with the Pearlin Role Overload Measure (ROM), QoL was measured with the Linear Analogue Self-Assessment (LASA), and depression and anxiety were measured with the Patient Health Questionnaire for Depression and Anxiety (PHQ-4). These three measures were taken pre-MT, post-MT and 6 months post-MT. Caregivers were also asked to complete a Music Therapy Program Survey post-MT.ResultsThe MT intervention was completed for 15/20 caregivers (75%). Of those who did not complete MT, 2 withdrew prior, 1 was not available, 1 patient passed during the MT session, and 1 patient died prior to MT. 14 caregivers completed pre-MT and post-MT assessments, and 9 caregivers completed assessments at all 3 timepoints. The MT Program Survey (post-MT assessment, n=14) showed 100% of caregivers were very satisfied with MT and would recommend to others, 78% found MT effective for stress relief, 69% for relaxation, 71% for spiritual support, 86% for emotional support, and 71% for feeling of wellness.ConclusionResearch on MT is feasible for acute hospice care caregivers with a majority of caregivers consenting to research and about half completing surveys pre-MT, post-MT, and 6-months post-MT (9/20). Future larger studies should be conducted to better assess the impact of MT on caregivers.


Author(s):  
Raymond MacDonald ◽  
Graeme Wilson ◽  
Felicity Baker

Participating in musical activities involves an immersive spectrum of psychological and social engagement. Connections between musical participation and health have been discussed for centuries, and relationships between the processes of music making and well-being outcomes have garnered considerable research interest. This chapter reviews studies investigating such associations to identify how creative aspects of musical engagement in particular can be understood to enhance health. The chapter begins by offering some suggestions about why these processes may have beneficial effects. Three key contexts for beneficial musical engagement (music education, music therapy, and community music) are examined: an organization (Limelight) that delivers music activities for individuals from disadvantaged groups; group improvisation music therapy sessions for individuals with cancer; and songwriting sessions for individuals following spinal injury. The relative contributions of creative process and creative product are considered, and psychological concepts such as identity, flow, agency, and scaffolding are suggested as important. The discussion extrapolates wider implications of this work to include general music making beyond clinical, educational, and community contexts.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document