The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a music-assisted relaxation training program as a treatment method for college music students suffering from performance anxiety. A total of 40 participants were randomly assigned to the experimental (n=20) and wait-list control (n=20) groups. The experimental group received six music-assisted relaxation training sessions while the wait-list control group received no contact. Dependent measures included pre- and post-test State Trait Anxiety Inventory (ST AI) scores and heart rate measurements during individual jury examinations (performance condition). Results found no differences in ST AI scores and heart rate measurements between groups. Factors such as years of formal training and memorization of performance showed no differences in dependent measures. The experimental group rated their performance quality as significantly higher than the wait-list control group. All participants who received the relaxation training program felt they benefited from it, and_ found it helpful in feeling more "in control" and "focused on their music" during performances.

A single subject, diagnosed as having severe oral apraxia and dysarthria, participated in an eight-week research experiment designed to study the effects of singing on speech articulation. A simultaneous treatment design was used in which the subject participated in both the e xperimental and control conditions. In the control condition spoken words were repeated by the subject, while in the experimental condition the words were sung. The words used were the lyrics to two popular folk songs. Articulatory accuracy (intelligibility) was judged by two graduate level speech therapists, based on audiotape samples of the subject's responses, recorded on a "Language Master" machine. Judges were also asked to rate their degree of confidence about their judgements. Results indicated significantly higher scores at the .05 level for the singing condition than for the non-singing condition. Degree of confidence ratings were similar for both conditions. It was also observed that a significantly greater number of consonant blends were correctly articulated in the singing condition than in the nonsinging condition.

Objetivo: Evaluar la eficacia de la musicoterapia en la reducción de los niveles de ansiedad en los niños de 5 a 12 años de edad, con necesidades especiales durante la atención odontológica en el Centro Ann Sullivan del Perú.  Materiales y métodos: Estudio cuasi experimental. Se evaluó a 40 pacientes, los cuales fueron divididos aleatoriamente en 2 grupos: grupo de expuestos y no expuestos a musicoterapia. El nivel de ansiedad fue registrado por la escala de imagen facial antes y después de la atención clínica, el comportamiento durante la atención a través de la escala de Frankl y el nivel de ansiedad de los padres a través de la escala modificada de Corah. Asimismo, se registraron los cambios en las funciones vitales de ambos grupos antes y después de dicha atención.  Resultados: Se encontraron diferencias estadísticamente significativas en todos los valores de la presión arterial (sístole, p<0.001 y diástole, p=0.007) y frecuencia cardiaca final (p= 0.001) en ambos grupos. Los valores de las funciones vitales finales fueron menores en el grupo expuesto en contraste al grupo no expuesto. Se encontró diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre los niveles de ansiedad final en ambos grupos, observándose una proporción mayor de casos con niveles de ansiedad en el grupo no expuesto a musicoterapia. (p=0.001) Conclusión: El empleo de la musicoterapia es eficaz en la reducción de los niveles de ansiedad durante la atención odontológica en pacientes con necesidades especiales. / Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of music therapy in reducing anxiety levels in children with special needs between 5 and 12 years of age during dental attention at the Ann Sullivan Center of Peru. Materials and methods: This is a quasi-experimental study. 40 patients were randomly divided in two groups: exposed and not exposed to music therapy.  The level of anxiety was registered using the Facial Image Scale before and after clinical attention, the patient behavior during the attention was measured by the Frankl Scale, and the level of anxiety of the was measured by the Modified Corah Scale.  Likewise, the vital functions of both groups were registered before and after dental attention and the differences were evaluated. Results: Statistically significant differences were found in both blood pressure values (systole, p = 0.000 and diastole, p = 0.007) and final heart rate (p = 0.001). The values of the final vital functions were minors in the exposed group in contrast to the unexposed group. Statistically significant differences were found between the levels of final anxiety in both groups, with a higher proportion of cases of anxiety levels in the unexposed group (p = 0.001). Conclusion: The use of music therapy is effective in the reduction of anxiety levels during dental atention in pacients with special needs. / Tesis

People who are homeless tend to suffer from stress, substance abuse and mental health problems. Music therapy with a closed group of homeless adults residing in an American homeless shelter has shown potential benefit. The aim of this qualitative study was to explore how open group music therapy sessions designed to facilitate emotional expression, interpersonal connection, stimulation, and self-esteem were experienced by homeless adults not residing in a common shelter. The current study made use of a sample of homeless adults visiting a church feeding scheme in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. The sessions were framed as music workshops and the main components used included: drumming, vocal and instrumental improvisation, and known songs. A total of six, weekly, open group music therapy workshops were held at the feeding scheme for a maximum of ten participants per session. Videotaped recordings were made of each music therapy session and one different participant was interviewed after the session each week. From the interpretative phenomenological analysis of the transcripts of individual interviews and the videotaped recordings of sessions, a number of themes emerged. From the findings of this study it was concluded that the open group music therapy sessions offered homeless adults opportunities for: increased self-esteem, meaningful interpersonal connection, constructive use of time, stress relief, meeting emotional needs, and transformation. / Dissertation (MMus)--University of Pretoria, 2013. / lk2014 / Music / MMus / Unrestricted

Phenomenological research was conducted to explore the lived experiences of adolescents in a Children’s home who participate in a choir that is facilitated from a community music therapy perspective. The case study involved 16 weekly choir sessions, where a variety of vocalisations and interactive vocal interventions were implemented. A performance marked the end of the process, where preferred songs were performed. Fourteen adolescents residing in Bramley Children’s Home participated in the choir and the research. Qualitative data was collected through 14 semi-structured individual interviews at the end of the process. All interview transcripts were analysed through utilising interpretative phenomenological analysis. The study concluded that participation in the community music therapy choir offered the adolescents perceived meaningful intra- and interpersonal experiences. At an intrapersonal level, the participants lived experience entailed discovering their musical voices, accessing inner strength to take action both in the here-and-now and in the future as well as experiencing a healthier picture of themselves through increased self-awareness, self-esteem and self-confidence. Utilising cognitive skills and experiencing, expressing and regulating emotions were also included in the in the intrapersonal findings. In terms of interpersonal experiences, the adolescents perceived growth in relationships, improved social skills, social harmony and connection into the community. An important finding in this study that drew on a community music therapy focus is connection into the community, where the adolescents are experiencing sustaining relationships and continuous musiking within their communities. / Dissertation (MMus)--University of Pretoria, 2016. / Music / MMus / Unrestricted

This study was designed to explore the role of community music therapy in enhancing protective factors for youth at risk, which are associated with, and predictive of resilience. Resilience is understood as adaptive behaviour when faced with adversity and threats to adaptation. This qualitative research utilised a case study of six learners from Heideveld Primary School, aged nine to eleven, who participated in nine group music therapy sessions. Video recordings of the sessions and portfolio entries created by the participants were analysed by means of thematic coding and categorising. Individual, relational, community and cultural protective factors, which can enable resilience, were observed in the music therapy space and were incorporated into eight themes that offered insight into the contextually pertinent factors that can promote resilience in relation to the types of adversity faced in the Heideveld ecology. It was also explored how these factors may be enhanced in a community music therapy process. The importance of affording experiences of safety and a nurturing support system in the music therapy space, as well as the ability of interactions within musicking to evoke and enhance protective factors, are highlighted. / Mini Dissertation (MMus)--University of Pretoria, 2017. / Music / MMus / Unrestricted

This qualitative study examined how adolescent participants who self-harm narrate motivations for and experiences of self-harm and what a narrative group music therapy process could afford them. Seven participants from a high school in South Africa who engage in self-harm attended narrative group music therapy sessions for six weeks. Multiple interventions were used to create opportunities for self-expression within sessions. Narratives that emerged during this therapeutic process were analysed. Five main narratives were identified: “who I am, becoming and strive to be,” “relationships,” “worldview,” “self-harm,” “music therapy.” / Mini Dissertation (MMus)--University of Pretoria, 2018. / Music / MMus / Unrestricted

There are a number of organisations offering Employee Wellness Programs (EWPs) to South African companies, while other businesses have established their own in-house EWPs. Broadly speaking, EWPs are designed to promote employee wellbeing in order to increase productivity. The purpose of this qualitative research study was to determine whether a music therapy intervention could address employee wellness needs. A single music therapy workshop was conducted with five participants who were employees at a South African Employee Wellness Organisation. The workshop comprised active and receptive music therapy techniques. Participants were interviewed in a focus group after the workshop. Data were prepared by means of thick description and transcription and were analysed using thematic analysis. The following themes were identified: ‘making and feeling connections’, ‘navigating boundaries, ambiguity and change’, ‘quality of group music-making’, ‘the workshop experience’, ‘personal development’ and ‘team building’. Findings indicate that the music therapy intervention addressed wellness needs associated with personal development and team building. Reflection was shown to have a significant relationship with both personal development and team building. Other notable relationships within these categories included stress-relief, acknowledging diversity and increased trust in the group. A model was proposed illustrating the embedded and interconnected conditions present during the workshop that addressed the employee wellness needs of team building and personal development. / Dissertation (MMus)--University of Pretoria, 2018. / Music / MMus / Unrestricted

A pre-existing interview of a music therapist working in Heideveld in the Cape flats, South Africa, provides data for this research dissertation. The interview focuses on a project that the interviewee and her colleague initiated as a means of developing the potential of community members and addressing some of the many social issues faced by the community, such as gangs, violence, racial divisions and poverty. The project, 'Music for Life', included a choir of about 60 children from different schools in the area, and a concert held in the community at the end of 2004. This qualitative study explores the experiences of the music therapists as they negotiated community 'musicking' with the Heideveld community through the 'Music for Life' project, and highlights possible implications of these experiences for other music therapists working in similar contexts. Emergent themes suggest that the therapists experienced a constant movement, within themselves and the community. The therapists felt a need to move outwards from their clinical work into the community. Through community 'musicking', the therapists experienced how an often fragmented community was able to move together and to move forward by sharing a sense of hope as the potential of the community was celebrated and affirmed. The therapists also experienced a movement in themselves, personally and professionally. They had to move through the process, changing their thinking and plans constantly through negotiating their work with the community. Implications of these experiences are explored from the stance of Community Music Therapy. The importance, possibilities and difficulties of Community Music Therapy work in communities such as Heideveld are discussed. These hold relevance for music therapists working in similar contexts, where community work becomes a more socially and economically viable means of addressing issues that affect individuals and communities simultaneously. / Dissertation (MMus (Music Therapy))--University of Pretoria, 2005. / Music / unrestricted

The topic of the master thesis is music therapy and its effect on preschool children. The master thesis consists of four chapters, whereby the first three being the theoretical part and the fourth the practical part. The theoretical part pays attention to music therapy from a historical point of view but it also examines the current theoretical and practical concept. The theoretical part offers basic information about pre-school education, including a description of teachers, children and an institution called a kindergarten. In that respect, there is also a brief mention of the Štíty kindergarten, from which the research sample comes. Furthermore, the theoretical part also focuses on art therapies in general. It is mainly focused on the music therapy. However, a brief description of three other art therapeutic disciplines, such as art therapy, drama therapy and dance-movement therapy, is also included. The main aim of the theoretical part was to offer comprehensive overview of knowledge and the facts in order to help the understanding of important facts about music therapy and preschool education. With the focus on the interconnection of these two key areas. Finally, a brief introduction of art therapies and its other specializations is included. All the included information is based on the study...