A mixed-methods approach was utilised in order to explore the impact of group Music Therapy on the negative symptoms of forensic clients with schizophrenia. Eight participants were involved in this exploratory study at Valkenberg hospital in the Western Cape, South Africa. The Music Therapy intervention consisted of eight sessions over a period of six weeks. Qualitative data were collected through video footage, with three excerpts being selected for thick descriptions to be written and, subsequent to the process of therapy, eight semi-structured interviews were conducted with the participants. Quantitative data were generated by structured interviews with the eight participants individually using the PANNS test both before and after the music therapy process. Qualitative data were analysed using thematic analysis, while the quantitative data were presented through descriptive statistical analysis, and a paired sample t-test was conducted. Findings suggest that group Music Therapy affords forensic adult clients in a psychiatric hospital who are diagnosed with schizophrenia benefits in relation to their negative symptoms. The themes that emerged through thematic analysis were ‘Holding’, ‘Positive Experiences of Music Therapy’, ‘Togetherness’, ‘Activation’, ’Flexibility’ and ‘Inflexibility’. The quantitative data shows an overall improvement in the negative symptoms. A paired sample t-test calculates this improvement as too small to be statistically significant. However, the overall improvement shown in the quantitative data suggests the possibility that the group Music Therapy intervention may have effected a gradual positive shift over time and this requires further research. Although participants still displayed negative symptoms in their daily life in the ward, music therapy offered an environment in which well-being could be experienced and expressed. / Mini Dissertation (MMus)--University of Pretoria, 2016. / Music / MMus / Unrestricted

Qualitative research was conducted to explore if, and how, music therapy utilising group marimba playing can facilitate increased self-esteem for children in a small independent school in the Western Cape. The case study involved ten weekly group music therapy sessions as well as a performance session. African marimbas were used in conjunction with other methods of active music making in the group sessions. Excerpts of video recordings were analysed and the Behavioural Indicators of Self-esteem (BIOS) rating scale was completed for each child pre- and post-intervention in order to examine whether music therapy sessions facilitated changes in children’s self-esteem that transferred to the classroom situation. The findings from the qualitative analysis of video excerpts indicate that group music therapy intervention utilising marimba playing appeared to facilitate the development of self-esteem. Experiences were provided to increase the participants’ sense of worthiness and competence. Results of the BIOS scale could not be statistically analysed due to the small sample size, but the data suggests that the music therapy intervention had an impact that carried over to the classroom situation on participants who were assessed to have lower self-esteem before the intervention (compared to others in the sample) as observed in their classroom behaviour. / Dissertation (MMus)--University of Pretoria, 2015. / Music / MMus / Unrestricted

The context of this study is a street shelter, situated in the inner city of Pretoria. This was the first time that music therapy sessions were conducted at the shelter. This study is conducted within a qualitative research paradigm. The primary data source is five video and one audio excerpt. The secondary data source is session notes. The data is coded, categorised and organised into emergent themes. The emergent themes highlight five aspects of group music therapy that enabled autonomy in a group of children living in the street shelter. These five emergent themes are the basis of the discussion addressing the two research questions of this study. This study shows that group music therapy is an effective and appropriate way in which these sheltered street children are able to experience autonomy, including improved self-esteem and feelings of achievement and mastery. To my knowledge, there has been no music therapy literature published with regards to group music therapy with sheltered street children within the South African context as well as internationally. / Dissertation (MMus)--University of Pretoria, 2009. / gm2014 / Music / Unrestricted

Studies have demonstrated that positive psychological well-being positively influences survival rates across both healthy and diseased populations, suggesting that enhancing the well-being of individuals and communities could serve as an effective health promotion strategy. Alongside traditional treatment, researchers advocate for increased investment in mental health promotion and protection to boost overall well-being. Seligman’s PERMA model, which includes Positive emotion, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning, and Accomplishment, contributes to this well-being by providing a framework for a flourishing life. Additionally, the significant role of music in promoting well-being and health is widely acknowledged, music therapy has the potential to be a unique and rich treatment approach to address diverse mental health problems in a range of populations. The purpose of this study was to better understand the PERMA model as a theoretical framework for promoting well-being with well adults in group music therapy (GMT). This study employed a convergent mixed-methods design, which allowed the researcher to independently collect, analyze, and compare both qualitative and quantitative data. A total of 30 participants from Minzu University of China were recruited and randomly assigned into experimental or control group. The quantitative phase utilized a pre-post test with an experimental group and a control group who received a briefer version of the intervention at the end of the study. Well-being and mental health were measured for all participants at two timepoints: before and after the PERMA-GMT intervention. The General Health Questionnaire-12 and the PERMA-Profiler scale were used to measure changes in well-being and mental health. The quantitative findings revealed that, after eight weeks of group intervention, the experimental group exhibited significant improvements in well-being. Compared to the control group, which did not receive any interventions, the experimental group demonstrated significant improvements in Positive Emotion (p<.001), Engagement (p<.05), Meaning (p<.01), Happiness (p<.01), Health (p<.01), and overall Well-being (p<.001). Additionally, it experienced reductions in Loneliness(p<.001) and Negative Emotion(p<.01). The experimental group also experienced a significant improvement in their mental health (p<.01) compared to the control group. In the qualitative process, the experiences of PERMA-GMT was explored using semi-structured interviews with 10 participants of the experimental group. In terms of qualitative results, the data indicated that music therapy activities impacted the participants of the experimental group in various degrees across different dimensions of PERMA. These include Positive Emotion, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning, and Accomplishment, which collectively contribute to enhanced mental health and well-being. Additionally, the PERMA-GMT approach significantly boosted Happiness, reduces Loneliness, and mitigated Negative Emotion, indicating its comprehensive benefits for well-being. The integration of quantitative and qualitative data found that the qualitative insights confirmed and expanded the quantitative results. The study ultimately confirms that group music therapy interventions based on the PERMA theory are feasible in enhancing well adults’ sense of well-being, which in turn may significantly improved their mental health status. The results offered robust evidence for the efficacy of music therapy in the prevention and intervention of adult mental health issues. / Music Therapy

This study investigates the use of Indonesian gamelan with participants who have special needs or with special populations, and considers what the playing of gamelan music has to offer music therapy practice. The gamelan is an ensemble of instruments on which the traditional music of Indonesia is played, consisting of mainly tuned and un-tuned percussion instruments tuned to four, five or seven tone scales. Gamelan are being increasingly used for music activities with participants who have special needs, such as learning disabilities, mental health problems or sensory impairments, and with special populations, such as prisoners. Whilst aims are broadly educational, therapeutic benefits are also being noted. There is little research into the effectiveness of this use of gamelan; the therapeutic benefits have not been researched within the context of music therapy. As an experienced music therapist and gamelan musician, I considered that investigating the potential for using gamelan within music therapy would produce new knowledge that could extend the practice of music therapy. Various qualitative methods within a naturalistic paradigm were used to investigate current and past practice of gamelan playing with special needs groups and to identify the therapeutic benefits. Semi-structured interviews were undertaken with gamelan tutors working in this area and a music therapy project using gamelan with a group of children who had learning difficulties was undertaken by the author. Using a thematic approach to the analysis of data, the key features of gamelan playing which have relevance for music therapy practice were identified. Gamelan playing was found to have a range of therapeutic benefits which can be used intentionally by a music therapist to address therapeutic aims. It was found firstly that the playing of traditional gamelan music can be used for specific therapeutic purposes and secondly, that the music and instruments can be adapted and used within various music therapy approaches and for participants with a range of disabilities. A set of guiding principles are also proposed for the use of this new music therapy practice.

This qualitative study explores the experiences of creative improvisation in music therapy sessions of a group of 12 first-year international students. The students took part in a group music therapy process which consisted of eight sessions. Music therapy is explored as a possible approach for offering first-year international students valuable social, emotional and psychological support in light of literature findings that note the continuous struggles faced by international students in their transition to university. Data collection was in the form of a focus group interview, which was conducted after the final session, and two video excerpts from different sessions within the process. I drew on these data sources to explore how music is used as a medium for expressing and sharing first-year experiences, and how the group music therapy sessions afford students opportunities for the development of mutually supportive relationships. Data were coded, then categorised and in this process, themes emerged. The emergent themes suggest that creative improvisation in group music therapy sessions facilitates moving from disconnection to building more friendships and deeper relationships; creates a platform for increasing openness towards exploring, expressing and sharing experiences and emotions concerning being a first-year international student; and how music as an alternative medium to verbal and/or other expression for expressing and interacting, allows for this expression of emotions and experiences, and connection in the group. The findings indicate that it was in expressing and sharing their experiences with one another through musicking that students were able to develop mutually supportive relationships. Copyright / Dissertation (MMus)--University of Pretoria, 2012. / Music / unrestricted

This mini-dissertation is structured as a clinical inquiry based on a detailed analysis of music therapy work with a wide open group at Kalafong Hospital’s paediatric oncology ward. The focus of this inquiry is to characterise ‘working moments’ within a wide open group music therapy context, that appears to be impacted by noise levels, group structures, and a generally busy and unpredictable physical environment. In addition, this clinical inquiry identifies clinical skills employed during ‘working moments’ with a wide open group. Research methods of description, coding, categorising and theme identification are applied in the analysis of three video excerpts and corresponding sessions’ session notes. The chosen excerpts are based on a working definition of ‘working moments’. The findings of this clinical inquiry suggest that characteristics of wide open groups include the following: Breaking social isolation and Shifting from illness to health. It furthermore identifies the roles and tasks of the therapist in a wide open music therapy group. This mini-dissertation also includes a proposed research project that stems directly from the clinical inquiry. / Dissertation (MMus)--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Music / MMus / Unrestricted

This study explored the utilisation of a music anger management technique as an effective therapeutic aid in addressing the problems that children in residential care have in managing and expressing their anger. A literature review was conducted which provided evidence that music can be a helpful tool in teaching children appropriate ways to manage their anger. An empirical study was conducted and five participants were chosen through a sampling process. Background information of the five participants was obtained and data analyses were presented from the data gathered in the pre- and post-assessments processes before and after the implementation of the music anger management technique. The data that gave rise to several empirical findings were then reduced. From the empirical study, it can be concluded that the music anger management technique can be used effectively to improve inappropriate anger management. Getting firsthand experience of the implementation of the music anger management technique led me to derive psycho-educational guidelines, which can assist the educational psychologist in using the music anger management technique in addressing unmanaged anger in children in residential care. / Further Teacher Education / M.Ed. (Guidance and Counseling)

This study explored the utilisation of a music anger management technique as an effective therapeutic aid in addressing the problems that children in residential care have in managing and expressing their anger. A literature review was conducted which provided evidence that music can be a helpful tool in teaching children appropriate ways to manage their anger. An empirical study was conducted and five participants were chosen through a sampling process. Background information of the five participants was obtained and data analyses were presented from the data gathered in the pre- and post-assessments processes before and after the implementation of the music anger management technique. The data that gave rise to several empirical findings were then reduced. From the empirical study, it can be concluded that the music anger management technique can be used effectively to improve inappropriate anger management. Getting firsthand experience of the implementation of the music anger management technique led me to derive psycho-educational guidelines, which can assist the educational psychologist in using the music anger management technique in addressing unmanaged anger in children in residential care. / Further Teacher Education / M.Ed. (Guidance and Counseling)