University of Macau / Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities / Department of Psychology

This study was aimed at exploring and describing the role of music as a medium in the Gestalt play therapy process with children who experience emotional distress and therefore suffer loss of healthy contact. The case study method was used as research strategy. A literature study of the Gestalt approach and Gestalt play therapy was carried out as well as a study of the child in middle childhood, the child experiencing emotional distress in the form of loss, and music as a medium. In implementing of this research study three case studies were described. The sampling method was based on a non-probability purposive sampling technique. The criteria for inclusion in this study were children who experience emotional distress in the form of loss and who, subsequently, do not make effective contact. Between seven and eight therapeutic sessions per child were conducted. The role of music was evident in all three cases. / SOCIAL WORK / MDIAC (PLAY THERAPY)

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)

University of Macau / Faculty of Education

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)

Many of the sources indicated in this work are classical and not updated due to the fact that the origins of Gestalt Philosophy are found in classical works / Verskeie van die geraadpleegde bronne in die literatuurhoofstukke verteenwoordig klassieke werke wat nie binne die erkende periode vir relevante wetenskaplike navorsing val nie. Die oorsprong van die Gestalt Filosofie wat in hierdie studie benut is, word in hierdie klassieke werke gevind en is ook in hierdie werke geraadpleeg / The Gestalt approach was used as the contextual framework to explore how music can be used as a therapeutic medium in the treatment of the emotionally traumatized child. Music as a sensory experience was used during the therapeutic process with each case study, to facilitate the child's process towards healing. The conceptual framework of music as a therapeutic medium was researched in depth to bring clarity to the influence it has on the emotional well-being of the child. The child who entered into therapy was selected according to specific criteria, with the experience of emotional trauma being priority. The researcher also studied the concept of emotional trauma in depth and the consequences it has on a child's overall functional ability. Music was used as an expressive technique during the therapeutic process with each child. The conclusion drawn from this study indicated that the gestalt approach can be applied effectively in using music as a therapeutic medium in the treatment of the emotionally traumatized child. / Die Gestalt benadering is gebruik in hierdie navorsing ten einde 'n kontekstuele raamwerk daar te stel waarbinne musiek as terapeutiese medium in die behandeling van emosionele trauma in kinders gebruik kon word. Musiek kan beskryf word as 'n sensoriese ervaring. Hierdie sensoriese ervaring is binne die terapeutiese proses toegepas ten einde die kind se herstelproses te fasiliteer. Die studie is binne die navorsingskonteks van gevallestudieprosedures gedoen. Musiek is binne die konseptuele raamwerk bestudeer en nagevors ten einde die terapeutiese waarde daarvan in diepte te ondersoek. Hierdie in-diepte ondersoek het aan die navorser 'n duidelike beeld gegee hoe dit toegepas kon word in terapie. Deur dit toe te pas in terapie is die invloed van musiek op die emosionele welsyn van die getraumatiseerde kind gedokumenteer. Die navorsingskriteria vir insluiting in die ondersoek was gegrond op die literatuurondersoek en het onder meer die belewing van trauma ingesluit. Die belewing van emosionele trauma en invloed op die kind se geheelfunksionering was dus 'n verdere eenheid van ontleding en is in diepte deur die navorser bestudeer. Musiek is dus gebruik as 'n ekspressiewe tegniek tydens die terapeutiese proses met elke gevallestudie. Die gevolgtrekking waartoe in hierdie studie gekom kon word is dat musiek binne die konteks van die gestalt benadering suksesvol in die hantering van emosionele trauma by die kind gebruik kan word. / Practical Theology / M.Diac. (Play Therapy)

Thesis (M.Mus.)--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The research for this thesis is presented in the form of a practical guideline for parents and educators in the Western Cape area. The important role of music in early childhood is emphasised throughout. Research, guidance and practical activities for the music education and development of the toddler and preschooler, are presented. The author answers and discusses the questions frequently asked by parents concerning musical education for their children, namely why, when and how, in the five chapters of the thesis. The importance of music education for children (the question concerning why) is discussed and emphasised by means of eleven different reasons supported by research. In Chapter 2, the important role of the parent as the child’s first music educator and prenatal stimulation is discussed (the question concerning when). In the two chapters that follow, the author provides parents with information about basic music concepts and skills that children should be able to master at specific ages. Throughout these chapters, practical activities to illustrate these concepts and to practise the relevant skills are suggested (the how question). Guidelines are presented concerning how play with the child should be approached and handled, as well as guidelines for the child’s first formal instrumental teaching and for choosing an instrument and a music teacher. The research is concluded with a practical section containing extensive lists of songs (in categories), CDs, DVDs, books and web addresses for the use of parents needing resources and further guidance. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die navorsing vir hierdie tesis word in die vorm van ‘n praktiese handleiding vir ouers en opvoeders in die Wes-Kaap provinsie aangebied. Die belangrike rol van musiek in die voorskoolse kind se lewe word deurgaans beklemtoon. Navorsing, riglyne en praktiese aktiwiteite vir die musiekopvoeding en ontwikkeling van die voorskoolse kindword, word prakties aangebied en bespreek.Die outeur beantwoord en bespreek die vernaamste vrae wat ouers ten opsigte van musiekopvoeding vir hul kinders vra, naamlik hoekom, wanneer en hoe, in die vyf hoofstukke van die tesis. Die belangrikheid van musiekopvoeding vir kinders (die hoekom vraag) word aan die hand van elf verskillende redes en wat deur navorsing ondersteun word, bespreek. Die belangrike rol van die ouer as eerste musiekopvoeder en prenatale stimulasie word in Hoofstuk 2 bespreek (die vraag aangaande wanneer). In die twee daaropvolgende hoofstukke bied die outeur verdere inligting aan ouers oor basiese musiekkonsepte en vaardighede wat kinders op sekere ouderdomme moet kan bemeester. Praktiese aktiwiteite om hierdie konsepte te illustreer en die verlangde vaardighede te oefen (die hoe vraag) word deurgaans voorgestel. Riglyne word gegee oor hoe spel met die kind benader en hanteer moet word, asook riglyne vir die kind se eerste formele instrumentale onderrig, die keuse van ‘n instrument en van ‘n musiekonderwyser. Die navorsing word afgesluit met ‘n praktiese afdeling waarin uitgebreide lyste van liedjies (volgens verskillende kategorieë), beskikbare CD-opnames, DVD-opnames, boeke en webadresse vir ouers gegee word as bronne en as verdere riglyne.

Many of the sources indicated in this work are classical and not updated due to the fact that the origins of Gestalt Philosophy are found in classical works / Verskeie van die geraadpleegde bronne in die literatuurhoofstukke verteenwoordig klassieke werke wat nie binne die erkende periode vir relevante wetenskaplike navorsing val nie. Die oorsprong van die Gestalt Filosofie wat in hierdie studie benut is, word in hierdie klassieke werke gevind en is ook in hierdie werke geraadpleeg / The Gestalt approach was used as the contextual framework to explore how music can be used as a therapeutic medium in the treatment of the emotionally traumatized child. Music as a sensory experience was used during the therapeutic process with each case study, to facilitate the child's process towards healing. The conceptual framework of music as a therapeutic medium was researched in depth to bring clarity to the influence it has on the emotional well-being of the child. The child who entered into therapy was selected according to specific criteria, with the experience of emotional trauma being priority. The researcher also studied the concept of emotional trauma in depth and the consequences it has on a child's overall functional ability. Music was used as an expressive technique during the therapeutic process with each child. The conclusion drawn from this study indicated that the gestalt approach can be applied effectively in using music as a therapeutic medium in the treatment of the emotionally traumatized child. / Die Gestalt benadering is gebruik in hierdie navorsing ten einde 'n kontekstuele raamwerk daar te stel waarbinne musiek as terapeutiese medium in die behandeling van emosionele trauma in kinders gebruik kon word. Musiek kan beskryf word as 'n sensoriese ervaring. Hierdie sensoriese ervaring is binne die terapeutiese proses toegepas ten einde die kind se herstelproses te fasiliteer. Die studie is binne die navorsingskonteks van gevallestudieprosedures gedoen. Musiek is binne die konseptuele raamwerk bestudeer en nagevors ten einde die terapeutiese waarde daarvan in diepte te ondersoek. Hierdie in-diepte ondersoek het aan die navorser 'n duidelike beeld gegee hoe dit toegepas kon word in terapie. Deur dit toe te pas in terapie is die invloed van musiek op die emosionele welsyn van die getraumatiseerde kind gedokumenteer. Die navorsingskriteria vir insluiting in die ondersoek was gegrond op die literatuurondersoek en het onder meer die belewing van trauma ingesluit. Die belewing van emosionele trauma en invloed op die kind se geheelfunksionering was dus 'n verdere eenheid van ontleding en is in diepte deur die navorser bestudeer. Musiek is dus gebruik as 'n ekspressiewe tegniek tydens die terapeutiese proses met elke gevallestudie. Die gevolgtrekking waartoe in hierdie studie gekom kon word is dat musiek binne die konteks van die gestalt benadering suksesvol in die hantering van emosionele trauma by die kind gebruik kan word. / Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology / M.Diac. (Play Therapy)