THE EXPERIENCES OF FOUR EUROPEAN MUSIC THERAPISTS WITH LOCAL DISADVANTAGED CHILDREN IN GULU'S SOCIO-CULTURAL POST-WAR CONTEXT: A COMMUNITY MUSIC THERAPY POINT OF VIEW

Navarro Wagner, Ana

4. term

Music Therapy, Master

2013

2013-05-30

134

This study reinterprets the experiences of four European music therapists who volunteered in a music therapy program with local disadvantaged children in Gulu, Northern Uganda, through the lens of Community Music Therapy (CoMT). CoMT is a relatively new approach in music therapy that emphasizes socio-cultural sensitivity and the role of culture and context in shaping locally grounded (situated) practice. These qualities provide a useful framework for work in an unconventional setting like Gulu’s socio-cultural, post-war context. Methodologically, the study uses a phenomenological (experience-focused) analysis of the researcher’s field notes and interviews with three of the therapists. Recurring patterns in their experiences are examined using CoMT principles to explore how the framework can guide a context-sensitive music therapy practice. Finally, the study suggests action research—a cyclical process of planning, acting, observing, and reflecting with local stakeholders—as a promising path forward in Gulu.

Denne undersøgelse genfortolker erfaringerne fra fire europæiske musikterapeuter, der har arbejdet frivilligt i et musikterapiprogram med lokale, udsatte børn i Gulu i Norduganda, set gennem Community Music Therapy (CoMT). CoMT er en nyere retning i musikterapi, der lægger vægt på socio-kulturel sensitivitet og på, hvordan kultur og kontekst former en lokal, situeret praksis. CoMT’s kvaliteter giver et nyttigt rammeværk for at udvikle praksis i en usædvanlig ramme som Gulus socio-kulturelle post-krigskontekst. Metodisk bygger studiet på en fænomenologisk (erfaringsfokuseret) analyse af forskerens feltnoter samt interviews med tre af musikterapeuterne. De tilbagevendende mønstre i deres oplevelser bliver tolket i lyset af CoMT for at vise, hvordan rammeværket kan støtte en konteksttilpasset musikterapipraksis. Afslutningsvis peger studiet på handlingsforskning – en cyklisk proces med planlægning, handling, observation og refleksion sammen med lokale aktører – som en lovende vej frem i Gulu.

[This apstract has been rewritten with the help of AI based on the project's original abstract]

Community Music Therapy, situated practice, sociocultural approach, Northern Uganda, culture, context.

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