The role of a favorite instrument to enhance communication in music therapy: A case study with a child with Fragile X syndrome
Author
Pecourt, Marta
Term
4. term
Education
Publication year
2012
Submitted on
2012-05-31
Pages
61
Abstract
Denne kandidatafhandling undersøger retrospektivt, hvordan et barns yndlingsinstrument kan understøtte kommunikationen i musikterapi ved at fungere som et 'intermediært objekt'—et konkret fokus, der hjælper med at skabe forbindelse mellem barnet og terapeuten. Undersøgelsen bygger på praktikarbejde med et fireårigt barn med Fragilt X-syndrom og har et fleksibelt design som casestudie. Fokus er på, hvordan barnet forholder sig til instrumenterne og til musikterapeuten. Analysen er guidet af AQR-instrumentet, et værktøj til at iagttage kommunikative hændelser og fortolke dem ud fra udviklingspsykologi. For at forstå barnets vanskeligheder ved forløbets start beskrives typiske kendetegn ved Fragilt X-syndrom, en psykologisk vurdering og en musikterapeutisk vurdering, samt en sammenligning med autisme, som deler træk som social undgåelse og atypisk interaktion. De teoretiske rødder er i udviklingspsykologi, især Daniel Stern og Colwyn Trevarthen, der beskriver tidlige samspil mellem spædbarn og omsorgsperson; der trækkes paralleller til de musikalske 'dialoger' i terapi. Afhandlingen redegør også for den psykiatriske oprindelse af begrebet 'intermediært objekt' og hvordan musikterapeuter har taget det i brug. Det empiriske materiale præsenteres gennem vignetter af centrale øjeblikke i forløbet, organiseret i to kategorier—relationen til instrumenterne og relationen til terapeuten—suppleret af enkle kvantitative oversigter over tidsforbrug på hvert instrument på tværs af sessioner. Resultaterne diskuteres i lyset af begrebet intermediært objekt. Afslutningsvis reflekterer afhandlingen over musikterapeutens rolle, peger på begrænsninger ved et enkelt, fleksibelt casestudie og skitserer perspektiver for videre forskning.
This master's thesis examines, in retrospect, how a child’s favorite musical instrument can support communication in music therapy by serving as an 'intermediary object'—a concrete focus that helps connect the child and the therapist. The study draws on internship work with a four-year-old child with Fragile X syndrome and uses a flexible, single-case design. It focuses on how the child relates to the instruments and to the music therapist. Analysis is guided by the AQR instrument, a tool used to observe communicative events and interpret them through developmental psychology. To understand the child’s initial difficulties, the thesis outlines features commonly associated with Fragile X syndrome, summarizes a psychological assessment and a music therapy assessment, and compares Fragile X with autism, which shares features such as social avoidance and atypical interaction. The theoretical foundations come from developmental psychology, especially Daniel Stern and Colwyn Trevarthen, who describe early caregiver–infant interaction; parallels are drawn with musical 'dialogues' in therapy. The thesis also traces the psychiatric origin of the 'intermediary object' concept and how music therapists have adopted it. Empirical material is presented through vignettes of key therapy moments, organized into two categories—the relationship with instruments and the relationship with the therapist—and is supplemented by simple quantitative summaries showing time spent with each instrument across sessions. The results are discussed in light of the intermediary object concept. Finally, the thesis reflects on the music therapist’s role, acknowledges limitations of a single, flexible case, and suggests directions for further research.
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