Students’ experiences at community placements : drawing from a Community Music Therapy framework

Abstract

This study explores the experiences of a group of music therapy students in setting up and working at three community placements: a residential home for the mentally disabled, an HIV/Aids clinic at a state hospital and a shelter for homeless boys. The study investigates how these students made use of a Community Music Therapy framework in conducting, reflecting on and discussing the music therapy work at these placements. The research was conducted utilizing qualitative research methodology and data were in the form of three semi-structured interviews which were conducted with the six students - two from each placement. Transcriptions of the interviews were subjected to content analysis by the researcher and these findings are discussed in relation to seven categories, namely Space and Boundaries, Performance, Community Music Therapy Theory, Staff’s varying Attitudes and Involvement, Goals and Value, Logistics and Challenges, and Students’ Personal Development. Lastly three themes that emerged from the data, namely Shifting the boundaries: music therapy inside and out; Interacting with the context and Students’ development: professional and personal growth, are discussed.