Group music therapy utilising marimba playing for children with low self-esteem

Abstract

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.