Music Therapy in Tshwane, South Africa : music therapists’ experiences and other professionals’ perceptions

Abstract

In South Africa music therapy as a profession is still in its infancy and not yet firmly established, hence music therapists have struggled in the past to secure full-time employment. It is important to ascertain the current state of music therapy in Tshwane as this will offer suggestions about what needs to be addressed in the future. In this project two research questions were explored: 1. What are the experiences of music therapists, as well as the perceptions of other professionals working in the health and education sectors in Tshwane, regarding music therapy as a profession? 2. What do these experiences and perceptions suggest about the current state of the music therapy profession in Tshwane? This research project used questionnaires to generate data pertaining to the experiences of music therapists and perceptions of allied professionals about the music therapy profession in Tshwane. The experiences of music therapists currently practising in Tshwane shed light on the present situation of music therapy in Tshwane. The allied professionals’ perceptions of music therapy had implications regarding the recognition of the profession which impacts directly on the availability of jobs, funding and resources available to music therapists. Questionnaires generated both quantitative and qualitative data through the use of closed questions that were analysed using descriptive statistics that were generalised and openended questions analysed through the process of coding and categorising for emerging themes that were discussed. Results obtained from the questionnaires indicated that not enough is being done to promote the field as music therapist respondents (n=4) do not create or set up new music therapy employment. This accounts for the fact that at present other professionals working in the health and education sectors (n=27) have a varied understanding of what music therapy comprises. Because of this varied understanding music therapy is not always valued by these professionals. Collaboration with allied professionals was an important theme which recurred throughout the data and seems to have been the most successful way of furthering the profession so far in Tshwane. By promoting music therapy, especially through collaboration with others, awareness of music therapy should be enhanced, others’ knowledge and understanding of music therapy may be expanded and music therapy may ultimately find its valued place among other therapeutic interventions.