Brynjulf Stige, University of Bergen, Norway, Uni Health, GAMUT, Norway,
Gary Ansdell, Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy, UK, Cochavit Elefant,
University of Bergen, Norway and Mercédès Pavlicevic, Nordoff-Robbins
Music Therapy , UK, University of Pretoria, South Africa.
This book explores how people may use music in ways that are helpful for
them, especially in relation to a sense of wellbeing, belonging and
participation. The central premise for the study is that help is not a
decontextualized effect that music produces. The book contributes to the
current discourse on music, culture and society and it is developed in
dialogue with related areas of study, such as music sociology,
ethnomusicology, community psychology and health promotion. Where Music
Helps describes the emerging movement that has been labelled Community
Music Therapy, and it presents ethnographically informed case studies of
eight music projects (localized in England, Israel, Norway, and South
Africa).
The various chapters of the book portray 'music's help' in action within
a broad range of contexts; with individuals, groups and communities –
all of whom have been challenged by illness or disability, social and
cultural disadvantage or injustice. Music and musicing has helped these
people find their voice (literally and metaphorically); to be welcomed
and to welcome, to be accepted and to accept, to be together in
different and better ways, to project alternative messages about
themselves or their community and to connect with others beyond their
immediate environment. The overriding theme that is explored is how
music comes to afford things in concert with its environments, which may
suggest a way of accounting for the role of music in music therapy
without reducing music to a secondary role in relation to the
'therapeutic', that is, being 'just' a symbol of psychological states, a
stimulus, or a text reflecting socio-cultural content.
Contents: Part I: Introduction: music and health in community; Situating
authors and projects; Initial dialogue, Brynjulf Stige, Gary Ansdell,
Cochavit Elefant and Mercédès Pavlicevic. Part II: Action: musicing on
the edge: musical minds in East London, England; Reflection: belonging
through musicing: explorations of musical community, Gary Ansdell. Part
III: Action: – must we really end? Community integration of children in
Raanana, Israel; Reflection: musical inclusion, intergroup relations,
and community development, Cochavit Elefant. Part IV: Action: because
it's cool. Community music therapy in Heideveld, South Africa;
Reflection: let the music work: optimal moments of collaborative
musicing, Mercédès Pavlicevic. Part V: Action: a society for all? The
cultural festival in Sogn og Fjordane, Norway; Reflection: musical
participation, social space, and everyday ritual, Brynjulf Stige. Part
VI: Action: can everything become music? Scrap Metal in southern
England; Reflection: where performing helps: processes and affordances
of performance in community music therapy, Gary Ansdell. Part VII:
Action: whose voice is heard? Performances and voices in the Renanim
Choir in Israel; Reflection: giving voice: participatory action research
with a marginalized group, Cochavit Elefant. Part VIII: Action: music
in an ambiguous place: youth development outreach in Eersterust, South
Africa; Reflection: crime, community, and everyday practice: music
therapy as social activism, Mercédès Pavlicevic. Part IX: Action: caring
for music: the Senior Choir in Sandane, Norway; Reflection: practising
music as mutual care, Brynjulf Stige. Part X: Conclusion: when things
take shape in relation to music: towards an ecological perspective on
music's help, Brynjulf Stige, Gary Ansdell, Cochavit Elefant and
Mercédès Pavlicevic; Bibliography; Index.
About the Author: Brynjulf Stige, PhD, is Professor in Music Therapy at
the University of Bergen and Head of Research at GAMUT, The Grieg
Academy Music Therapy Research Centre, Uni Health.
Gary Ansdell, PhD, is Director of Education at Nordoff-Robbins, UK and
Co-Director of the MA in Music Therapy (Community Music Therapy /
Nordoff-Robbins).
Cochavit Elefant, PhD is Associate Professor in Music Therapy at the University of Bergen.
Mercédès Pavlicevic, PhD, is Director of Research at Nordoff-Robbins, UK
and Associate Professor in Music Therapy at the University of Pretoria,
South Africa.
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Content )
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Introduction )
Illustrations: Includes 23 b&w illustrations
Published: June 2010
Format: 234 x 156 mm
Extent: 364 pages
Binding: Paperback
