Dissertation - World Federation of Music Therapy

Acknowledgements
I would like to thank all those people who have supported me in the process of
exploring and completing this doctoral research. Over the years I have written many
scholarly books, chapters and articles, but this research was my first experience with a
formalized and supervised study in music therapy. I warmly thank my supervisors,
professor Tony Wigram and professor Denise Grocke, for their generous support and
for the challenges they have presented me with during the process. Together they
cover the whole spectrum of research in music therapy, and I will always be grateful
for their input, be it as suggestions and comments to the chapter drafts or discussions
of theoretical or clinical implications of the research.
Next, I would like to thank the six participants in the study. They have not only been
willing to expose themselves to music therapy for the first time in their life, but also
to fill out a lot of questionnaires and participate in interviews on their experiences.
Before this study began I had a very limited understanding of how it is to live with
cancer. The open, honest and self-revealing attitude of the six women has made me
realize not only the scope of influences and the dramatic changes of everyday life
related to a cancer diagnosis, but also how limited our present-day system of support
and rehabilitation is. Psychosocial needs are simply not met in an appropriate way,
and many things need to be changed in the future. The participants have given their
honest and detailed reflections on the potential of music therapy in the rehabilitation
process. Without them the project would not have taken place.
The clinical part of the project was funded by Videns- og Forskningscentret for
Alternativ Behandling (ViFAB) (Danish Centre for Information and Research in
Complementary Therapies). Without the economical support of ViFAB this project
had not been possible, and I am grateful for the continuing collaboration with ViFAB.
I would also like to thank my friends and colleagues at the music therapy program in
Aalborg University, especially professor Tony Wigram who has been able to play the
dual role as supervisor and colleague in an admirable way, and associate professor
Inge Nygaard Pedersen who has shared the problems and pleasures of being a ‘senior
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