Derrington 2012 thesis.pdf - Anglia Ruskin Research Online

4.4.6 “I’ll tell you like this!” Conversation, art, props, drama and play
In sessions, the exchange between talking and playing can be aided by the layout of
instruments in the room (3.4). The comfortable chairs are surrounded by instruments
so that even when chatting students have instruments within easy reach. Hald (2010)
presented the idea that the main goal of verbal dialogue in music therapy is to find
ways into musical interaction. I always encourage the use of music but there are times
when students need to talk. For this reason, I tend to start a session with a chat as a
way to touch base, establish how the student is feeling and what, if anything, has
happened prior to the session. Teenagers can be quick to talk and complain about
school and themes often arise through such conversations.
Throughout the summer term, for example, one student talked about ‘the lucky year
11s’ leaving school and how he could not wait for his turn. Yet the more he talked
like this the reality seemed to me that, much as he moaned about school, he dreaded
the day he would have to leave the security of it. On one occasion I dared to suggest
that he felt nervous about that and he agreed. He seemed relieved to have been honest
and even went on to talk about his future and how scary it felt.
Teenagers need to be able to relate verbally and ordinary conversation plays a big
part of music therapy sessions because, as well as leading to playing, it is important
that students can chat and vent their feelings. There is no video example of this for
reasons of confidentiality.
Vignette 4.7
David was 15 when he was referred from the mainstream school because he
was at risk of exclusion and was underachieving. In the summer holiday
before our sessions began his 18-year old cousin died in a car crash, presumed
to have fallen asleep at the wheel. In music therapy sessions David
experimented with different percussion instruments. He was quite playful and
liked sharing rhythmic patterns, made comments about the fun and how much
he liked messing about: “It beats any lesson!” While he was playing, he talked
a lot about discipline, school rules, detentions and teachers.
! *)!