Derrington 2012 thesis.pdf - Anglia Ruskin Research Online

After music therapy, Chris’s response was very different (appendix 7.1.24, p.384):
“I can um…express myself in music um, I can do much more things with it. I
can, well like say drums can be for anger, piano can be for mood swings,
um…guitar can be for sorrow. There’s all different instruments that I can
express myself on.”
Figure 7.2.2 presents the responses from students at CVC. These students tended to
give more informed replies. For example, Andrew showed insight as he talked about
enjoying drama, “I quite like performing. I suppose it’s a bit like the attention-seeking
thing but now I’m doing it in an actual lesson” (appendix 7.1.31, p.449).
Another student who liked drumming was able to link his enjoyment of being creative
to the fact that it was an important outlet for his self-expression: “Sometimes, when I
like to take my mind off things, drawing and playing drums. Playing drums more cos
it’s another target, there’s something else to do and I really focus on it” (Harry,
appendix 7.1.11, p.278). Their responses were varied and presented a broader interest
in different activities, which is evident in the graph in appendix 7b. Perhaps this also
accounts for the decrease in the number of times music was mentioned among these
students as they became more interested in other things.
Figure 7.2.2 How do you express yourself Responses from students at CVC
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Before music therapy
After music therapy
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