Derrington 2012 thesis.pdf - Anglia Ruskin Research Online

year ten, which directly coincided with his block of music therapy 50 . When he was
asked about the speed of the change he said:
“Probably like the third time I’d done music therapy I started to like… started
to see it happening…Think it was gradual up to this day but now I think it’s
getting better” (appendix 7.1.32, p.462).
His certainty about the change being as a result of music therapy is commanding
evidence of its value to students.
Although Ollie’s Beck T clinical scores were all within the average range and there
was little noticeable difference in his change scores, he reported a big change in his
concentration in his interview. He took time to explain it to the interviewer and said
that it had happened really quickly, about half-way through the block of sessions. He
was surprised when he noticed that he could concentrate so much better in school and
how much he had enjoyed sessions (appendix 7.1.30, p.440).
Another mainstream student, David, also reported noticing a change about half-way
through music therapy when he started to feel that he could manage his problems
with stress more easily:
“And basically I got a lot better at keeping stress in knowing that I wouldn’t
flip out at someone for no reason cos of something else, so like it’s a lot
easier” (appendix 7.1.28, p.422).
David said that he had been in a lot less trouble since he had had music therapy and
he did not feel under constant suspicion from staff: “Now I’m focused and calmed
down a bit, compared to what I used to be…I feel like a better person basically”
(appendix 7.1.28, p.416). This had had a knock-on effect with his friendships which,
he said, had also improved. His friends had noticed a change and they did not fall out
as much, so things were better: “Yeah they said I’ve changed a lot in a good way, that
I don’t take my stress out on them for no reason so it’s a lot better” (appendix 7.1.28,
p.422). He also felt that the change had led to a significant improvement with
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&+ !A case study for Andrew is included as appendix 8.2.
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