23.7. 1993 Vitoria-Gasteiz / Spain - World Federation of Music Therapy

C O M U N I C A T I V O D E U N G R U P O D E A D U L T O S
L I G E R A Y M O D E R A D A M E N T E M I N U S V Á L I D O S
RAYMOND A.R. MAC DONALD, PATRICK J. O` DONNELL &
JANET WALLACE
This study investigates the benefits of music workshop
in structured group situations for a population with
special needs.
Forty subjects, who at the time of the study were adults
resident at mental health institutions, took part in this
experiment which focused on the structured group
playing of a Javanese Gamelan. The experimental
hypothesis was that participation in the experimental
group would produce significant improvements in
musical ability as measured by Elmes musical tests,
devised and validated for use in this study. Also
significant gains in communication skills as measured
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by the Communication Assessment Profile for adults
with a mental handicap (CASP) and self esteem levels
measured by the Khalid semantic differential technique
were postulated.
The workshop were co-ordinated and run by
Strathclyde (Scotland) Orchestral Productions, a music
and theatre production company who work exclusively
with individuals with special needs.
Results emphasize significant gains in musical ability
and communication skills with a ceiling effect being
observed in the measurement of self-esteem. Several
explanations of this ceiling effect will be proposed.
Este estudio investiga los beneficios de talleres de
música en situaciones de grupos estructurados, para
una población con necesidades especiales.