Examination arrangement

Course content

The importance of music as a promoter of health and wellbeing is increasingly acknowledged in both health care and society at large. Music therapy is an officially approved and increasingly spread profession, and music therapy methods and perspectives are in demand in both health care and "community music", non-medical practices. The target groups can be children, adolescents, adults or old people, and the wellbeing challenges can be social, mental, or physical. To engage in music together with others can have a health promoting and resource strengthening effect, and promote wellbeing and social inclusion in society through participation in a choir, band, dance or other musical context.

This course will address how music can be used to be health promoting from a biopsychosocial perspective, based on research from different disciplines such as: music therapy, music medicine, neurology, psychology and musicology. Central to the course is the question: What happens in the body and mind, in the brain, with the emotions and inner world of imagery and sensations? The course will provide knowledge on developmental psychology, attachment theory and affect theory. It will also highlight some of the major health challenges in today’s society - such as mental health for young people and adults, trauma, depression, eating disorders, autism, ADHD, stroke, dementia, social exclusion and loneliness tied to bullying, discrimination by gender, sexuality, ethnicity, religion or age, or for any other reason - and how music and music therapy has shown to be helpful in these situations. Different music therapy methods will be presented and discussed.

The course is aimed at students of musicology and those studying to work within the care sector, such as medical doctors, counselors, nurses, occupational therapists, priests, church musicians, choir leaders, teachers, music teachers or students with a general interest in these issues. The course offers an orientation and provides skills in music therapy methods, but it does not offer training to become a certified music therapist. The knowledge imparted through the course can be used both in the practice of a profession and for one's own use.

Learning outcome

Knowledge:

An examinee who successfully completes MUSV1105 will have basic knowledge about

• developmental psychology, attachment theory and affect theory.
• some of the different social and health challenges in society.
• how music can be used to improve health and wellbeing.
• some central music therapy methods.

Skills:

An examinee with a completed qualification in MUSV1105 can

• discuss how and why music can affect people from different interdisciplinary perspectives.
• plan, implement and evaluate at least one music therapy method for a specific therapeutic goal.
• present their own thoughts and views in current debates, in a coherent form both orally and in writing.

Learning methods and activities

This course consists of compulsory lectures and seminars (at least 80% attendance). Both lectures and seminars will be interactive and contain practical exercises and group work. The student is expected to read the course literature and be well prepared to participate in discussions during the lectures/seminars. There can also be group work and individual practical exercises between the lectures.

Compulsory assignments

• Attendance at lectures and seminars (at least 80%)
• Writing of reflections and reading and commenting on each other’s reflections
• Participate in group work in small and large groups between lectures

Further on evaluation

Assessment consists of:

1) one semester essay (5-7 pages long, font size 12, line spacing 1.5)

2) a concluding reflection (2-3 pages, font size 12, line spacing 1.5)

3) an observation report from a community music event such as a choir/band rehearsal or a concert/performance (2-3 pages, font size 12, line spacing 1.5)

If the course is not passed, the student must only retake the part of the assessment that was not passed. If the candidate takes a new exam, it is not necessary to take the compulsory assignments again.