• Journal of Music and Human Behavior
• /
• v.5 no.2
• /
• pp.93-102
• /
• 2008

In Jungian theory the developmental stages of human life are symbolized as a circle that represents the wholeness, and the open ended process towards the wholeness is called Individuation. In the belief that every human being has his or her own "Music Child" that represents one of the creative, genuine, healthy cores of the self, we are all musical beings, and each individual has his or her own relationship to music. Musical individuation therefore refers an open-ended process towards the wholeness in music. Being a Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapist, who values the therapeutic essence of innate creativity and uses improvisational music to maximize it, helped me realize that not only the client but also the therapist has to reach his or her own musical self, Music Child, in order to facilitate any change or growth through music. This realization led me to start a journey towards my own musical individuation. Hence, this essay is a very personal document illustrating my ongoing journey towards musical individuation that will allow me to become more whole and genuine in music.

• Journal of Music and Human Behavior
• /
• v.20 no.1
• /
• pp.21-46
• /
• 2023

The purpose of this study was to review the literature on music intervention research with North Korean defectors, focusing on posttraumatic growth. Eleven research papers were searched and selected to examine their general characteristics, intervention content, and therapeutic basis of music interventions for North Korean defectors. The investigated variables were related to posttraumatic growth-related aspects in changes in individuals, intervention goals, measurement tools, outcomes depending on developmental stages of the participants. The analysis showed that music provided a safe and familiar environment, which facilitated voluntary participation. Through music interventions, it was confirmed that individuals were able to discover their inner strength, leading to improved adaptability in daily life; positive changes were experienced in the social and relational aspects; and confidence in the future was strengthened. By reviewing music interventions with North Korean defectors, this study can present implications for music interventions with people who have experienced trauma and require assistance in fostering posttraumatic growth.

• Journal of Music and Human Behavior
• /
• v.18 no.1
• /
• pp.29-62
• /
• 2021

This study aimed to investigate the feasibility of an interactive singing-based synchronous videoconferencing program for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This study was conducted in four stages: analysis of interactive singing tasks in the literature for children with ASD, examination of differences in perception of sounds transmitted via synchronous videoconferencing platform depending on the type of singing tasks and accompaniment, construction of singing-based synchronous videoconferencing program and determination of its validity, and implementation of the constructed program with three children with ASD and confirmation of its feasibility. The results showed that different types of singing tasks and accompaniment affected perception of sounds transmitted online, which highlights the importance of considering such effects when designing synchronous videoconferencing music therapy programs. Also, increases in program engagement and singing behaviors were observed for all three participants, and their caregivers reported high levels of satisfaction with the program. The findings support the applicability of this intervention as a tele-music alternative during the COVID-19 pandemic. Clinical implications and suggestions are discussed.

• Journal of Music and Human Behavior
• /
• v.4 no.2
• /
• pp.106-114
• /
• 2007

Many scholars, clinicians and faculties of music therapy have dealt various issues on educational and clinical curricula for training music therapists. Depending on the philosophical orientations of educational institutes, the emphasis are different. The purpose of this paper is to examine and identify the areas for competency for gaining qualification in music therapy by reviewing the definitions of music therapy from the academic and professional perspectives; discipline-based, practice-based, and intrapersonal competency. The unique characteristics of music therapy as a professional discipline should be reflected in its curriculum and training content. Educational strategies need to be formulated to strengthen intrapersonal competency. The paper also discussed the consequential gains accordant with intrapersonal competency such as personal self-help skills using musical resources and coping with burnouts.

• Journal of Music and Human Behavior
• /
• v.17 no.2
• /
• pp.101-117
• /
• 2020

This study aimed to investigate music and imagery (MI) experiences in group settings using a qualitative case study approach. For this purpose, a focus group interview was conducted with four professional music therapists, who participated in peer MI group sessions without a therapist. Data collected from the interview were analyzed by qualitative data analysis procedures. Results demonstrated that successful group music experiences in the early stages, such as sharing and selecting music together within the group or experiencing group support, leaded to developing trust towards music and the group in participants. Moreover, the trust built upon such basis was shown to facilitate expansions in emotional experiences, imageries, relational aspects, and music resources, which led to new personal insights. In addition, the participants recognized the supportive nature of the group played a role of encouraging participants to challenge new experiences during MI experiences. The results suggest that group as a therapeutic factor can promote expansive emotional experiences and insights. Furthermore, the findings may provide implications for music psychotherapy applications in group settings.

• Journal of Music and Human Behavior
• /
• v.6 no.1
• /
• pp.55-80
• /
• 2009

The objective of this study was to improve the self-expression of children through Orff activities. In this study, three (3) children from D day care center in Seoul who demonstrated withdrawn behaviors were chosen as research subjects, based on a self-expression test score of 50 points. The activities were conducted for 6 weeks, totaling fourteen (14) sessions, with each session being scheduled for forty (40) minutes. Across 14 sessions, the researcher conducted, analyzed and compared the self-expression scale of subjects, measured during the third and the last session. The researcher then qualitatively analyzed verbal and non-verbal self-expression behaviors of subjects by video recording the session. The analysis results shown by the study are as follows. First, the results of a quantitative analysis of the self-expression scale showed significant changes in self expression. Furthermore, the results of a qualitative analysis of verbal self-expression showed positive changes in self-perception and an increase in feelings of independence and activity than that of initial sessions.

• Journal of Music and Human Behavior
• /
• v.7 no.2
• /
• pp.47-63
• /
• 2010

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the perception of current music therapy curriculum perceived by music therapy graduate students who are currently enrolled in the program. A total of 100 students responded. The subject 'music therapy techniques'(23.2%) was identified as highly regarded topic as important subject matter. Respondents showed different levels of skills and confidence according to their previous major areas; music vs. non-music major. Regarding the clinical practicum, students in the higher level practicum showed higher competence; however the level of competence was decreased as they entered the internship. Also 'Counseling and psychology related subjects' was the most preferred subject (19.7%) and 'professionalism as a music therapist' was the most significant factor indicated by the respondents(51.8%). Overall, general information and perception regarding music therapy curriculum was described, and the results implies the importance and needs of future music therapy curriculum development.

• Journal of Music and Human Behavior
• /
• v.9 no.2
• /
• pp.53-67
• /
• 2012

Improvisational music therapy is known to promote social engagement in children with autism. This study investigated salient features that characterize the engagement of the child with autism and the therapist in improvisational music therapy. Through video analysis of the children's behavior, this study sets out to investigate what engages children with autism into mutual play with the therapist in improvisational music therapy by measuring the shared musical elements between the child and the therapist during musical synchronicity episodes and the children's choice of instruments. A repeated measures, a crossover design was employed in two different conditions (n = 10). Children were randomly assigned into two groups; group 1 participated music therapy first, followed by play therapy second. Group 2 followed the reverse order. Specific target behaviors were analyzed in the selected sessions 1, 4, 8 and 12. As expected, improvisational music therapy produced markedly more and longer events of musical synchronicity in children with autism than the play sessions with toys (p < .001). Rhythm and dynamic appeared to be the two most salient elements during musical synchronicity events between the child and the therapist. Observational findings confirmed that horns and whistles were the most frequently selected instruments in music therapy, whereas a dollhouse set was in play therapy by children with autism. The clinical implications and the details of these findings are discussed further.

• Journal of Music and Human Behavior
• /
• v.14 no.2
• /
• pp.91-105
• /
• 2017

Community music therapy (CoMT) has been recently developed and expands the opportunities for music therapy. The concept of CoMT is introduced in this article, and its three attributes of community, music, and health are reviewed. This study specified each attribute of CoMT: a community (a group of people, a field where members of a group interact with each other), music (a substance of interaction, collective music-making), and health (motivation and goal of interaction, relational and social well-being). The application and interactions of the three attributes of CoMT are introduced as in the concept of community music, music and health, and community health. How CoMT can be applied to the field of music therapy is also detailed and based on the concept of CoMT and its relationship with the attributes, the CoMT was reconstructed as CoMuHeal in this study. Future studies are needed to propose how music therapy approaches can be developed to provide music for well-being and better health in the community and how CoMT can be applied in collaboration with other professional fields.

• Journal of Music and Human Behavior
• /
• v.14 no.1
• /
• pp.85-108
• /
• 2017

The purpose of this study was to examine how a therapeutic drumming intervention would impact middle school students with regard to school violence prevention. Participants were all in the third-year class of a middle school in Korea. A school music teacher and a music therapist designed and implemented the program collaboratively, and mainly used dyadic, synchronized, and improvisational drumming based on the Social Emotional Learning core competencies. A total of 65 students participated in a weekly 45-minute program for 10 weeks. Ten participants out of 65 were selected for interviews and the rest of the 55 participants were asked to fill out an open-ended survey. Content analysis of the survey and interviews produced 492 meaningful statements, which were categorized into seven themes: somatic responses to drumming, emotional processing, group cohesion, empathy, relationship with peers, self-esteem, and self-regulation. The findings indicated that dyadic, synchronized, and improvisational drumming may promote prosocial behaviors in students of this age. The author discussed that drumming produces physical input directly from the instruments, which prompts students to identify and empathize with their own or others' emotions. This study therefore suggests that collaborative work between school music teachers and music therapists may positively impact middle school students' prosocial behaviors, as they pertain to school violence in Korea.