• Journal of Music and Human Behavior
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.27-51
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• 2019

This case study aimed to investigate changes in self-expression following participation in a rap making program with adolescent survivors of childhood cancer. The rap making program was constructed based on the contextual support music therapy model. Three adolescent survivors of childhood cancer participated in six 80-minute individual sessions. During the sessions, each participant engaged in the following tasks: song discussion, lyric creation, and rapping over a selected beat. At pre and posttest, the Self-Expression Scale was completed by participants. Their verbal expressions lyrics were observed during the sessions, and individual interviews with the participants were conducted at the completion of the program. The results demonstrated that the mean rating of the Self-Expression Scale increased after the rap making intervention. Analysis of the participants' verbal expressions and lyrics demonstrated that participants were experiencing difficulties adjusting to school that they wanted to resolve. Furthermore, the analysis of the interviews at posttest found that participants experienced positive changes in self-perception, self-expression, and expectations for their future, compared to the pretest when the participants expressed negative self-perceptions due to difficulties in interpersonal relationships at school and physical limitations. This indicates that rap making can be an effective resource for providing this population with the means to recognize positive attributes about themselves and improve self-expression.

• Journal of Music and Human Behavior
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.1-21
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• 2015

This study examined the effects of a tablet PC-based music-making program on the executive function of adolescents with intellectual disabilities. Four adolescents with intellectual disabilities participated in this program. Each participant received 45-minute individual sessions twice a week for a total of 16 sessions. The music-making program was designed in the sequence of planning; learning table PC operations; exploring musical elements; making rhythm, melody, and lyrics; composing loop sections; and presentation of the completed music. The Stroop test, Children's Color Trails Test, and Digit Span and Letter-Number sequencing tests were measured at pretest, midtest, and posttest in order to examine changes in executive function. The participants showed increased scores on all three tests. The participants' attention span also increased and their attempts to correct errors during tasks occurred more frequently at posttest. This study supports the effects of the technology-based program on the executive function of adolescents with intellectual disabilities and presents its expanded applicability for adolescents who show low cognitive function and limited motivation for cognitive engagement.

• Journal of Music and Human Behavior
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.17-39
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• 2008

This study aims to decrease aggressiveness and anger of neglected children through anger-control music program. In this study, 4 neglected children were provided with 15 anger-control music programs for 30 minutes twice a week. Based on anger-control program, song writing and music therapy such as playing musical instruments were applied to the children according to the objective of each stage of the program. The changes in aggressiveness and anger were measured, and the behaviors of the participants during the musical activity were analysed. According to the analysis of the data, the anger-control music program proved to be effective in reducing aggressiveness and anger of the neglected children. What this result means is that the neglected children, who lack social skills and confidence, are able to express their emotions without difficulty and anxiety by playing musical instruments and singing songs.