This paper describes the experiences of five women relating to the public performance of their work created in music therapy. Performance within this project included the recording of their work and a subsequent live performance at the launch of a CD created within the project. Programme participants were interviewed and asked to describe their experiences of the song writing process, including recording and the public performance of their work. All participants in the programme had experienced childhood abuse and as such their song creations were intensely personal and at times included painful memories. The women reported many different feelings during the recording and performance process. Overall, all participants found this process to be worthwhile. Case vignettes present the experiences of the women involved in the programme. The paper concludes with considerations for music therapy practitioners.
AasgaardT. (2002) Song Creations by Children with Cancer: Process and Meaning. Unpublished doctoral thesis. Institute of Music and Music Therapy: Aalborg University
2.
AigenK. (2004) ‘Conversations on creating community: Performance as music therapy in New York City’. In PavlicevicM.AnsdellG. (eds) Community Music Therapy. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers
3.
AmirD. (1999) ‘Tales from the therapy room’. In HibbenJ. (ed.) Inside Music Therapy: Client Experiences. Gilsum, NH: Barcelona Publishers
4.
AmirD. (2004) ‘Giving trauma a voice: The role of improvisational music therapy in exposing, dealing with and healing a traumatic experience of sexual abuse’. Music Therapy Perspectives22: 96–104
5.
AnsdellG, (2005) ‘Being who you aren't; doing what you can't: Community Music Therapy & the paradoxes of performance’. Voices: A World Forum for Music Therapy5 (3). Available online at http://www.voices.no/mainissues/mi40005000192.html
6.
AustinD. (2001). ‘In search of the self: The use of vocal holding techniques with adults traumatised as children’. Music Therapy Perspectives19: 22–30
7.
BakerF.WigramT.StottD.McFerranK. (2008) ‘Therapeutic songwriting in music therapy: Part 1. Who are the therapists, who are the clients, and why is songwriting used?’Nordic Journal of Music Therapy17(2): 105–123
8.
CreswellJ. W. (1998) Qualitative Inquiry and Research Design: Choosing among Five Traditions. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage
9.
DayT. (2005) ‘Giving voice to childhood trauma through therapeutic songwriting’. In BakerF.WigramT. (eds) Songwriting: Methods, Techniques and Clinical Applications for Music Therapy Clinicians, Educators and Students. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers
10.
DayT. (2007). Song Writing with Five Women who have experienced Childhood Abuse: A Retrospective Exploration. Unpublished Masters thesis, Brisbane: The University of Queensland.
11.
EdgertonC.D. (1990) ‘Creative group song writing’. Music Therapy Perspectives8: 15–19
12.
HibbenJ. (1999) Inside Music Therapy: Client Experiences. Gilsum, NH: Barcelona Publishers
13.
JohnsonD.R. (1987) ‘The role of the creative arts therapies in the diagnosis and treatment of psychological trauma’. The Arts in Psychotherapy14: 7–13
14.
MontelloL. (1999) ‘A psychoanalytic music therapy approach to treating adults traumatized as children’. Music Therapy Perspectives17: 74–81
15.
O'BrienE. (2006) ‘Opera therapy: Creating and performing a new work with cancer patients and professional singers’. Nordic Journal of Music Therapy15: 82–96
16.
O'CallaghanC. (1996) ‘Lyrical themes in songs by palliative care patients’. Journal of Music Therapy33(2): 74–92
17.
PavlicevicM. (2004) ‘Learning from Thembalethu: Towards responsive and responsible practice in Community Music Therapy’. In PavlicevicM.AnsdellG. (eds) Community Music Therapy. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers
18.
PavlicevicM.AnsdellG. (eds) (2004) Community Music Therapy. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers
19.
RuudE. (2004) ‘Foreword: Reclaiming music’. In PavlicevicM.AnsdellG., (eds) Community Music Therapy. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers
TurryA. (2005) ‘Music psychotherapy and Community Music Therapy: Questions and considerations’. Voices: A World Forum for Music Therapy5 (1). Available online at http://www.voices.no/mainissues/mi40005000171.html
22.
WebbL. P.LeehanJ. (1996) Group Treatment for Adult Survivors of Abuse: A Manual for Practice. Interpersonal Violence: The Practice Series. Thousand Oaks CA: Sage
23.
WigramT. (2005) ‘Songwriting methods – similarities and differences: Developing a working model’. In BakerF.WigramT. (eds) Song Writing: Methods, Techniques and Clinical Applications for Music Therapy Clinicians, Educators and Students. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers
24.
YorkE. (2006) ‘Finding voice: Feminist music therapy and research with women survivors of domestic violence’. In HadleyS. (ed.) Feminist Perspectives in Music Therapy. Gilsum: Barcelona Publishers
