Melbourne Conservatorium of Music - Research Publications
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ItemNo Preview AvailableGroup Music Therapy as a Preventive Intervention for Young People at Risk: Cluster-Randomized Trial(OXFORD UNIV PRESS INC, 2017-07-01)BACKGROUND: Music forms an important part of the lives and identities of adolescents and may have positive or negative mental health implications. Music therapy can be effective for mental disorders such as depression, but its preventive potential is unknown. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine whether group music therapy (GMT) is an effective intervention for young people who may be at risk of developing mental health problems, as indicated via unhealthy music use. The main question was whether GMT can reduce unhealthy uses of music and increase potentials for healthy uses of music, compared to self-directed music listening (SDML). We were also interested in effects of GMT on depressive symptoms, psychosocial well-being, rumination, and reflection. METHODS: In an exploratory cluster-randomized trial in Australian schools, 100 students with self-reported unhealthy music use were invited to GMT (weekly sessions over 8 weeks) or SDML. Changes in the Healthy-Unhealthy Music Scale (HUMS) and mental health outcomes were measured over 3 months. RESULTS: Both interventions were well accepted. No effects were found between GMT and SDML (all p > 0.05); both groups tended to show small improvements over time. Younger participants benefited more from GMT, and older ones more from SDML (p = 0.018). CONCLUSIONS: GMT was associated with similar changes as SDML. Further research is needed to improve the processes of selecting participants for targeted interventions; to determine optimal dosage; and to provide more reliable evidence of effects of music-based interventions for adolescents.
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ItemThe psychosocial benefits of school music: reviewing policy claims(Music Council of Australia, 2016-03-08)While policy-based advocacy for music in schools has previously focused on arguments for cognitive and academic benefits, scholars have increasingly critiqued this rationale. Such critique is now reflected in Australian policy documentation, which now emphasises psychosocial benefits as the most notable non-musical advantage of student music participation in mainstream schools. This paper uses recent research to review these claims, with a specific focus on the type of music participation that policy documents claim will achieve psychosocial benefits. This aims to both assess the suitability of current advocacy in this area, and bring existing evidence to the attention of policymakers. The article concludes that models of music participation must be broadened beyond the current definitions of music education if psychosocial benefits are to be experienced by students in mainstream schools.
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ItemRecommendations for the investigation and delivery of music programs aimed at achieving psychosocial wellbeing benefits in mainstream schools(Australian Society for Music Education, 2014)
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ItemEnabling Tailored Music Programs in Elementary Schools: An Australian Exemplar(Redfame Publishing, 2014-09-30)
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ItemBarriers and Enablers for Implementing Music in Australian Schools: The Perspective of Four Principals(Sciencedomain International, 2015-01-10)