Abstract:

Music therapy is defined within collaborative practice as the professional use of music and its elements for intervention purpose in educational, medical and daily surrounding, to improve the quality of life as well as communication, physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual health and well-being of individuals, groups and communities of various characteristics and needs. Since ancient times music has been used to encourage positive changes in mood and self-expression as well as an effective therapeutic tool that helps in reducing pain, anxiety, stress, and in general to facilitate recovery of various neurological and psychosomatic diseases. However, music therapy is still inadequately scientifically researched due to its direct connection to emotional states as well as the insufficient interest of scientists. Regardless of the evident research results conducted within vulnerable groups, the profession (medical, musical, and partially also rehabilitation) is still questioning to recognize music therapy's indisputable status as an independent treatment method. Various analyses and reports have shown that the work of music therapists is burdened with numerous challenges - from institutional and organizational issues to insufficient support for further education and lifelong learning of skilled music therapists.

This paper will provide a deeper insight into the self-awareness process of developing individual skills as a music therapist working with vulnerable groups, elderly people and people with intellectual disabilities during the 2018–2023 period, as part of the Unison project activities (Dubrovnik, Croatia), that is the formation and progress of the inclusive choir for people of all ages and abilities. Analytical auto-ethnographic research will use the methods of scientific retrospection, self-perception, self-observation and self-reflection, in order to identify points of strength and weakness in one’s own therapeutic work and try to realize the framework of further professional and personal development. The obtained results are based on a highly developed system of communication competence focusing on others, as well as empathy, altruism and personal values aimed at improving the quality of life and psycho-social well-being of vulnerable groups, thus will be able to be integrated into newly designed music therapy programs. Considering that qualitative research methods which are focused on experiences and ways of strengthening music therapists’ personal competencies are rare at the global and especially at the national level, this scientific work will make contribution to knowledge and future research in this field.

Keywords:

Therapeutic choir singing, communication competence focusing on others, experiential learning, people with intellectual disabilities, social inclusion.