Associação entre musicoterapeutas, professores de canto e cantores sobre o conhecimento e a aplicabilidade da musicoterapia

Abstract

Introduction: The Music Therapy is a hybrid field that runs between science and art and may provide to the individual an enrichment in the personal, physical and psychological aspect. As a singing teacher, I apply some singing methods combined with speech therapy knowledges and Music Therapy practices. Throughout this journey, I could notice certain questions concerning Music Therapy that many singers and/or colleagues and singing teachers have. Objective: To make an association among music therapists and singing teachers as well as singers, the Music Therapy knowledge and applicability. Method: the samples were collected, according to the sample calculation of: 40 music therapists, 22 singing teachers and singers, 14 singers and 6 singing teachers. An on-line questionnaire was applied via Google-Forms, in which the sample was characterized, and questions were raised about what Music Therapy is and its applicability. In the music therapists’ case, the request was to define with their own words. Considering the answers, three themes were created for what Music Therapy is and four about applicability. Each participant was requested to select a maximum of five terms related to Music Therapy from a provided list of 15 terms. Results: as the groups of singers, singing teachers and both presented statistics resemblance, it was decided to join them in one single group. In the music therapists’ group, there were 29 women and 11 men, with an average age of 40,4 and in the singing teachers, singers and both group, 25 women and 17 men with an average age of 39. Regarding what Music Therapy is, both groups presented similar understanding of the themes related to therapeutic and/or clinical practices and emotional, psychological and/or quality of life issues. The themes referring to treatment, development, promotion, prevention and rehabilitation were pointed out by 80% of the music therapists, 54,8% of the singing teachers, singers and both. In the Music Therapy applicability, both groups (music therapists and singing teachers, singers and both) had different answers with significant statistic divergence in the following themes: requests related to treatment and rehabilitation of changes or diseases in the adult and elderly population (62,5% and 28,6%, respectively); in the emotional and/or psychic aspects (17,5% and 59,5%) and in the quality of life, general health, self-knowledge as well as social and professional life aspects (85% and 38,1%). Concerning the terms related to Music Therapy for both groups, the statistical significance was for rehabilitation and musical listening. Conclusion: in the researched sample music therapists and singing teachers, singers and both showed the same understanding of what Music Therapy is, with emphasis on practices related to therapeutic/clinical treatment and development, promotion, prevention and rehabilitation work. Regarding the Music Therapy applicability, music therapists pointed out to the diseases treatment and rehabilitation in the adult and elderly population and issues concerning the quality of life, general health, self-knowledge and social and professional life aspects