Reflections on Change in Arts-based Research: The experience of two music therapists

Authors

  • Deborah Melissa Seabrook Wilfrid Laurier University
  • Carolyn Arnason Wilfrid Laurier University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15845/voices.v10i1.154

Abstract

The process of engaging in arts-based research is unique; it draws upon the creative essence of the researcher to work with artistic forms which carry intangible information that is perhaps unknowable by other means.  In this process, the researcher is engaged wholly; all faculties of the person are drawn into the artistic world.  This article explores the experiences of two music therapists conducting arts-based research studies, weaving together distinct narratives with common themes.  The reader is taken along the journey of two separate music therapy research projects: one whose participants are a group of music therapists, one whose participant is a child living with mental health challenges.  Thinking retrospectively, the researchers discuss links between their personal artistry and the arts-based research process, exploring issues such as trust, creativity, and the credibility of information carried in artistic media.  Visual art, musical excerpts and creative writing are included.  By exploring the professional and personal journeys as music therapists in the arts-based research process we highlight the strengths and challenges of this approach that shaped our studies and gave light to emergent understandings through the arts.

Author Biographies

Deborah Melissa Seabrook, Wilfrid Laurier University

Deborah Seabrook MMT BMT MTA is a music therapist in private practice in Waterloo, Ontario Canada.  She completed undergraduate and graduate degrees in music therapy at Wilfrid Laurier University where her graduate research explored experiences of consciousness in clinical improvisation.  Deborah has presented at music therapy conferences both in Canada and internationally.  She currently supervises music therapy students and is a guest lecturer at Wilfrid Laurier University as well as supervising music therapy interns with the Canadian Association for Music Therapy. 

Carolyn Arnason, Wilfrid Laurier University

Dr. Carolyn Arnason, MTA, holds degrees in piano performance, social work and music therapy. As Associate Professor at Wilfrid Laurier University, she specializes in teaching improvisation and supervising graduate students in arts-based qualitative inquiry. She performs eclectic repertoire on modern piano and fortepiano and curates-performs improvisation concerts. Her ongoing research focuses on studying the improvisational experience through personal narratives in musical and artistic contexts. Presented and published research includes studies of music therapists' listening perspectives,  interconnections between musicianship and improvisation, and dimensions of spirituality in improvisational music therapy. Currently, she is working on the development of a therapeutic philosophy of improvisation called musical transparency. She is a student in the advanced Level 3 training for The Helen Bonny Method of Guided Imagery and Music. She publishes writings in Canadian, American and European journals, and has given papers and workshops in Canada, England, Finland, Hawaii, Italy, Norway and the USA.

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Published

2010-09-08

How to Cite

Seabrook, D. M., & Arnason, C. (2010). Reflections on Change in Arts-based Research: The experience of two music therapists. Voices: A World Forum for Music Therapy, 10(1). https://doi.org/10.15845/voices.v10i1.154

Issue

Vol. 10 No. 1 (2010)

Section

Essays

License

Articles published prior to 2019 are subject to the following license, see: https://voices.no/index.php/voices/copyright