Community Music Therapy with Adult Female Caregivers

“Manzanas del Cuidado” Locality of San Cristóbal, Community Development Center San Blas, Bogotá, Colombia

Authors

  • Andrés Salgado-Vasco Colombia Community Music Therapy Hotbed, Master of Music Therapy, National University of Colombia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9458-8882
  • Laura Valentina Ariza-Alfonso Colombia Community Music Therapy Hotbed, Master of Music Therapy, National University of Colombia
  • María Paula Ordóñez-Pachón Colombia Community Music Therapy Hotbed, Master of Music Therapy, National University of Colombia
  • Rodrigo Enrique Pardo-Pérez Colombia Community Music Therapy Hotbed, Master of Music Therapy, National University of Colombia
  • Valeria Barnier-Fiorentino Colombia Community Music Therapy Hotbed, Master of Music Therapy, National University of Colombia
  • Katherine Idilia Zelaya-Zepeda Colombia Community Music Therapy Hotbed, Master of Music Therapy, National University of Colombia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15845/voices.v24i3.4129

Keywords:

adult woman caregivers; social cohesion; community; community music therapy; Colombia

Abstract

Although this is not a formal research study, this exploration of community music therapy with adult female caregivers was guided by a defined framework discussed in the second part of this article, highlighting concepts such as musicking and communitas, in tandem with an investigative process that was constantly measured against predetermined analytical units and categories. The music therapy process consisted of two stages: community rapport-building and implementation-closure. In total, six types of musical experiences—listening, playing, creating, executing, interpreting, and reflecting—were facilitated, all guided by the ethical code proposed by the World Federation of Music Therapy. This work was primarily conducted with adult women from the locality of San Cristóbal in Bogotá, Colombia, who are beneficiaries of the government program “Manzanas del Cuidado” that provides spaces dedicated to their
well-being. Significant conclusions emerged from this process: 1) rapport-building with and among communities is essential to the coherent and effective design of projects of this type; and 2) the activities planned based on the community music therapy experiences were ideal for strengthening the social cohesion of the community and promoting participants’ use of self-care strategies. As a  reflection for the future, it is crucial to continue to consolidate spaces that allow the practice of community music therapy permanently throughout the country.

Author Biographies

Andrés Salgado-Vasco, Colombia Community Music Therapy Hotbed, Master of Music Therapy, National University of Colombia

Colombian music therapist, university professor, and researcher. He currently serves as a faculty member in the master’s program in Music Therapy at Universidad Nacional de Colombia, where he leads the practices for the community music therapy specialization, teaches theoretical and practical courses, and supervises thesis projects. As a community music therapist, he has contributed to social cohesion efforts with victims of the Colombian armed conflict and individuals in the reintegration process. He also works for SONO Music Therapy Center as a clinical music therapist at the Foundation Santa Fe University Hospital in Bogotá, in the Neonatal, Pediatric, and Adult Intensive Care Units, as well as in the Oncology department. His experience also includes working with children and adolescents whose rights have been violated.

Laura Valentina Ariza-Alfonso, Colombia Community Music Therapy Hotbed, Master of Music Therapy, National University of Colombia

Speech therapist from the National University of Colombia, she has worked in both clinical and educational areas. In the clinical field, she currently focuses on rehabilitation processes with children, youth, and adults with cleft palate. In the educational sphere, she has worked with the deaf population, utilizing sign language in the learning of written language. Additionally, she supports the Extension division of the National University of Colombia in social innovation processes, formulating and executing projects with the student community and engaging with different communities, both internal and external to the institution. Currently, she is completing her master’s degree in music therapy at the
National University of Colombia. During this time, she has conducted community music therapy practices in education and clinics at the Community Development Center of San Blas (Bogotá), the Proteger Center CURNNN of Bogotá, Colombia, and the National University Hospital of Colombia, respectively.

María Paula Ordóñez-Pachón, Colombia Community Music Therapy Hotbed, Master of Music Therapy, National University of Colombia

Biologist and candidate to master’s degree in music therapy. Biologist and specialist in natural resources management. As biologist, she has worked with communities through environmental education for kids, young people and adults and has done research about environmental impacts in protected ecosystems and its effects on local communities. Additionally, she is certified in musical theory knowledge by Orquesta Sinfónica Juvenil de Colombia and studied musical arts at Academia Superior de Artes de Bogotá in Bogotá, Colombia. Currently, she is finishing master studies in music therapy at National University of Colombia, where she has done academic practices in community music therapy at Centro de Desarrollo Comunitario of San Blas (Bogotá), Centro Proteger CURNN of Bogotá, Colombia, and clinical music therapy at National University Hospital of Colombia and memory clinic of National University of Colombia.

Rodrigo Enrique Pardo-Pérez, Colombia Community Music Therapy Hotbed, Master of Music Therapy, National University of Colombia

Bachelor of Music in Jazz Double Bass performance, he studied at the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana in Bogotá. He won a scholarship offered by the Conservatori Liceu of Barcelona, Spain to study a Master’s degree in Jazz and Modern Music Performance. He won first place in the bassist competition at the event “Bass en Vivo Bogotá 2017”, which was directed by Óscar Stagnaro. He released his first album as bandleader of his own jazz quintet in 2022: “Sangre y brea”. Co-director of “Palo ‘e Corozo”, a band that has recorded two albums: “Sembrando” and “Raíces”. He is currently studying the Master's Degree in Music Therapy offered by the Universidad Nacional de Colombia, where he has developed community, clinic and educational music therapy practices in: Centro de Desarrollo Comunitario San Blas, Clínica de la Memoria at Universidad Nacional de Colombia and Centro Proteger CURNN, respectively.

Valeria Barnier-Fiorentino, Colombia Community Music Therapy Hotbed, Master of Music Therapy, National University of Colombia

Musician and music therapy master’s candidate. Bachelor of music from the Pontifical Javeriana University of Bogota, with emphasis on musical education. She later completed a distance postgraduate degree in musical education at the Autonomous University of Barcelona and a prenatal singing formation directed by the midwife Marceline Carpène, in Paris. Currently, she is completing her master’s studies in music therapy at the National University of Colombia. As a musical pedagogue, she has specialized in working with early childhood, teaching classes of early stimulation, musical initiation, piano and guitar initiation, and vocal technique classes for all ages. Through prenatal singing, she accompanies the different stages of pregnancy, promoting well-being, knowledge of the pregnant body and breathing control. Co-founder and singer of the tango duo “Dúo Lunfardo”, they are currently recording their first album of original tangos titled: A dos Pasos.

Katherine Idilia Zelaya-Zepeda, Colombia Community Music Therapy Hotbed, Master of Music Therapy, National University of Colombia

Historian specializing in Identity and Heritage, graduated from the National University of El Salvador, Central America. Trained in 'Dialogue Circles' at the International Institute of Restorative Practices Latin America (IIRP) in Costa Rica. Her expertise extends to community theater touring in El Salvador, Guatemala, and Costa Rica. She has also worked as a research assistant in public policy at a juvenile women's reintegration center in El Salvador. Before pursuing training in music therapy, she was involved in the harp orchestra in Suchitoto, a semi-rural community music project. Her community practices include the San Blas Community Development Center in Bogotá and the Buena Semilla Foundation in the Egipto neighborhood. Additionally, she completed an educational practice at the Proteger CURNN Center in Bogotá, Colombia, and a clinical practice at the National University Hospital of Colombia.

Author photo 4129_Salgado-Vasco et al

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Published

2024-11-01

How to Cite

Salgado-Vasco, A., Ariza-Alfonso, L. V., Ordóñez-Pachón, M. P., Pardo-Pérez, R. E., Barnier-Fiorentino, V., & Zelaya-Zepeda, K. I. (2024). Community Music Therapy with Adult Female Caregivers: “Manzanas del Cuidado” Locality of San Cristóbal, Community Development Center San Blas, Bogotá, Colombia. Voices: A World Forum for Music Therapy, 24(3). https://doi.org/10.15845/voices.v24i3.4129

Issue

Vol. 24 No. 3 (2024)

Section

Reflections on Practice

License

Copyright (c) 2024 Andrés Salgado-Vasco, Laura Valentina Ariza-Alfonso, María Paula Ordóñez-Pachón, Rodrigo Enrique Pardo-Pérez, Valeria Barnier-Fiorentino, Katherine Idilia Zelaya-Zepeda

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