Music Therapy to Meet the Needs of Forcibly Displaced Children

Teachers’, Music Therapy Students,and Administrators’ Experiences from the Initial Phases of a School Project for Ukrainian Children

Authors

  • Viggo Krüger Grieg Academy Music Therapy Research Centre (GAMUT), University of Bergen/NORCE, Norway
  • Julie Liisberg Bergen Cultural School, City of Bergen, Norway
  • Sanna Martine Sørum University of Innlandet, Norway
  • Ylva Jonsson Sandnes Municipality, Norway
  • Jenny Daling Korsøen Kinn Municipality, Norway

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15845/voices.v26i1.4379

Keywords:

community music therapy, participation, efugee children, education, sociocultural learning

Abstract

This paper investigates the role of music therapy in supporting refugee children and youth from Ukraine during their initial resettlement in Norwegian schools. With the ongoing war in Ukraine escalating since 2022, a significant number of refugees have sought safety in Norway, prompting the exploration of music therapy as a tool for their emotional and social adaptation. The study employs focus group interviews with school staff, utilizing thematic and narrative analysis to uncover key insights. The findings are categorized into two main themes: How Music Provided Support andChallenges in Implementing Music Therapy. The first theme highlights the positive impact of music therapy, including its ability to provide emotional support through calming activities, foster relationships among peers and between students and teachers, and promote a sense of fun and mastery. The second theme addresses the obstacles encountered during implementation, such as the initial lack of structure and continuity, limited understanding of music therapy’s role, and the need for stronger institutional support at higher levels within the school system. These findings underscore the value of music therapy in promoting resilience and social cohesion, while also emphasizing the importance of clear organizational frameworks and interdisciplinary collaboration for successful implementation. The paper concludes by proposing implications for practice.

 

Acknowledgements

The project received support from Polyfon knowledge cluster for music therapy, to create a qualitative study of the initial phase.

   

Author Biographies

Viggo Krüger, Grieg Academy Music Therapy Research Centre (GAMUT), University of Bergen/NORCE, Norway

Viggo Krügerhas more than 25 years of experience in the field of music therapy. For the past six years, he has served as research leader and professor at the Grieg Academy Music Therapy Research Center at the University of Bergen, as well as at NORCE (Norwegian Research Centre). His work spans clinical practice, research leadership, and the development of innovative approaches to music therapy in health and community contexts.

Julie Liisberg , Bergen Cultural School, City of Bergen, Norway

Julie Liisbergis a music therapist at Bergen Cultural School and a researcher at the University of Bergen. Her work explores intersections of art, health, and gender. She serves as a research assistant on the project “Gender, Technology, Participation” and as a research assistant and artistic consultant on the PhD project “Sizing up desirable bodies –Examining the fat-bodied boundaries of sexuality and gender.”

Sanna Martine Sørum , University of Innlandet, Norway

Sanna Martine Sørum, MA, is a certified music therapist educated at the Grieg Academy. She is currently pursuing a degree in Primary Education at the University of Innlandet. Her research experience includes work with people living with Parkinson’s disease and interdisciplinary studies exploring the integration of music therapy and animal-assisted therapy. She holds formal training in animal-assisted interventions from the Norwegian University of Life Sciences. Her academic interests lie at the intersectionof music therapy, animal-assisted therapy, education, and health.

Ylva Jonsson , Sandnes Municipality, Norway

Ylva Jonsson is a music therapist in Sandnes kommune. She holds a Master’s degree in Music Therapy from the Grieg Academy at the University of Bergen. She works in a low-threshold service for residents facing substance use and addiction-related challenges. Her research experience includes school-based studies on music-listening groups promoting psychosocial well-being among students. She is currently working on two research papers: one examining parental singing in infant care, and another exploring healthcare workers’ experiences with the workplace-based intervention “Musikkreisen.”

Jenny Daling Korsøen , Kinn Municipality, Norway

Jenny Daling Korsøenis a music therapist in Kinn kommune. She holds a Master’s degree in Music Therapy from the Grieg Academy, University of Bergen. She is part of the LEV VEL team and works both in community settings and at institutions. Her research experience includes an implementation study focusing on the role of play in habilitation services for children, as well as serving as an interventionist in the ongoing project “Memory for Music (M4M).”

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4379 Krüger et al. Photos: Bjarte Bjørkum/Rune Holm

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Published

2026-03-03

How to Cite

Krüger, V., Liisberg , J., Sørum , S. M., Jonsson , Y., & Daling Korsøen , J. (2026). Music Therapy to Meet the Needs of Forcibly Displaced Children: Teachers’, Music Therapy Students,and Administrators’ Experiences from the Initial Phases of a School Project for Ukrainian Children. Voices: A World Forum for Music Therapy, 26(1). https://doi.org/10.15845/voices.v26i1.4379

Issue

Vol. 26 No. 1 (2026)

Section

Research

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Copyright (c) 2026 Viggo Krüger, Julie Liisberg , Sanna Martine Sørum, Ylva Jonsson, Jenny Daling Korsøen

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