Report on the Current State of Practice and Training of Music Therapists Working With Adolescents

Authors

  • Katrina Skewes McFerran Faculty of Fine Arts and Music, The University of Melbourne, Australia http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0699-3683
  • Giulia Fedrigo unaffiliated, Verona, Italy
  • Andreas Wölfl Institut für Musiktherapie am Freien Musikzentrum, Germany

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15845/voices.v21i2.3195

Keywords:

Adolescents, Music Therapy, Youth, Survey, International

Abstract

The practice of music therapy with adolescents is growing around the globe and there is increased recognition that young people have particular needs. In this report, we share information received from 247 music therapists about training about and practice with adolescents that was collected in 2016–2017. The music therapists were from 25 countries and had the option of answering questions in three languages—English (n = 114), German (n = 97) and Italian (n = 36). The most common workplaces were hospitals and schools with young people who have disabilities and mental health challenges. Answers also suggest that employment patterns in the field are slightly different to other colleagues who work with similar adolescents, and although ongoing work is available, the number of hours are not high overall. The information gathered provides a picture of how university programs around the globe emphasise the importance of emotional and social needs of adolescents, and the value of developmental and humanistic approaches to practice in a range of contexts. There was less reference to contemporary theories or practices and more emphasis on traditional practices that are similar to those used with adults. This suggests that the field may still be evolving in relation to adolescent approaches to practice, and the time for rebellion against dominant traditions of practice and theorising may be still to come. In the meantime, there is remarkable consistency across the countries surveyed and solid foundations have been laid for competent music therapy practice with young people.

Author Biographies

Katrina Skewes McFerran, Faculty of Fine Arts and Music, The University of Melbourne, Australia

Professor Katrina McFerran is a music therapy researcher, practitioner and educator at The University of Melbourne in Australia. She has focused her career on working with young people using music across a wide range of settings. This has included developing research and theory to explain how and why music therapy may be relevant in the lives of young people, particularly during difficult times.

Giulia Fedrigo, unaffiliated, Verona, Italy

Giulia Fedrigo is a music therapist and speech pathologist who lives and works in Verona, Italy. She completed her Master’s Research at Aalborg University, and has published a book with Erickson Publishers, 'La Casa Dei Suoni e Delle Parole' in 2020.

Andreas Wölfl, Institut für Musiktherapie am Freien Musikzentrum, Germany

Andreas Wölfl, Dr. phil. (Music Therapist, Psychotherapist for Children and Adolescents, Supervisor) works in the Institute of Music Therapy at Freies Musikzentrum München e.V. Germany and in a hospital for child and adolescent psychiatry and in his practice for supervision, coaching and music therapy. Wölfl is head of the music therapy training BWM and the workgroup “prevention“ at the Institute of Music Therapy.

Published

2021-06-29

How to Cite

McFerran, K. S., Fedrigo, G., & Wölfl, A. (2021). Report on the Current State of Practice and Training of Music Therapists Working With Adolescents. Voices: A World Forum for Music Therapy, 21(2). https://doi.org/10.15845/voices.v21i2.3195

Issue

Section

Reports