Date of Award
Spring 5-20-2023
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
MA - Master of Arts
Department
Expressive Therapies
Advisor
Rebecca Zarate
Abstract
This thesis explores how clinical improvisation in music therapy can be a benefit for adolescents who are considered “in between” placements. The method was created for youth who are residing at an emergency shelter with limited therapeutic services. Drawing inspiration from Juliette Alvin and free improvisation in music therapy, facilitating a low expectation, non-required, and varied instrumentation choice music therapy group may be beneficial for this population. A method was created to provide a free play music therapy group for “in between” youth ages 13- 17 at an emergency shelter with a variety of racial and cultural backgrounds and identities. I was fortunate to discover personal growth in improvisational skills, how familiar melodies appear repeatedly, and adolescents enjoy being able to play instruments without any restraints or qualifications. This method appears to be a beneficial aspect of an emergency shelter programming schedule and can be adapted to meet the needs of the youth being served.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Recommended Citation
Hoffschneider, Rebecca Kay, "Free Play Music Therapy for "In Between" Youth in an Emergency Shelter Setting: Development of a Clinical Method" (2023). Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses. 704.
https://digitalcommons.lesley.edu/expressive_theses/704
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