Collaborative Music Practice for Health

Collaborative Music Practice for Health is a continuing professional development module designed for performing musicians and music therapists who want to develop their skills and practice in the application of music to the areas of health, care, community and wellbeing.

While music therapists and professional musicians have their own areas of expertise and primary training to draw on, this module will provide opportunities to develop skills around collaborative practice, improvisation and group facilitation. By learning about therapeutic issues relating to mind, body and music, within the context of relevant UK governmental and third-sector policies, you will develop your ability to work collaboratively in a range of wellbeing settings.

The module is delivered through a blended learning approach, encompassing in-person practical workshops, online teaching, mentorship, peer group learning, and a self-reflection of your own practice. Individual module deliveries may include a focus on specific age groups health conditions or environments.

The course is accredited by Anglia Ruskin University and those successfully completing the course through the submission of a reflective portfolio will be awarded a postgraduate certificate of credit.

Outline content

• Understanding specific health and wellbeing settings and the needs of providers, users, carers and family members
• Understanding legal and ethical aspects of collaborative arts practice
• Understanding theories and models of collaborative arts practice in health and wellbeing settings
• Developing and adapting approaches to collaborative practice in music for health and wellbeing settings
• Developing skills related to inclusive practice, intentionality, improvisation, responsiveness and versatility, and musical dialogue
• Self-care and boundary setting
• Self-reflexive learning and understanding
• Enabling legacy work in music for health and wellbeing settings

How you’ll learn
The module is delivered in a blended approach, with a face-to-face teaching residential weekend in May, with the remainder of learning online. Students will be expected to attend the face-to-face teaching sessions.

Assessment
You'll submit a portfolio of evidence, equivalent in length to a 3,000 word essay.