Interdisciplinary Collaboration Between Music Therapy and Medical Ethnomusicology And the Perceived Impact on Individuals Recovering From Traumatic Brain Injuries Sidney Johnson ([email protected]) Creative Arts Therapies Georgia College and State University

Statement of the Problem Delimitations • A plethora of possible positive effects and benefits exist in the interdisciplinary • Due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, it is imperative the research study is conducted after the situation subsides globally. collaboration between music therapy and medical ethnomusicology (1). • The study is to occur abroad Spain at a music therapy and/or medical ethnomusicology clinic; thus funding to conduct the • Combining and utilizing techniques from both fields to help clients more efficiently research is a significant and necessary consideration. reach a specific goal will likely become more commonplace and desirable for future • I am not yet fully fluent in Spanish. therapeutic treatment plans (1). • By expanding, utilizing, and fusing various music therapy and medical ethnomusicology techniques, music therapists, medical ethnomusicologists, and clients alike are sure to Methods gain and benefit from such interaction, cooperation, and synergy between the two healthcare fields (1). • Little to no observational, interview-based, or evidence-based research study has been Assumptions/Conceptual Framework completed focusing on interdisciplinary collaboration between music therapy and • I am pursing a qualitative research study due to the continually evolving, fluctuating nature of the medical ethnomusicology (1). two healthcare fields and overall topics discussed. • Furthermore, no healthcare field interdisciplinary collaboration study has been • completed focusing specifically on participants recovering from traumatic brain injuries During summer 2019, I worked at Adam’s Camp in Winter Park, Colorado – a week-long therapy (2). camp for children with learning and intellectual disabilities. Speech therapists, physical therapists, • Such an interdisciplinary collaborative study has also never taken place internationally, occupational therapists, and music therapists worked together to create a treatment plan and in order to expand the effectiveness of client treatment plans and to gain a deeper and more comprehensive medical ethnomusicologist perspective (4). reach a common goal for each child. • Thanks to Adam’s Camp, I have witnessed first-hand the great effectiveness and benefits of interdisciplinary collaboration within the healthcare setting. Review of Literature • I am a Spanish minor with a deep love for the Spanish language. Conducting research while By adopting an ethnographic perspective of a client’s disability through studying and traveling abroad is a personal academic and life goal. medical ethnomusicology, the music therapist gains a greater understanding of the disability and how to more holistically address the clients needs and create an effective treatment plan (1). Design • Determining and distinguishing the role of the music therapist and medical Qualitative ethnographic study ethnomusicologist in collaborative health care settings while developing a keen sense of awareness of cross-disciplinary opportunities is imperative for Participants healthy future collaborations (2). • Participants include music therapists and medical ethnomusicologists working at a music therapy Music therapy and medical ethnomusicology techniques, thought processes, and/or medical ethnomusicology clinic in Spain, who are engaging in interdisciplinary and interventions complement each other extremely well and should be collaboration. highly considered as a future method to effectively reach a goal when • The second set of participants includes individuals recovering from traumatic brain injuries, who creating treatment plans for a variety of clients (3). are receiving treatment at the clinic. The ongoing health and well-being promotion through techniques of the two healthcare fields – music therapy and medical ethnomusicology – provides Data Collection unique, innovative multidisciplinary opportunities, as similar theoretical • Observations of interdisciplinary collaboration between music therapists and medical perspectives and methodological procedures are common to both fields. Benefits are magnified through focused interdisciplinary collaboration ethnomusicologists in sessions between music therapy and medical ethnomusicology, creating an excellent • Observations of the perceived impact of interdisciplinary collaboration of participants recovering environment of health musicking (4). from traumatic brain injuries • Group interviews with music therapists and medical ethnomusicologists • One-on-one, open-ended question interviews (one-hour long interviews) with music therapists, Purpose medical ethnomusicologists, and participants with traumatic brain injuries The purpose of this research study is to explore the perceived impact of interdisciplinary collaboration for individuals with Data Analysis traumatic brain injuries, to document the collaborative • Open coding is used to determine emergent themes experiences between music therapists and medical ethnomusicologists, and to bring awareness to the beneficial Methods for Verification possibilities of further future interdisciplinary collaboration. • Triangulation of group and one-on-one interviews, focus groups, and observational data • Each interviewee(s) is/are sent the respective transcribed interview for verification Research Questions 1) What is the perceived impact of interdisciplinary collaboration Sample Interview Questions between music therapy and medical ethnomusicology for • Music Therapist Question – Describe your interdisciplinary collaboration experience with medical individuals recovering from traumatic brain injuries? ethnomusicologists. 2) What are the collaborative experiences between music • Medical Ethnomusicologist Question – Describe your interdisciplinary collaboration experience therapists and medical ethnomusicologists while working with with music therapists. individuals recovering from traumatic brain injuries? • Participant Question – What aspect of music therapy (and what aspect of medical ethnomusicology) have you found helpful during your recovery period? Definitions • Medical Ethnomusicology – A field of integrative and holistic Considerations research and applied practices that approaches music, • It will be necessary to apply for a grant in order to conduct the research study. health, and healing anew in the non-Western world. • Acquiring a Spanish translator may be necessary, especially for translation of healthcare and medical • Neurological Music Therapy (NMT) – An evidence-based terms, depending on my level of fluency when the study is conducted abroad. treatment model using standardized, research-based techniques to treat the brain using specific elements of References music. 1. Carrico, A. H. (2015). Constructing a two-way street: An argument for interdisciplinary collaboration through an ethnomusicology, and examination of music therapy, medical ethnomusicology, and williams syndrome. Voices: A World Forum for Music Therapy. Retrieved May 13, 2020, from https://voices.no/index.php/voices/article/view/2287/2042. • NMT Interventions Explored – Oral Motor and Respiratory 2. Dhokai, N. (2017). Mediating music and culture in medical rehabilitation settings. Journal of Folklore Research, 54(1), 119-131. https://doi.org/10.2979/jfolkrese.54.2.05. 3. Edwards, J. & MacMahon, O. (2015). Music therapy and medical ethnomusicology: Distinctive and connected. Voices: A World Forum for Music Therapy. Retrieved May 19, 2020, from https://voices.no/index.php/voices/article/view/2289/2044. Exercises (OMREX) and Therapeutic Singing (TS) 4. Jones, J. A. (2014). Health musicking in skiffle steel orchestra: Thoughts on collaboration between community music therapy and medical ethnomusicology. International Journal of Community Music, 7(1), 129-144. https://doi.org/10.1386/ijcm.7.1.129_1.