Music and the Social Model: An Occupational Therapist's Approach to Music with People Labelled as Having Learning Disabilities

by Jane Williams, Rachel Purtell

Overview

Music has always been an essential part of what it is to be human and yet not everyone has access to the music-based opportunities others take for granted. Motivated by the belief that individuals are disabled by society rather than any impairment they might have, Jane Williams sets out to show how someone with learning difficulties can engage with music in as many diverse and fulfilling ways as the rest of their community and generation.

This practical guide will equip you with everything you need to know to help empower people with learning difficulties to experience and enjoy music, meaningfully. It sets out activity ideas in the context of existing Occupational Therapy models and offers a host of tips, resources and ready-to-use themed lesson plans to inspire and enrich your practice. There are also many practical examples and real-life success stories that show how to put the theory into practice, including downloadable tracks composed and performed by The LA Buskers, a band Jane works with.

Accessible, practical and inspirational, the unique approaches described in this book will be of immeasurable interest to occupational therapists, social care workers responsible for planning and delivering activity programmes as well as community musicians.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781849053068
Publisher:	Jessica Kingsley Publishers
Publication date:	04/28/2013
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	216
Product dimensions:	15.80(w) x 9.60(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

Jane Q. Williams qualified as an Occupational Therapist in 1986 and has a Master's degree in Advanced Occupational Therapy. She practised as an OT and then a supervisor for ten years predominantly in community settings. Jane then worked for 4 years as Learning and Development Advisor and Manager, designing and implementing approaches to learning for the staff of Devon County Council Social Services. Since December 2007, she has worked as a free-lance music facilitator and music teacher.

Table of Contents

Preface. Introduction: How to Use This Book. Part 1: Theory. 1. What is Music?: An Overview of the Elements of Music. 2. Why Music?: The Relationship Between Music and Human Occupation. 3. Music and The Social Model of Disability. Rachel Purtell. 4. Music and Occupational Therapy. 5. The Occupational Therapy Tool Kit: Paradigms, Frames of Reference and Models of Practice. 6. A Social Model OT Process. 7. Creating an Enabling Environment. Part 2: Practice. 8. Enabling Participation in Music: Activity Analysis and Planning Using an OT Tool Kit. 9. Journeys: Applying a Social Model OT Process. 10. An Introduction to Music Group Sessions. 11. Large Music Group Session Plans. 12. Small Group and One to One Sessions. 13. Reflection. Appendices. References. Further Reading. Index.

Editorial Reviews

This is an inspiring and practical guide that we're sure would be of real interest to Occupational Therapists, anyone working in day centres, social care settings and community music projects. It also challenges us all to think about the opportunities that people should be able to enjoy around music, whether it's performance or as a member of the audience.

StayupLate.org

What is very evident is the power of music, as well as the author's passion for it, and how this can be harnessed as a positive force for change, and indeed many compelling illustrations are

given of this. This section of the text, and the example group plans, are a joy to read and will hopefully encourage others to use music as part of their occupational therapy tool kit.

British Journal of Occupational Therapy

Jane's use of the Social Model of Disability as a means of realising a disabled person's inclusion/participation in music really resonated with me. By the end of this book I wanted to arrange a couple of sessions with Jane myself so convincing was she that music and the environments in which it exists could be adapted in a way that would enable my access to it. As Jane says "everyone who dreams has music"; this book has given me a roadmap to begin my own journey towards realising my own musical dream.

Cathy McCormack

The way this book is laid out is easy for the reader to understand and follow, allowing the educational and theoretical elements to blend in with the reality of using OT in practice, specifically in music. Throughout the book Jane keeps the language theoretical and factual while still understandable, fun and without waffle. The book also helps us, as students, to understand what is actually important to the individual and gives us stepping stones to start to understand that everything is individual; teaching us to not simply follow a model. I think that this is a captivating and spellbinding book, which contains necessary information and facts along with the added creativity and spark needed to inspire as well as teach.

Evie Faulkner

Jane has written this book with OTs in mind however the breadth of her approach to the whole subject can be appreciated by a very wide audience. The way she explores, explains and brings to life in accessible language so many aspects of music means that she has created an invaluable and inspirational resource. For those of us who love music and wish to learn more about its complexities, whatever our perspective, this book will open many doors.

Lindsey Stewart

... this is a book worthy of a place in an OT department where the emphasis is always on evidence based practice, underpinned by the core principles of our profession. It offers practical examples of how music can be experience by people who are diagnosed with a learning disability.

International Journal of Developmental Disabilities

Music is said to be a universal language. But, beyond the confines of "music therapy," disabled people, and particularly those labelled "with learning difficulties," encounter a whole range of barriers when accessing mainstream musical activities. Music and the Social Model provides an innovative and much needed analysis of these issues and how they might be overcome. It is essential reading for everyone working in the disability and related fields and comes highly recommended.

Professor Colin Barnes