Betwixt and between: Considering liminality and rites of passage in the context of music therapy in a specialist further education college

Abstract

The case load of a music therapist may contain much work with young people with profound and multiple learning disabilities (PMLD) and autistic spectrum conditions (ASC) as they transition to adulthood. There is however, no extant body of work exploring the anthropological theories of liminality and rites of passage in this context. It is considered that these theories offer a potential model of working in an educational setting as these young people move into the next phase of their lives. Discussion of the above theories and a description of the setting and the connection between the two is used to propose a potential music therapy model for work with this population at this point during the clients’ lifespan.