Communicative musicality, music and transformation in the lives of parents and their children with cerebral palsy and multiple disabilities (CPMD)

Abstract

The births of children with cerebral palsy and multiple disabilities (CPMD) challenge their families’ wellbeing. This article, which is based on a theme generated from an interview study, suggests that communicative musicality and the everyday use of music transforms these families’ experiences. The research questions aimed to explore the musicality of individuals with cerebral palsy, and the use of music within their families. Six parents to individuals with cerebral palsy and multiple disabilities participated in this study. The data were collected through a three-interview series with each participant, integrated with home-video viewing. The interview transcripts were analysed with interpretative phenomenological analysis and grounded theory. Initially three core themes were generated (and presented in another publication). The ‘transformation’ theme is a fourth theme generated from a later analysis of the research interviews. It is presented here through the parents’ voices as well as the researchers’ interpretations. Theory and research are discussed on communicative musicality, everyday musicking, and wellbeing. We suggest that the families’ intensive use of nonverbal communicative approaches, and music transformed their experiences: their moods, participation, and the meanings related to their lives together.