Creative Group Songwriting

Abstract

Songwriting with adolescents has proven to be an effective technique in developing group cohesiveness, enhancing self-expression, increasing self-esteem, and developing insight into feelings and needs, both of self and of others. Songwriting has been used with a variety of populations, but the primary emphasis has been primarily on lyric writing. This paper explains one approach to songwriting, “Creative Group Songwriting,” in which groups of emotionally impaired adolescents were given opportunities not only to write lyrics but also to compose their own music. An overview of the characteristics and needs of emotionally impaired adolescents is provided followed by a review of research and literature in therapeutic songwriting techniques as well as song composition in general. After describing the structure used in sessions, Creative Group Songwriting is divided info six steps, each of which is described in terms of procedures and objectives. Three group case examples are presented.