Designing, Piloting, and Evaluating an On-Line Collaborative Songwriting Environment and Protocol Using Skype Telecommunication Technology: Perceptions of Music Therapy Student Participants

Abstract

Songwriting and electronic technology applications are two areas utilized in music therapy. Students learn about these topics in university training programs. The purpose of the study was to engage students in collaborative songwriting to help them develop their songwriting skills while utilizing Skype technology. Four clinical placement students engaged in collaborative songwriting with peers from both their own and different universities Data consisted of student written reflections on their experiences of Skype technology for peer songwriting and comparison of those experiences with face to face peer songwriting. A six-stage process of thematic data analysis identified seven themes about students' perceptions of songwriting and five themes about the impact of the Skype technology on the songwriting experience. Six specific recommendations and suggestions were made by students as to how to improve the set-up of the music therapy telehealth environment for songwriting sessions.