Learning in a new key: an Erasmus+ project developing therapeutic music resources for children affected by trauma

Abstract

Background: Children with traumatic life histories face profound difficulties accessing educational curricula and forming healthy relationships alongside the risks of mental health issues. Music therapists are too thinly spread to work directly with all. Creative ways of collaborating with educators will enable more sharing of resources.Methods: Presenters will report on the early findings of a European-funded project featuring collaboration between music therapists, educators, and researchers from nine different European educational, training, and research institutions. The project empowers teachers by developing practical, therapeutic musical resources through training events, resource tool-kits, evaluation, and impact studies and dissemination.Discussion: Three music therapist researchers present initial findings from participating mainstream schools in Poland and Italy and a residential special school in the UK.Conclusions: There will be an opportunity to explore ethical and cultural complexities of t...