Psychological counseling services in music schools in Poland: History and current status

Abstract

This article presents the main aims and scope of the psychological counseling service for young musicians that was first introduced in the Polish music education system during the 1950s. It discusses the contribution of Maria Manturzewska, a pioneer of music psychology in Poland, to the establishment of a network of professionals providing counseling to students at specialist primary and secondary music schools and conservatoires. Manturzewska’s work was also a major influence on current policies and practice in relation to counseling for music students. The article introduces different forms of psychological counseling provided by psychologists and school pedagogists to music students. It outlines the formal and legal aspects of counseling for students who experience various issues, as well as those with developmental deficits or special educational needs, and discusses the scope of responsibilities of psychologists and pedagogists working with young musicians, and the issues reported by teachers, students, and their parents. It also considers the professional activities of psychologists and school pedagogists in the light of the social, political, and economic changes that occurred in Poland between 1950 and 2020, which have had a significant impact on the developments in the field. Finally, the article discusses the provision of psychological counseling services for music, ballet, and (visual) art schools across Poland since 2011. These schools are supervised by the Artistic Education Centre, which was established by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage. The psychological counseling services also conduct research to examine the physical and psychological well-being of music students in Poland.