Beyond Words: A Posthuman Exploration of Music, Learning, and Well-Being for Postverbal People

• In Event: 47.057 - Multimodal Art Practices for Well-Being and Storytelling

Abstract

This paper draws on an innovative, longitudinal, ethnographic study of music-making with ‘post-verbal’ people: those with stroke, learning difficulties, acquired brain injury, dementias, autism or elective mutism who communicate in forms beyond words. Using embedded observation, arts workshops, interviews with families and carers and focus groups with Music Leaders, the project traced how learning music affected both participants and their networks of intimacy. It used post-human theory to illuminate and explore processes and benefits, concluding that music facilitated a sense of becoming and possibility, confidence and belonging and this in turn generated new networks and forms of support for families and carers. It makes a significant contribution to arts. learning and wellbeing research and to post-human theory.

Author

• Jocey Quinn, Plymouth University