• Journal of Music and Human Behavior
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.41-67
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• 2018

The purpose of this case study was to examine how a supportive songwriting program could facilitate resilience for adolescents with school maladjustment. Participants included four middle school students with adaptive difficulties. The participants received eight 50-minute sessions of a supportive songwriting program. The program consisted of singing and discussing selected songs, followed by the participants creating their own lyrics about their current adaptation issues. The Resilience Scale for Adolescents was completed by each participant before and after the intervention, and the participants' lyrics were analyzed for how the factors of resilience were reflected in their lyrics. The results showed that all participants' scores on the resilience scale increased. It was also found that the factor on the resilience scale that increased the most for each participant was related to the issues expressed in their lyrics. The results suggest that the process of writing songs can be effective in eliciting adolescents' school related issues and accessing their positive resources, which can lead to behavioral and psychological improvements.

• Journal of Music and Human Behavior
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.15-31
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• 2005

Terminal pediatric patient include congenital metabolic abnormalities, chromosome aberrations, congenital anomalies, neuromuscular diseases and other incurable conditions as well as malignant tumors. One third of these diseases are cancers, and two thirds of cancers are lymphadenoma and leukemia. Terminal pediatric patient may feel fear, anger and frustration against treatment process in hospitals, lose control of themselves and stay in helplessness due to restrictions within controlled hospital environment. This study examined the relationship between hospitalized childrens behavior and music using Contextual Support Model of Music Therapya theory stating therapeutic music environments possess three elements of Structure, Autonomy support and Involvement, and increase childrens active engagement. Focused on these three therapeutic elements, this study analyzed music therapy cases of terminally ill children to examine the relationship between childrens behavior and music as environmental supportive medium in the environment. This study is on a single case case subject, a 10-year-old girl with acute lymphocytic leukemia. Nine sessions of music therapy activities were conducted and analyzed using qualitative method. Focusing on three therapeutic elements of Contextual Support Model, analysis of sessions was made on the basis of activities specifically designed for this study. Main music therapy activities included singing while playing musical instruments, singing while listening to music through CD player, making up songs, and searching for song lines. The findings of this study are as follows: a) in terms of Structure, music therapy suggested a direction for effective musical activities for terminally ill children by providing environments where child can sing, play musical instruments and make up songs; b) in terms of Autonomy support, music therapy encouraged childs voluntary participation by giving her chances to make choice while singing or playing musical instruments; c) in terms of Involvement, child could gain positive approval of the therapist and conduct musical activities in cooperation with the therapist. Music therapy serves as supportive medium in the environment, develops spontaneity and self-reliance in emotionally depressed children, and promotes voluntary attitudes in the restricted hospital environment. Based on the positive effects of music therapy, more studies need to be conducted with an approach to more various terminal pediatric patients.

• Journal of Music and Human Behavior
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.27-51
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• 2019

This case study aimed to investigate changes in self-expression following participation in a rap making program with adolescent survivors of childhood cancer. The rap making program was constructed based on the contextual support music therapy model. Three adolescent survivors of childhood cancer participated in six 80-minute individual sessions. During the sessions, each participant engaged in the following tasks: song discussion, lyric creation, and rapping over a selected beat. At pre and posttest, the Self-Expression Scale was completed by participants. Their verbal expressions lyrics were observed during the sessions, and individual interviews with the participants were conducted at the completion of the program. The results demonstrated that the mean rating of the Self-Expression Scale increased after the rap making intervention. Analysis of the participants' verbal expressions and lyrics demonstrated that participants were experiencing difficulties adjusting to school that they wanted to resolve. Furthermore, the analysis of the interviews at posttest found that participants experienced positive changes in self-perception, self-expression, and expectations for their future, compared to the pretest when the participants expressed negative self-perceptions due to difficulties in interpersonal relationships at school and physical limitations. This indicates that rap making can be an effective resource for providing this population with the means to recognize positive attributes about themselves and improve self-expression.