Song creation : a resource for life? : the neurodiversity affirming potential of improvised song creation : a longitudinal, arts-based study sharing the perceptions of two autistic former music therapy participants

Abstract

Song creation – spontaneously singing words and melodies in a flowing stream of consciousness – has documented psychological benefits. This paper explores the potential of song creation to tap into the innate musicality and individualised passions of autistic individuals. Although therapeutic songwriting research is growing, there is little research exploring song creation with autistic children or adults. This longitudinal arts-based study shares the song creations and personal reflections of two 23-year-old autistic former music therapy participants – Chester Collins (pseudonym) and Golden Girl (pseudonym) – as they engage in, and reflect upon, collaborative improvised song creation in a Reunion Music Focus Group with their former music therapist/ researcher, who herself identifies as neurodivergent. The participants met via Zoom, joined by two music industry celebrities who supported the process of recruitment (by lending star appeal), recording, re-mixing and mastering. The arts-based output is two music videos embedded with participants’ reflections: ‘Baby Blue’, a collaborative song creation; and, ‘Man in the Mirror’, a song creation Chester improvised with the researcher when he was eleven, remixed to include his interpretation of the same song as a twenty-three-year-old. The researcher shared the arts-based output with participants as a form of ‘member checking’ emerging themes. Findings suggest that for autistic individuals, engaging in song creation builds expressive confidence which is used as resource to support mental health. This approach is aligned with neurodiversity affirming music therapy practice and, as such, warrants further research.

Date of Award	2022
Original language	English