The use of music therapy and its influence on well-being and development of competences among handicapped children

My thesis on the use of music therapy and its influence on well-being and development of competences among handicapped children is divided into two parts - theoretical and research. The objective of my work is to explore possible effects of music therapy on the handicapped children. I chose a non-traditional form of music therapy among disabled children so that my research could be different. In the theoretical part there was defined the term of music therapy, described its history and its individual methods and techniques. Then I defined the term of handicapped child and other related terms. I described the most common diagnosis of disabled children. There follow a few examples of parents with handicapped children and their ability to cope with their disability in my work. I am seeking answers to two research questions in the research part: 1. Is it possible to see any changes among handicapped children regularly attending music therapy? 2. If yes, what are the changes? I chose a qualitative research strategy. In the next chapter there are described data obtaining methods, which were observation and a semi-structured dialog. Within my research I was visiting the Center Arpida in České Budějovice, the club Little Singers at least once a month for one year. Children who visit this club ( there are 13 of them) learn individual songs and then they present them on various performances during the whole year. The results of my research were described on several levels. The first level describes observed changes among individual children, the second level describes work of the club during one year, the third seeks more general answers to research questions. Concerning socialization of individuals at the same age in the group , children communicate and joke in the club together and with their teacher. They share their life experiences which are important for them. They care about their successful performance. Some children have a really friendly relationship with each other. The second result is socialization of individuals in society. Children are not afraid of getting out of the line during the performance. They lose shyness among unknown people, they are not afraid of asking about anything or asking for help. To reach valid research results I consulted them with a musicoterapeud leading the club Little Singers