Therapeutic Chorale for Persons with Chronic Mental Illness: A Descriptive Survey of Participant Experiences

The purpose of this survey was to assess the relationship between participation in a bilingual therapeutic performance choir and the reported quality of life for persons living with a chronic psychiatric illness, The participants were 16 volun teers who ranged in age from 32-65, had a diagnosis of a major mental illness, and were members of an existing choir within a psychiatric outpatient department of a large urban general hospital. Participants completed a self-reported quality of life questionnaire designed by the researcher using Ukert scales, a check list, and qualitative questions. Results demonstrated that aspects of participants ' lives that they perceived were most positively affected by choir membership included self-esteem, emotional expression, mood alteration, coping with stress, comfort level within in the group, and the establishment of a regular routine. Implications for the use of choirs as a therapeutic medium and limitations of the study were discussed. As the clinical practice of music therapy expands and develops, music therapists are called upon to find new and creative ways to meet the various, wide-ranging needs of clients both within institutions and in the community, particularly in the field of mental health. These needs encompass both physical and psychological health and include psychosocial factors such as integration within the community. The popularity of choirs in our society is evident. According to a national study by Chorus America (2009), 42.6 million adults and children regularly The author would like to thank the following persons: Dr. Cheryl Dileo for her guidance; Dr. Marie-France Boudreault, for her vision and tireless contribution to the choir; and the members of MusiArt Chorale for their dedication and willingness to participate in this research