Empowering sounds or trivial rhythmic variations? : narrative portraiture of the use of music for young people with intellectual and developmental disabilities within the Maltese context

Abstract

Music is an essential part of the human experience. The aim of this study is to understand the effects that music has on the life of people with intellectual and developmental disability in Malta. This has been achieved by involving three individuals with intellectual and developmental disability who have been exposed to music through their attendance at Villabianca, a centre for Music and the Arts. Given that these three participants prefer communicating in non-traditional ways, the involvement of their music therapist, or music practitioners and their primary care givers was considered essential. Priority however, has been given to the voices of the three main participants with intellectual and developmental disability through the use of attentive listening that goes beyond the use of words. For this reason, Narrative Portraiture, an innovative and creative qualitative methodology that focuses on the creation of descriptive narrations, was selected. This methodology allows for the use of various methods to gather the data. Multiple observations were carried out with the main participants and semi-structured interviews were used with the non-disabled participants involved in this study. The framework was adopted during interviews with main participants, ensuring that alternative means of communication is provided for self-expression. This study confirms that music helps people who choose to engage in non-traditional communication, to express themselves without the use of words. Furthermore through their active musical involvement participants with disability accomplished a sense of human flourishing and equity. Music seemed to also positively impact people without disability who were in close proximity with the main participants. This was achieved by creating pathways of positive understanding, driving the development of more meaningful relationships that improved the wellbeing of everyone involved. The need to provide people with intellectual and developmental disability with appropriate spaces and sensitive people was found crucial. Such spaces would help these valued citizens live a more decent and respectful life, free from prejudice and discrimination.