Abstract:
In South Africa music therapy as a profession is still in its infancy and not yet firmly
established, hence music therapists have struggled in the past to secure full-time
employment. It is important to ascertain the current state of music therapy in Tshwane as this
will offer suggestions about what needs to be addressed in the future. In this project two research questions were explored:
1. What are the experiences of music therapists, as well as the perceptions of other
professionals working in the health and education sectors in Tshwane, regarding
music therapy as a profession?
2. What do these experiences and perceptions suggest about the current state of the
music therapy profession in Tshwane?
This research project used questionnaires to generate data pertaining to the experiences of
music therapists and perceptions of allied professionals about the music therapy profession
in Tshwane. The experiences of music therapists currently practising in Tshwane shed light
on the present situation of music therapy in Tshwane. The allied professionals’ perceptions
of music therapy had implications regarding the recognition of the profession which impacts
directly on the availability of jobs, funding and resources available to music therapists.
Questionnaires generated both quantitative and qualitative data through the use of closed
questions that were analysed using descriptive statistics that were generalised and openended
questions analysed through the process of coding and categorising for emerging
themes that were discussed. Results obtained from the questionnaires indicated that not
enough is being done to promote the field as music therapist respondents (n=4) do not
create or set up new music therapy employment. This accounts for the fact that at present
other professionals working in the health and education sectors (n=27) have a varied
understanding of what music therapy comprises. Because of this varied understanding music
therapy is not always valued by these professionals. Collaboration with allied professionals
was an important theme which recurred throughout the data and seems to have been the
most successful way of furthering the profession so far in Tshwane. By promoting music
therapy, especially through collaboration with others, awareness of music therapy should be
enhanced, others’ knowledge and understanding of music therapy may be expanded and
music therapy may ultimately find its valued place among other therapeutic interventions.
