Professor Katrina Skewes McFerran is an international expert on the topic of music, music therapy and adolescents. She has undertaken a range of studies investigating healthy and unhealthy uses of music with and by young people, preferring participatory approaches with an emphasis on reflexive, qualitative investigations.
She has also contributed to the development of an assessment tool for increasing young people's conscious and intentional uses of music. Her music therapy research spans school, community and hospital based practices with young people incorporating a range of music strategies such as song writing, improvisation, performances and music sharing. She is committed to building healthy music cultures in schools that promote wellbeing and connectedness, as well as providing direct therapy services for young people who wish to work towards personal and interpersonal change and growth.
Professor McFerran has published her research in international and interdisciplinary refereed journals and has contributed numerous case studies and practice reflections to edited books, as well as sole authoring her first text on ‘Adolescents, Music and Music Therapy' in 2010 (Jessica Kingsley Publishers) and her second on 'Building Music Cultures in Schools' in 2014 (Barcelona Publications). She is also an Editor of VOICES: A world forum for music therapy www.voices.no and sits on Editorial Boards of the Australian and Nordic Journals of Music Therapy, as well as Music Therapy Today, and Social Work with Groups.
Professor McFerran is Head of the Masters in Music Therapy by Coursework program and Director of the National Music Therapy Research Unit where she supervises a range of projects exploring music and youth. She is currently Associate Dean (Research) in the Faculty of the VCA&MCM, and Associate Director (Research) at the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music. Katrina is a member of the Research Higher Degrees Committee and the Committee of Associate Deans Resarch, and has been Associate Dean in the Melbourne Graduate School of Education, as well as being an executive member of the Graduate Research Scholarships Committee.
Find out more about Katrina Skewes McFerran's experience
Katrina Skewes McFerran's highlights
FEATURED Journal article
Adolescents and Music Therapy: Contextualized Recommendations for Research and Practice
Read moreKatrina Skewes McFerran's selected work
"Music as bridge between strengths and difficulties: Preventing mental ill-health through ..
Research Grant
Let’s rework our approach with ‘angry young people’
NEWS ARTICLE
Music Use for Mood Regulation: Self-Awareness and Conscious Listening Choices in Young Peo..
Journal article
Building resilient school communities through tailored arts programs.
Research Grant
Understanding the NDIS: how does the scheme view music therapy?
NEWS ARTICLE
Parents’ musical engagement with their baby in the neonatal unit to support emerging paren..
Journal article
Katrina Skewes McFerran's selected work
Projects
Displaying the 10 most recent projects by Katrina Skewes McFerran.
Project Types
7
Research Grant
5
Research Contracts
3
Internal Research Grant
Scholarly Works
Displaying the 10 most recent scholarly works by Katrina Skewes McFerran.
News
Displaying the 6 most recent news articles by Katrina Skewes McFerran.
Honours, Awards and Fellowships
Credentials
Positions
Positions
Professor In Music Therapy
Melbourne Conservatorium Of Music
Registered Music Therapist
Australian Music Therapy Association
Education
Education
Doctor of Philosophy
University of Melbourne
Bachelor of Music with Honours
University of Melbourne