Perspectives on musical competence for people with borderline personality disorder in group music therapy

Abstract

Introduction: This paper explores perspectives on musical competence for seven people with borderline personality disorder participating in an 8-week music therapy program using group improvisation. Method: This qualitative study used an emergent design, informed by a pragmatic methodological stance, concerned with understanding how music making contributed to therapeutic process in practice. All clinical sessions were video recorded and analysed, beginning with detailed description of music making, followed by transcription of discussion and concluding with interpretation. The participants’ orientation towards musical competencies emerged as the study focus during the analysis. Results: Ana..