Natasha Hendry

Professor Jeremy Strong (University of West London) interviews PhD candidate Natasha Hendry whose research seeks to formulate a framework for more inclusive, diverse, and equitable music education for black pupils in the UK.

This exploratory study followed the journeys of eleven Global Majority teachers and musicians from their early experiences within the UK music education system up to their present professional careers in music. Focus groups with ten students presently engaged in music education offered a current perspective and comparison with adults’ experiences, allowing for reflection on possible trajectories. The research question asked whether a predominantly White, middle-class music curriculum has an effect on the musical behaviours and identity of members of the Global Majority in the United Kingdom. Findings showed that musicians and music teachers had experienced considerable barriers in music education and musical careers, which had an adverse psychological effect, typically recognized later in life.

Research into the benefits of community-based group singing, pertaining to positive wellbeing and Quality of Life is lacking. Additionally, no preferred theoretical framework exists for community singing-based interventions. For the present study, six members of a UK community choir were interviewed using a semi-structured interview approach. Interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) was employed. Analysis produced superordinate themes of: Social Factors with key elements such as social bonds and group identity; Psychological Factors, highlighting self-efficacy, self-identity and positive emotions and Psychological Motivations for Joining the Group, including autonomy, change of life circumstance and seeking a new challenge. The style/method of the group, teaching, music and group leader, were shown to have an influence on perceived benefits of the singing group. A key product of this study beyond the evidenced benefits of group singing is the development of an intervention model that optimises wellbeing outcomes in community singing groups underpinned by psychological theory, findings from the wider literature and the results of this study.