Musical justice

Title: Who says I can’t sing? Musical justice for people with intellectual disabilities
Author/researcher: Katrina McFerran, National Music Therapy Research Centre, University of Melbourne
Publisher/funder: The Salvation Army’s Melbourne Central Division Research and Advocacy Portfolio
Country of origin: Australia
Publication/completion date: 2008
Length: 25 pages
Keywords: music, music therapy, Australia, disability
Abstract: This report explores the complementary roles of music therapy and community music for people with disabilities.  It compares two existing music programs through The Salvation Army Brunswick and Able Australia, in order to identify overlap and points of distinction.  The adult participants in these programs were engaged as co-researchers in the investigation, offering their perspectives through focus group interviews, regular written feedback mechanisms and quality of life questionnaires.  These adults included people with a range of disabilities and their carers, both of whom engage in the music programs with equal enthusiasm.

Click here to download a pdf of this paper (753 KB).

Tags: Australia, disability, music, music therapy

Music review: Mark Kozelek | The Finally LP

On his latest album The Finally LP, Mark Kozelek compiles a collection of material written by other artists, bookended by two previously unreleased instrumentals. Included here are delicate renditions of songs by bands like AC/DC, Low, Husker Du and Dom Leone, among others. Kozelek’s relaxed finger picking interspersed throughout, he offers stripped down acoustic-folk meanderings as foundations for his haunting baritone - a drawl of a voice that cuts delicately across the intimate settings provided in this, and each of his other albums as the frontman for Red House Painters and Sun Kil Moon.

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Send in the clowns - a track from The Finally LP

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Throughout these particular tracks, it is easy to detect their raw production - creaking chairs and unpolished vocal tunings dot the diverse, intentionally sparse landscape. Many of the songs end abruptly, as though part of a mix-tape put together by Kozelek himself. And in a sense, this album quickly reveals itself as a novelty compilation for those fans who would be willing to listen to Mark Kozelek sing nearly anything.

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Tags: music, Reviews