- Title
- The power of sound: reflections on an intervention programme to develop aspects of mindfulness
- Creator
- Auerbach, Christina
- Subject
- Affective education -- South Africa
- Subject
- Education, Elementary -- Activity programs -- South Africa
- Date Issued
- 2017
- Date
- 2017
- Type
- Thesis
- Type
- Masters
- Type
- MEd
- Identifier
- http://hdl.handle.net/10948/15621
- Identifier
- vital:28277
- Description
- The education of the majority of South African learners is in crisis. Eighty five percent of learners are not being educated to a level where they can become independent and productive members of society. In recent years, mindfulness has been recognised as a means of optimising effectiveness, learning ability and general well-being. The intention of this research study was therefore the development, presentation and evaluation of a learning programme that focused on developing listening skills through sound and rhythm with a view to improving the ability to focus attention and facilitate mindfulness. A literature review was also conducted, not only on the benefits and effect of sound and music, but also mindfulness itself, its importance and relevance. The research took place at an aftercare facility in an economically challenged area in the Western Cape of South Africa over a period of ten months. The approach adopted for this research study has been qualitative, multidisciplinary, interpretive and interventionist. Data was collected through field observations, interviewing and using visual participatory methodologies such as drawing and videos. In the course of the research, two major themes emerged namely intrapersonal transformation (including sub-themes of musical aptitude, active listening, focused attention, calmness and presence of mind) and interpersonal transformation (including sub-themes of teamwork and group accomplishment, awareness of others and service). It is my contention that the data from this intervention programme enable me to conclude that music activities provided opportunities for the children involved in this study to develop aspects of mindfulness. It is hoped that the research insights and findings, both from the literature survey and the intervention programme will help to advocate the core positioning of music and the arts, not only in the primary school curriculum, but also in teacher education programmes. I believe that the research study also indicates that further implementation of the intervention programme, would prove useful in developing an education curriculum that has mindfulness at its core as well as going some way towards clarifying a means by which musical sound can be utilised in a way that is meaningful to all South African children.
- Format
- xi, 205 leaves
- Format
- Publisher
- Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University
- Publisher
- Faculty of Education
- Language
- English
- Rights
- Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University
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