Creating possibilities for music and belonging: A narrative and arts-based approach to immigrant children and youth’s group singing
Natasha Damiano
PhD Student – Rehabilitation Sciences
July 22, 2021 | 12 – 1 pm
[ Abstract ]
Music can be cultivated as a resource to be drawn on for wellbeing across the lifespan, making the expansion of opportunities for music participation important for children’s healthy development. A key benefit of collective music-making specifically is a sense of belonging. Yet, the children who may benefit most from inclusion in music-making programs, such as children from immigrant, refugee, or low-income backgrounds, may also face multiple barriers to such opportunities. Various factors may limit access to music programs for these children or influence how they experience music-making. In addition, research on music, health and wellbeing tends to be geared toward policy needs, sometimes at the expense of creating research outcomes that support equitable access to the benefits of music. Natasha will discuss the methodology and methods of her doctoral research on the experiences of children and youth participating in the choral program at St. James Music Academy in Downtown Eastside Vancouver. The presentation will tease apart the examination of immigrant children’s group singing experiences from the use of arts- and music-based methods as part of the research process, and will discuss tensions between ensuring rights to protection, participation, and possibility in research with children and other potentially vulnerable populations.
[ Bio ]
As a parent and second-generation Canadian of settler-European heritage, my PhD research explores immigrant children and youth’s embodied singing experiences from the disciplinary perspective of occupational science. I bring to this work a background in anthropology, a passion for the ‘everyday’ of music and art-making, and a belief in the transformative potential of meaningful and equitable participation in the creative arts. Using narrative and arts-based inquiry, as well as future-oriented critical childhood theory, my research seeks a deeper understanding of the relational dimensions of immigrant children and youth’s music-making. I do so by engaging young people through research to co-create their own possibilities for both music-making and community belonging.
[ About the Migration Grad Student Power Hour ]
The Centre for Migration Studies Grad Student Power Hour provides opportunities for UBC graduate students to share their research on migration beyond their home departments and network with faculty and students from across the university and in the broader community sector. The Power Hour will begin with 10 minutes of networking opportunities, followed by a 30 minute talk and 20 minutes for discussion. Anyone is welcome to attend. We look forward to seeing you there!
Please RSVP for this online event below.
