ResearchWorks: 'Listen-In’

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Wellbeing is a recognised concern in the training of advanced music students. Music listening can have a positive role in supporting wellbeing, but more evidence is needed of its value for musicians. The ‘Listen-In’ group focused listening project was run at Guildhall School during the Summer Term 2026.

Following ethical approval, a group of 10 students was recruited with seven attending at least two of the six one-and-a half hour early-evening sessions. These were wellbeing rather than therapy sessions but were facilitated by two experienced professional musicians, drawing on their training as music therapists and Guided Imagery and Music specialists. Sessions included guided preparation and focus for group listening, reasons for music selection, processing mental imagery and drawing as creative feedback and discussion. Opportunities occurred for participants to explore their own playlists and a resource pack was made available at the end of the sessions.

A mixed methods design using questionnaires, visual analogue scales and focus groups captured participants’ experience of the intervention and overall changes in wellbeing, music listening practices and priorities. Preliminary results will be presented to demonstrate the feasibility, acceptability and impact of the intervention and potential for future replications at Guildhall School and other UK and European conservatories.

Speakers:

Leslie Bunt is Emeritus Professor in Music Therapy, University of the West of England, Bristol, a Visiting Research Fellow at Guildhall School and Principal Investigator of the Listen-In project. Leslie is a Fellow and Primary Trainer of the Association of Music and Imagery (AMI) and Life Member, Accredited Trainer and Therapist of the European Association for Music and Imagery (EAMI).

Jasenka Horvat is a Fellow of AMI and an EAMI Accredited Therapist. She is Associate Professor in Postgraduate Creative Therapies at The Academy of Arts and Culture, J. J. Strossmayer University of Osijek, Croatia. Jasenka was one of the facilitators of the Listen-In listening sessions.

Jojo Lander is a Fellow of AMI and an EAMI Accredited Therapist. She has many years of experience as a cellist with leading UK orchestras, ensemble player and teacher. Jojo was one of the facilitators of the Listen-In listening sessions.

Marianne Rizkallah is a Postgraduate Researcher in music therapy and a Group Improvisation Tutor for the Music Therapy MA programme. She is Research Assistant for the Listen-In project.

Donald Wetherick is Deputy Head of Music Therapy at Guildhall School of Music and Drama, London. He teaches on the MA Music Therapy programme and is a researcher in music therapy training. He is a co-researcher for the Listen-In project and co-ordinated the study.