ResearchWorks: Sawt al-Shifaa: Muslim Experiences of Music, Sound and Healing
- 5pm
Tickets
About this event:
- Category:
- Interdisciplinary | Platform / Discussion | Research | ResearchWorks
- Event type:
- Booking required | Free | Online
- Admission:
- Free, registration required
- Location:
- Online
Event information
In this talk, Dr Fatima Lahham will discuss the recent research project "Sawt al-Shifaa" (the sound of healing), as part of Fatima's research residency at Guildhall School.
This participatory research project explored Muslim experiences of music, sound and healing in community, and was inspired by Fatima's experiences as a Muslim musician in UK healthcare settings, as well as by her historical interests in the uses of music and sound as healing in Islamic(ate) healthcare contexts.
To explore some of these questions, Fatima facilitated music workshops at a local community theatre with 15 participants, using a participatory action research approach to discuss music and health, and to improvise freely as a collective. After the sessions, Fatima co-created a zine alongside participants to share some of their findings.
This event will offer an overview of the project, methodologies, analysis, findings and outputs, inviting discussion and reflection about community research and inclusive music and health practice.
Speaker: Dr Fatima Lahham
Dr Fatima Lahham is a recorder player, improviser, creative researcher and author. Fatima studied at Oxford and Cambridge Universities and at the Royal College of Music in London, and has taught and lectured at at the Royal College of Music and at Royal Holloway, University of London. Her first monograph, Improvising Otherwise was published in May 2025 with Open Book Publishers, and she has released an album bulbul on FS Records (2022). Fatima works as a Researcher at the music therapy charity Nordoff & Robbins and is also currently a Research Resident at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama (2024-2025).
What is ResearchWorks?
Guildhall School’s ResearchWorks is a programme of events centred around the School’s research activity, bringing together staff, students and guests of international standing. We run regular events throughout the term intended to share the innovative research findings of the School and its guests with students, staff and the public.
