Summary
In 2009, the educational service of Casa da Música (CM), Porto, Portugal, launched the Casa vai a Casa program. This program is aimed at communities that are unable to access the activities offered by CM, including male and female prisons. This study takes place in a women’s prison, within the framework of a protocol between CM and CIPEM (a branch of INET-MD at IPP). Based on a theoretical framework drawing from the psychology of music and educational research, a qualitative methodology within a feminist paradigm is employed. Data collection involves participant observation, individual and group interviews, life stories, and field notes. The study seeks to explore to what extent the concepts of resilience and resistance to adversity can be understood in light of the main objectives of the CM program: social inclusion, community spirit, and the promotion of self-esteem.
So far, the research has addressed the workshops held in April/May 2011 over a period of three weeks, which culminated in a performance for the families of the participating inmates, and between January and May 2013, with a commemorative concert at CM marking the 100th anniversary of Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring. Ethical issues play a particularly crucial role in this research. With the central aim of amplifying the voices of the participants, the approach acknowledges the uniqueness and vulnerability of their lives and is aware of the potential negative consequences of public exposure. Respect for the time, privacy, and safety of those involved are fundamental ethical concerns that guide the research relationships.
Research Team
Graça Mota, Graça Boal Palheiros (co-researchers)
Funding
CIPEM / Casa da Música
Period
2011–2015
Keywords
Music and social inclusion, music and emotion, improvisation, resilience, women’s prison