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The Inclusive Potential of Music Therapy in Lower Secondary School

Giovanna Scala, Giovanna Di Lorenzo, Alessia Castellano

Abstract

The study examined the effectiveness of an inclusive educational intervention based on the integration of active music therapy, digital technologies for music production and performative role-play in lower secondary schools, with a particular focus on pupils with Down’s syndrome. The intervention took place over 12 weeks during scheduled music workshop lessons and involved 150 pupils (aged 11–12), divided into an experimental group (n = 75) and a control group (n = 75); each group included 5 pupils with Down’s syndrome. Data collection employed a mixed-methods approach: quantitatively, the Student Engagement Scale and the Psychological Sense of School Membership were used, administered as pre- and post- tests; qualitatively, semi-structured interviews were conducted with students and teachers, subsequently analysed using thematic analysis. The quantitative results show more marked increases in the experimental group compared to the control group in both school engagement (SES: +28% vs +6%) and sense of belonging (PSSM: +34% vs +8%). Among students with Down’s syndrome alone, the improvements were particularly high in the experimental group (SES: +42%; PSSM: +48%) compared to the control group (SES: +9%; PSSM: +10%). Qualitative evidence confirms these findings: in the experimental group, music is described as a ‘common language’ and a ‘safe space’, with increased cooperation, role visibility and peer recognition; in the control group, however, more individual dynamics emerged, and the participation of students with SEN was more frequently mediated by adults. Overall, the study suggests that a cooperative musical environment, supported by digital technologies and authentic performance tasks, can significantly strengthen participation and a sense of belonging at school, with particularly significant effects for students with Down’s syndrome

Keywords

Down syndrome; Music therapy; School inclusion; Participation; Innovative teaching; Special educational needs

References

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