Crossed Harmonies: Exploring Interculturality, Multiculturalism, and Transculturality in Music Therapy Practice

Introduction

On January 17, 2024, I had the privilege of speaking at the XII Latin American Symposium about “Interculturality, Multiculturalism and Transculturality in Music Therapy Theory, History, and Practice.” In this talk, I delved into the topic of practicing the transcultural turn in music therapy.

Notice that this article is a very brief summary of my presentation, if you speak Spanish I invite you to watch the full video here: https://youtu.be/_WvOKB2HY40

I began by sharing my experiences growing up in different countries, such as Mexico, China, the United States, and Germany. These diverse cultural encounters sparked my interest in exploring the concept of transculturality in the field of music therapy.

The catalyst for my exploration was the Latin American Symposium, which issued a call for papers with the theme of “Music Therapy and Globalization”. This theme resonated with me, as I had personally experienced the interconnectedness of cultures through my travels and interactions with people from various backgrounds.

On Culture

Brynjulf Stige’s “Culture-Centered Music Therapy” is the seminal text on this topic in music therapy. I also drew heavily from “Transcultural America”, a book edited by Afef Benessaieh. To lay the foundation for our discussion, I provided several discussions of culture from these notable experts:

Ways of relating to the world, consciously and unconsciously, with and through others.

Stige, 2005

A stable system of practices and beliefs belonging to a specific and delimited collectivity .

Benessaieh, 2010

This topic is centered around two contrasting views of culture: one that sees it as static and unchanging, and the other that sees it as dynamic and interconnected. These definitions form the basis for understanding the importance of culture in the context of music therapy.

Delving into Different Terminology

Turning to the significance of the transcultural turn in music therapy, I explored the terminology used when discussing cultural interactions. Multiculturalism, interculturality, and transculturality are terms that have historically been employed across fields, often without a clear understanding of their subtle differences.

I emphasized the need to critically analyze these terms and their historical and contextual implications.

A Brief Look at Music Therapy Literature

In reviewing the existing literature on the topic, I highlighted key articles and books that explore this topic in music therapy. Some authors advocate for the development of multicultural competencies, while others focus on the importance of embracing a transcultural perspective that transcends borders and temporal boundaries.

These works underscore the need for music therapists to possess cultural sensitivity, knowledge, and self-reflection to provide effective therapy. I discussed the following works:

• Banzon, G., & Leonard, H. (2023). Genre-bending: A discourse on globalization and culture with implications for music therapy. Music Therapy Perspectives, 41(2), 187–197. https://doi.org/10.1093/mtp/miad004
• Hadley, S., & Norris, M. S. (2015). Musical multicultural competency in music therapy: The first step.Music Therapy Perspectives, 34(2), 129–137. https://doi.org/10.1093/mtp/miv045
• Kuyumcu, N. (2022). Interkulturelle musiktherapie –Ein literaturreview.Musiktherapeutische Umschau, 43(1), 7–20. https://doi.org/10.13109/muum.2022.43.1.7
• Moreno, J. (1988). Multicultural Music therapy: The World Music Connection.Journal of Music Therapy, 25(1), 17–27. https://doi.org/10.1093/jmt/25.1.17
• Mutlu, E. (2023). Transkulturelle Musiktherapie.Musiktherapeutische Umschau, 44(3), 228–235. https://doi.org/10.13109/muum.2023.44.3.228
• Shapiro, N. (2005). Sounds in the world: Multicultural influences in music therapy in clinical practice and training.Music Therapy Perspectives, 23(1), 29–35. https://doi.org/10.1093/mtp/23.1.29
• Stige, B. (2002). Culture-centered music therapy. Barcelona.
• Whitehead-Pleaux, A., & Tan, X. (2017). Cultural intersections in music therapy: Music, health, and the person. Barcelona Publishers. 

Questions Arising From This Research

Furthermore, I delved into the question of what is universal and what is relative within the field of music therapy. The World Federation of Music Therapy and various diagnostic systems offer universal frameworks, yet there is also recognition of the need to adapt these universal frameworks to local cultural contexts.

This raises the question of how music therapists can navigate the tension between universality and cultural relativity in their practice. It is an ongoing challenge to strike a balance between recognizing the commonalities that exist across cultures while also respecting the unique cultural perspectives and practices of individuals.

As I wrapped up my presentation, I posed a series of questions for future research. One question pertains to investigating the historical development of music therapy in Latin America through a transcultural lens, for example. This exploration could shed light on how transcultural interactions have shaped the evolution of music therapy practices in the region.

Additionally, I pondered the idea of a transcultural identity for music therapists. Given the ever-changing cultural landscape, it is essential to consider how music therapists navigate their own cultural backgrounds and adapt to the diverse cultural expressions of their clients.

Understanding the implications of a transcultural identity can enhance therapeutic relationships and improve the effectiveness of interventions.

Furthermore, I raise ethical implications associated with a transcultural perspective in music therapy. It involves critically examining concepts like self-disclosure and understanding the potential power dynamics that arise when music therapists bring their own cultural backgrounds into the therapeutic space. The ethical considerations necessitate a reflective and culturally sensitive approach to ensure the well-being and autonomy of clients.

Conclusion

In my presentation, I delved into the practices, attitudes, and strategies that music therapists can adopt to embody a transcultural perspective. This involves embracing a fluid and adaptable approach that acknowledges the dynamic nature of cultural interactions.

Music therapists must remain open to learning from their clients, engaging with their music, and understanding the cultural contexts from which the music arises. Developing these competencies can lead to more culturally responsive and effective therapeutic interventions.

In conclusion, I explored the concept of practicing the transcultural turn in music therapy. I emphasized the importance of understanding and embracing cultural diversity in therapeutic practice. By adopting a transcultural perspective, music therapists can navigate the complexities of cultural interactions, develop cultural competencies, and provide effective and culturally responsive interventions.

Through ongoing research and self-reflection, music therapists can continue to understand transculturality in the field and enhance their ability to connect with clients from diverse cultural backgrounds.

Notice that this is a very brief summary of my presentation, if you speak Spanish I invite you to watch the full video here: https://youtu.be/_WvOKB2HY40. I hope to write down a more thorough distillation of the ideas I explored soon!