Postguitar: A Creative Exploration Of The Possibilities And Limitations of Guitar To Inform Music Therapy Practice

This autoethnographic arts-based research focuses on working with the possibilities and limitations of guitar to inspire a wider, less conventional approach on the instrument and to increase its resourcefulness and accessibility within the context of music therapy. The primary research question is: how can my personal exploration of the limitations and possibilities of guitar inform my music therapy practice? This research focuses on bringing insight into relationships between guitar, limitations, perception, resourcefulness, creativity, music therapy, social justice, strength and disability. Practice and experimentation with unconventional techniques, approaches and guitar modifications have been undertaken and documented and have been informed by literature around music therapy, posthumanism, creativity and disability studies. Guitars, ideas and approaches have been compiled in musical compositions to represent the research findings. Ideas have been implemented and inspired from my work with participants with different needs, limitations and guitar playing approaches. This research has revealed wider possibilities and resources for the guitar in music therapy practice for both therapist and participant, highlighted the strength and creative potential in interdependence for therapy, music and social relations and displayed how creativity can challenge and reflect oppressive structures.