Susan’s research set to hit the keynote

University Campus Barnsley (UCB) HE Pathway Leader Susan Donnelly is set to speak about her community music research at a prestigious education conference.

The Community Music Student Research Symposium provides students and emerging scholars within the field of community music research a space for discussion and networking. This year’s theme for the conference is ‘The Ethics of Community Music Research’ which fits perfectly with the research Susan is currently undertaking for her PhD.

Susan will speak about her approach to her PhD research on the outcomes and benefits of music therapy within the women’s refuge setting. In particular she will be discussing how music can help to rebuild identity for those who have lost theirs as a result of domestic violence.

Susan said: “It will be good to share my preliminary research findings with other people within the community music research field at the symposium.

“Many of the students who I work with at UCB take a strong interest in the therapeutic benefits of music. A number of students recently provided music and recording workshops for the women and children from the refuge as part of their ‘Employability Skills for Musicians’ module on the Popular Music course.

“It is great to involve students in the work that I do and be able to pass on opportunities to use music in a way that can change lives.”

The fourth Community Music Student Research Symposium will be held at York St. John University on 27 and 28 November, with Susan speaking on the second day of the event.