Music Therapy - April (2027)

Welcome to Music Therapy research

The goal of the PhD course in Music Therapy research is to train doctoral students with theoretical, technical, methodological, and applied clinical research knowledge in the field of music psychology and music therapy research in a way that assures scientific rigor. The 5 ECTS biannual courses includes a rich mixture of course work and aim to cover the following topics of learning: a) Reflexive methodology including data administration and data analysis, b) Objectivistic methodology including data administration and statistical analysis, c) Research ethics and reflexivity, d) Theory of science, and e) Academic writing and dissemination.

Teaching methods:

The working methods for the biannual courses consist of workshops, round table discussions, lectures, paper presentations from PhD students of research in progress with feedback from the professors and the peer group. The PhD courses are in English. Master's level music therapy students are invited to a few of the guest teachers' lectures. The doctoral students' presentations are only open to the group of doctoral researchers, professors, and invited guests.

Pedagogically the teaching on the course is informed by the principles of Problem Based Learning, offering strategies where the doctoral students learn through peer-reflections and collaborative peer learning and take the role for self-directed and self-regulated learning with problematization as an important driving force. By offering internal courses where the students work with the peer group, invited presenters and the supervisors, a cross-disciplinary and enriching learning community is created where ideas and problems are shared, and where learning has value at an academic as well as at a professional and personal level.

The peer group consists of a majority of highly experienced music therapists, but also other professionals, and at all levels of their doctoral training. The newly enrolled students (and sometimes also prospective students) therefore learn from the peers who are at different stages of the research process.

Programme outline:

For this course, we may have two PhD defences by two of the international PhD students. If a thesis is not accepted, our affiliated researchers are ready to step in and give a lecture on a selected topic.

Sunday April 25

• 16.00-17.00 Ridder and Lindvang: Opening meeting for the group of doctoral researchers

• 18.00 Dinner at nearby restaurant

• 19.30 End of day (or supervision time)

Monday April 26

• 09.00-12.00 Lindvang and Ridder: Musical and arts-based exploration to conceptualise your research. Workshop

• 12.00 Lunch

• 13.00-15.00 Rut Wallius: Predefence with discussant

• 15.15-16.15 Presentation of PhD research in progress

• 16.15-16.45 Summing up and "Essay'it"-writing

• End of day (or supervision time)

Tuesday April 27

• 09.00-10.00 Lecture by affiliated researcher (Musicology, Music therapy, IKK, or other)

• 10.15-11.15 Presentation of PhD research in progress

• 11.30-12.30 Presentation of PhD research in progress

• 12.30 Lunch

• 13.00-16.00 Joyu Lee: PhD defence, if thesis is accepted to proceed for defence

• 16.00 Reception

• 18.00 Dinner

Wednesday April 28

• 09.00-10.00 Lecture by committee member or Bolette Daniels Beck

• 10.15-11.15 Lecture by committee member or Ulla Holck

• 11.30-12.30 Presentation of PhD research in progress

• 12.30 Lunch

• 13.30-14.30 Presentation of PhD research in progress

• 14.45-15.45 Presentation of PhD research in progress

• 16.00-16.15 Summing up and "Essay'it"-writing

• End of day (or supervision time)

Thursday April 29

• 09.00-10.00 Lecture by affiliated researcher (Musicology, Music therapy, IKK, or other)

• 10.15-11.15 Presentation of PhD research in progress

• 11.30-12.30 Presentation of PhD research in progress

• 12.30 Lunch

• 13.00-16.00 Diandra Russo: PhD defence, if thesis is accepted to proceed for defence

• 16.00 Reception

• 18.00 Dinner

Friday (date stated as "May April 30" in the source)

• 09.00-10.00 Q&A or lecture by committee member or Journal club (Hannibal)

• 10.15-11.15 Lecture by committee member or Journal club (Ridder)

• 12.30 Lunch

• 13.30-14.30 Workshop

• 14.45-15.30 Ridder & Lindvang: Closing meeting

• 15.30-16.00 Summing up and "Essay'it"-writing

• End of day (or supervision time)

Description of assignment for the PhD course:

After the course, it is required to submit a 5-page assignment to the course manager and PhD supervisor. The text format can be a reflexive journal including elements of free-writing and creative writing. It must include working title of the PhD research and research questions, and focus on how presentations, workshops, and discussions from the course are relevant for the participant's research, and possibly how these elements align with article drafts or a draft for the linking text or the monograph.

Required content and format:

• Relate your own research project to insights from the PhD course.

• Reflecting on presentations by PhD researchers or lectures or on literature presented at the course and suggesting what that brings perspectives to your reflections.

• 5 pages.

• A title to the text.

• Mail to course manager and your supervisor.

Key literature:

Key literature selected for the course will cover both reflexive and objectivistic methodology, theory of science as well as literature that consider research ethics, reflexivity, academic writing, and dissemination. The list of key literature will be announced at the website (https://www.mt-phd.aau.dk) before the course and will consist of 5-7 research articles. The course manager discusses topics for presentations and selected literature with the presenters to secure an overall coherence for the course.

Organizer: Hanne Mette Ochsner Ridder

Lecturers:

Affiliated AAU lecturers: Hanne Mette Ridder, Stine Lindahl Jacobsen, Niels Hannibal, Bolette Daniels Beck, Charlotte Lindvang, Ulla Holck, Gustavo Gattino.

Invited lecturers, however depending on acceptance of two PhD theses:

• Prof. Dr. med. Dr. phil. Thomas Fuchs, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Heidelberg, Germany.

• Prof. Giorgos Tsiris, Music Therapy in the Occupational Therapy & Arts Therapies Division, Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh, Scotland.

• Professor, Lisa Summer, Director of Music Therapy, Anna Maria College, US.

• Professor, Suvi Saarikallio, University of Jyväskylä, Finland.

ECTS: 5

Date: 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30 April 2027

Place:

City: Musikkens Hus, Aalborg

Number of seats: 15

Open for enrolment: 25 December 2026

Deadline for enrolment: 4 April 2027

Important information concerning PhD courses:

There is a no-show fee of DKK 3,000 for each course where the student does not show up. Cancellations are accepted no later than 2 weeks before the start of the course. Registered illness is of course an acceptable reason for not showing up on those days. Furthermore, all courses open for registration approximately four months before start of the course.

We cannot ensure any seats before the deadline for enrolment, all participants will be informed after the deadline, approximately 3 weeks before the start of the course.

You may find more information in our FAQ: https://phd.moodle.aau.dk/local/page/faq

For inquiries regarding registration, cancellation or waiting list, please contact the PhD administration at phdcourses@adm.aau.dk. When contacting us please state the course title and course period. Thank you.

Thank you for your enrolment.
Your preliminary enrolment has been received. Final confirmation will be issued after the enrolment deadline has passed.
Best regards
AAU PhD
phdcourses@adm.aau.dk