| Summary: | Music is universal and appreciated by many, yet it is rarely spoken of in the context of social work. The extent to which music is used in social work in Sweden is not clear, as there is not much research in the area. Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore how music can be used in social work with clients, specifically in the field of disability. The goal was to investigate whether music can have an impact on the well-being of clients, and whether music can encourage active participation in society. The purpose was also to investigate if social workers feel that they can use music both for creating relationships with clients and as a means of communication. To address these issues, four people working with music as a tool in social work were interviewed. The four individuals work with individuals with disabilities in Malmö, Sweden. A synthesis of previous research and empirical evidence from this study together with social pedagogy as a theoretical starting point strongly suggests that music can be used to encourage active participation in society, provide a sense of community, improve health and well-being, and that it can be a tool for relationship building and communication between client and social worker. Furthermore, music can both motivate the client and positively affect mood. Social pedagogical work is often applied in everyday situations, where the worker needs to be creative and solution-focused to develop strategies that are effective in interaction with others, the conclusions drawn in this study make a compelling case for music as a useful tool in social pedagogical work – music becomes a positive and personal element in the interaction between social worker and client.
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