Evaluation Title

Musical Learning and Desistance from Crime: The case of a 'Good Vibrations' Javanese Gamelan project with young offenders

Type of evaluation

Data type Qualitative

Evaluation Focus Desistance, Impact of programme, Impact on institution, Personal development, Self-Efficacy, Self-Esteem, Sense of self

Key indicator Social and Life Skills

Methodologies Interviews, Participant observation, Pre and post programme measures, Questionnaires

Research limitations Sample size

Summary of evaluation

This paper discusses new empirical evidence for a positive relationship between musical learning and desistance from crime. On investigating the learning processes occurring within a Javanese gamelan project in a Young Offenders Institution, parallels between musical learning processes and the development of certain attributes linked to desistance from crime emerged. 

This paper illustrates the personal development and the social development that can be gained as a result of the project. These are discussed in the context of successful musical learning and the suggestion is made that musical learning and developing the attributes essential for inspiring desistance from crime arise from shared learning processes.

Key Quote

"I am able to listen a lot more. What other people are saying - that was something that I struggled with before. I used to [think] ‘I don’t care, I’m here for one person and one person only.' You can’t be like that. In order to get anywhere in this world you’ve got to listen. Good Vibrations taught me that."

 


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