An interpretative phenomenological analysis of the lived musical experiences of three Williams syndrome individuals

Abstract

The purpose of this interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) is to understand the lived musical experiences of three individuals living with Williams syndrome (WS). We are interested in their lived musical experiences because the musical abilities of WS individuals are similar to those of normal control groups despite their severe cognitive impairments. Although there is literature on the medical manifestations of the syndrome, there is no research on their lived musical experiences. Their musical experiences need to be explored as a possible way to help them to cope with their unique challenges. In this IPA we used semi-structured interviews and the six steps of data analysis for IPA suggested by Smith et al. (2009). Four superordinate themes emerged from data analysis, namely, that: a) the participants have a passion for performance; b) music allows the participants to foster friendships; c) music allows them to cope with challenging situations; and d) they display musical dependency. The findings of this study can be used to advocate the importance of music in the everyday lives of individuals with WS.