Let's talk music: A musical-communal project for enhancing communication among students of multi-cultural origin

In the present article we describe a special project (Let's talk music) in which a multi-cultural group, including immigrants and Israeli-born students (Sabras), was formed. The group was designed according to recommended guidelines for successful contact between groups (Amir, 1969) and implemented music therapy techniques based on psychodynamic principles. Twelve immigrants and Sabras, themselves children of immigrants, met for 24 weekly sessions, conducted by a music therapist. Quantitative and qualitative research which accompanied the project showed that the group process enabled most students, immigrants as well as Sabras, to be more identified with their cultural roots as well as with the Israeli "host" culture. As a result of the group process, students could express more acceptance and openness towards the "other". It was found that music was a key ingredient in these developments. Results are discussed in light of the common ingroup identity model.