Effective Facilitation - Creating Spaces for Dissonance and Harmony

We really wanted to share some emerging findings from a piece of research that is underway by Dr Jennie Henley from the Royal College of Music.

We really wanted to share some emerging findings from a piece of research that is underway by Dr Jennie Henley from the Royal College of Music. Jennie has really simply captured the nuances of Good Vibrations facilitators' approach - and what makes what they do so impactful. The title of her Executive Summary, attached, tells you something about what she has noticed through her research; it's sub-title is "Creating Spaces for Dissonance and Harmony".

This research summary presents the initial findings from the first stage of a research project exploring the facilitation processes within Good Vibrations projects. This research builds on previous studies that have investigated the outcomes of Good Vibrations projects, and the musical learning processes that lead to those outcomes. Two key findings from these studies are:

• The relationship between the facilitator and the participants is fundamental to the social and musical development of the participants;
• The space for discussion and reflection, fostered through audio recording and feedback, enables people to develop their communication and team work skills as well as improve their musical work.

A taste of the the findings:

Each facilitator has their own ‘took kit’ of activities, but it is the spaces both within and surrounding these activities, and a care for the experiences that they create for both participants and facilitators that contribute to the Good Vibrations approach.

All of this is with the recognition that ones’ own practice is constantly developing and effective facilitation comes from self-reflection.

The process of self-reflection involves noticing, questioning, observing, listening, taking on criticism, and adjusting language.

These are also the things that enable facilitators to create, hold, and invite people to inhabit safe spaces for conflict, reflection, and individual and group flourishing.

Knowing how to give space in musical activities through the way activities and sessions are both structured and navigated is as important as knowing when to give space. These things come from a constant concern with the experiences of participants not only musically, but also emotionally and socially.

Ultimately the process of facilitation involves empowering participants through the normal human behaviours of dialogue, communication, ….

To get hold of a copy of this reseach, or to find out more about what this facilitative approach looks like in practice, why not come along to one of our play-throughs (informal concerts at the end of our projects)? Or get in touch if you are interested in a peer-learning opportunity, shadowing one of our facilitators. Contact us on info@good-vibrations.org.uk