‘Social impacts of music-making’ (lecture #2)

Dr Lukas Pairon (doctor in political and social sciences, University of Ghent, Belgium) knows Gaza very well. Since 10 years he spends 1,5 to 2 months per year working for his organisation Music Fund on music training projects in Gaza with and for UNRWA-teachers and with Edward Said Music School and Al Sununu Music School. During this lecture he will focus on qualitative research methodologies which can put at work in studying how the study and practice of music can help young people to navigate towards constructive positions in their society. From 2012 to 2016 he followed and studied himself 2 social music projects in Kinshasa (DR Congo), one with children living in the streets of Kinshasa and one with former members of violent gangs. All the participants in his PhD-research claimed that ‘music saved them’. Lukas Pairon wanted to come to a better understanding of how mastering music could help such youngsters to master other aspects of their lives. More information on his own research can be found here: www.lukas-pairon.eu/phd.