Investigating the feeling of Tourette Syndrome during usual activities and within free music improvisation - research study

Posted Mon 8th Jul 2019 at 06:00
by Lizz Lipscombe - Trainee Music Therapist at UWE

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I am delighted to announce that I have now completed all 6 of my qualitative interviews with adults with TS!  Next stage is to transcribe all 7 hours and to analyse the information given. My final year dissertation research paper of 8,000 words is due in September and I will be providing a condensed summary of my findings to 'Tourettes Action' who have been a huge help in finding participants and supporting my work.

As a postgraduate student in the Department of Health and Social Sciences at the University of West England, this research project will allow me to complete my MA in Music Therapy.  I am investigating the inner sensation of Tourette's Syndrome and whether it varys at different times or within different situations.  With this in mind, the interviews also investigated the experience of free music improvisation. 

Participant's kindly agreed to a 1 hour interview that took place in various locations, their homes, work places and even at the department of my University.

prepared interview room!

I hope that themes from this study will be interesting and potentially useful for all those with TS. Our discussions on having TS and observing/managing it's manifestation in different circumstances has uncovered some shared and some contrasting views.  Preliminary reflections on the interviews suggest that 'Focus' and 'Emotion' are key factors that contribute to the personal experience of TS.  I am aware that these are also key elements of music making.

To be continued..

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