Thesis Final Draft.docx

STORIES OF RESILIENCE CREATED AND SHARED THROUGH MUSIC

The Role of Music in the Aftermath: Stories of Resilience of Selected Artists in Tacloban City

A Research Paper Presented to Prof. Querima Deborah Q. Jopson UPV Tacloban College In Partial Fulfillment Of the Requirements in Psych 199.1 First Semester, AY 2018-2019

By Jonathan Bon Martin Igana Christian Paolo Santos

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STORIES OF RESILIENCE CREATED AND SHARED THROUGH MUSIC

Table of Contents

Chapter I – Introduction................................................................................................................3 Statement of the Problem..........................................................................................................3 Objective…...........................................................................................................................10 Rationale.................................................................................................................................11 Scope and Limitations............................................................................................................11 Definition of Terms................................................................................................................12

Chapter II - Review of Related Literature...................................................................................13 A. Muic and Emotions.........................................................................................................13 B. Application of Music in Therapy.....................................................................................14 C. Music and Resilience…...................................................................................................17 Chapter III – Methodology..........................................................................................................24 Research Design..............................................................................................................24 Participants......................................................................................................................25 Procedure.........................................................................................................................25 Data Analysis...................................................................................................................25 Ethical Considerations.....................................................................................................26

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Introduction Music has immensely affected the lives people, it has been incorporated into even the most mundane lifestyles, and more importantly, is utilized as a tool to aid the coping of individuals on a day-to-day basis. Additionally, studies have proven that music has multiple benefits. In a study by Wilson and Prior (2006) on the cognitive and academic benefits of music to children, they found out that music enhances the learning of children by aiding them stay calmed and focused. However, the benefits of music are not isolated to a singular age group, in another study conducted by Clair and Memmott (2008) on the therapeutic uses of music with older adults, wherein participants shoed decrease symptoms of depression, anxiety, insomnia, and agitation. The use of music as a tool for coping is no longer a mystery. According to Labbe and her colleagues, listening to classical and self-selected relaxing music after exposure to a stressor resulted in significant reductions in anxiety, anger, and sympathetic nervous system arousal, and increased relaxation compared to those who sit in silence or listen to heavy metal music (Labbe, et.al, 2007). In the face of a disaster as grave as the Typhoon Yolanda, psychological wounds and scars are unavoidable. Property loss, deaths of friends and families, to remain unscathed by the wounds these would bring is nearly impossible. People afflicted with disasters usually find themselves depressed, anxious, and hopeless after the ordeal. In a study on the survivors of typhoon Haiyan, individuals were discovered to have elicited symptoms of post-traumatic stress (Chan, et.al, 2016). Music has played a colossal role in the coping process of the victims. With no electricity and no internet access, people were forcibly made to revert to simple ways, where entertainment was in the form of games and music. People played guitars, sang songs and the 3

STORIES OF RESILIENCE CREATED AND SHARED THROUGH MUSIC

like, hoping to somehow ease the boredom, unconsciously developing better coping mechanism through music. Additionally, with the emergence of Yolanda-themed songs, people were given more hope, and believed that good times were to come, and the worst was far behind them. Moreover, through the months where people had nothing to do, music became an avenue for developing new friendships and new relationships with those physically near them which would prove to be for the long run. The researchers themselves experienced firsthand the effects of ST Yolanda, and the hardships that followed. The researchers also witnessed firsthand how music has played a role on the restoration process after the disaster: People convened in shared spaces to jam in the dark and quiet of the night to fight the melancholy and boredom of having the pleasures of life stripped to a bare minimum, how people convened in It is for this reason that the researchers would like to seek answers to the following research questions: 1) What process do artists, specifically Yolanda-survivor musicians undergo in their coping with the use of music after the effects of Super Typhoon Yolanda, 2) What different ways of coping through music are employed by these musicians?, and lastly, 3) How is resilience formed and shared through the use of different ways of coping through music? Statement of the Problem Typhoons, hurricanes, and cyclones, whatever it may be referred to depending on its area of origin, have unquestionably and unforgivingly plagued humanity since the earliest of days. A typhoon is a violent wind that has a circular movement, found in the West Pacific Ocean (Typhoon. In Cambridge Dictionary. Retrieved from https://dictionary.cambridge.org). Filipinos are no stranger to the aftermath of such a devastating phenomenon. The very first typhoon in

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recorded history that hit the Philippine archipelago is dated as far back as June 1797 with a pressure of 736.0 mmHg (Garcia-Herrera, n.d.) Located along the typhoon belt in the Pacific, the Philippines is visited by an average of 20 typhoons every year, five of which are destructive, which further fortifies the point that Filipinos have always known typhoons (ARDC, 2008). Nonetheless, there is one typhoon that has left its mark in not just the history of the Philippines, but the entire world, Super typhoon Haiyan.Super Typhoon Haiyan, locally known as Typhoon Yolanda, made landfall in the Central Philippines on November 8, 2013, and brought about with it turbulent winds and heavy rains which in turn resulted to flooding, landslides and storm surges, which killed over 6,000 people, injured around 28,000 others, and another 1,000 people were declared missing, additionally, it also damaged Infrastructures and Agriculture equating to roughly 40 Billion pesos (ARDC, 2008). As the saying goes, “there’s always a rainbow after the rain”. Unfortunately, there was no rainbow after this catastrophic rain. The end of the traumatic onslaught of the typhoon only marked the beginning of the suffering and hardships the Filipino people would endure in the following months. As expected in a scenario such as this, certain health issues arose, such as fevers, acute respiratory infections, skin diseases, and acute watery diarrhea, which were made worse considering the current environmental conditions at that time, such as overcrowding, increased vector spread, lack of drinking water and hygienic facilities. During the wake of the storm, a lot of people had acquired communicable disease after more than two months after the storm. The typhoon impacted the Filipinos not just through physiological aspects but through social means as well. Speaking socially, the storm diminished the population of Tacloban City by around 7,500 people and another 1,000+ being reported missing. After a few days, the 5

STORIES OF RESILIENCE CREATED AND SHARED THROUGH MUSIC

Philippines faced a humanitarian crisis with two million people homeless and another 600,000 displaced. Looking deeper into the effects of Typhoon Yolanda, surely psychological problems would have risen due to the intense trauma and stress the victims had currently endured, and according to the World Health Organization (WHO), common mental health problems such as post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and anxiety manifested among the survivors 3-6 months after the disaster (Geronimo, 2014). Moreover, the effects of these mental health problems were amplified by some typhoon-related stressors, including but not limited to financial instability, physical injury, and perceived life threat, also, these three typhoon-related stressors proved to be more detrimental to the mental health of the victims over other stressors (Chan, et.al, 2016). A multitude of Mental Health & Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) activities were conducted after the onslaught of typhoon Yolanda, such as disseminating information to the community at large, facilitating conditions for community mobilization, community organization, and community ownership, strengthening community and family support, providing safe spaces, providing psychosocial support in education, providing psychological intervention, clinical management of mental disorders by non-specialized health care providers, clinical management of mental disorders by specialized mental health care providers(e.g. psychiatrists, psychiatric nurses & psychologists working at PHC/general health facilities/mental health facilities), and other general activities to support MHPSS. The top 3 activities done were person-focused psychosocial work, psychological intervention, and other general activities supporting MHPSS.

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Additionally, the sector behind most of these activities were International NonGovernment Organizations (INGOs). PFA as well as stress debriefing/discussion and assessment /general activities to support MHPSS represent the largest part of these activities. The 4Ws MHPSS mapping information collection has observed that (a) more than 60,000 (60, 069) individuals benefited from various types of psychosocial support, this include children, adults, elderly people, disabled individuals as well as teachers, medical professionals, volunteers and other types of helpers. It must be noted however that the helpers benefited the least, (b) the main activities proposed to the beneficiaries were psychosocial work (person-focused)”, “psychological interventions” and “general activities to support MHPSS”, (c) Psychological first aid (PFA) was very well represented in every region targeted, (d) Tacloban is one of the places where the largest number of MHPSS activities were carried-out, (e) as there are many Philippine nationals working outside the country, communication support has been provided abroad to provide information and facilitate the virtual reunion of families; therefore the mapping also included activities conducted abroad, (f) the following activities were not reported by any agency: (1) learn about and, where appropriate, collaborate with local, indigenous and traditional health systems, (2) minimize harm related to alcohol and other substance use, (3) include specific social considerations (safe, dignified, culturally and socially appropriate assistance) in site planning and shelter provision, in a coordinated manner, and (4) include specific social considerations in the provision of water and sanitation (PSTCRRC and MHPSSN,2014). Coping through Disasters. The aforementioned reactions are common reactions to abnormal or stressful situations. When presented with a stressful situation, humans try to deal with and overcome these situations, and in turn these actions lead to what is called coping. The ability to cope with a similar situation in the future would then become less of a task for the

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individual. Coping begins with the recognition of signs of disaster related stress such as depression, hopelessness, poor work performance, and difficulty concentrating. The next crucial step in coping with a stressful situation is easing the stress through seeking professional help, talking with someone, spending time with family and friends, and extensively using existing support groups to be able to handle better the current situation (Retrieved from https://www.ready.gov/coping-with-disaster). Additionally, according to Mental Health America (MHA), when coping with a stressful situation, activities such as talking about what happened and how you are feeling will help lessen the load, getting enough rest and exercise, eating well, and avoiding risk-taking activities will aid in the coping process, doing activities that one considers relaxing and soothing are also recommended, however, when the situation proves to be too overwhelming, seeking help from self-considered social support systems are strongly encouraged so as to cope, and if one is still troubled for longer than four to six weeks, professional help must be sought. Possessing good coping skills make for good mental health wellness (2009, Retrieved from http://www.mhww.org/strategies.html). When you have effective ways of coping, you are able to accept challenges with open arms and not fear the future. Moreover, developing a strong coping strategy alters brain function and structure thus allowing it respond more easily with helpful strategies rather than simply stressing out and shutting down (Jackson, 2018). Coping skills allow an individual to deal with life stressors, struggles and emotions, and more importantly, it allows an individual to balance his/her overall mental health (Ernest, 2014). Coping patterns are important because they facilitate a person's handling of a stressful experience. If someone is going through a tough time, positive coping patterns provide extra resources that can help that person deal with the demand of a stressor (Burns-Nader, 2013). 8

STORIES OF RESILIENCE CREATED AND SHARED THROUGH MUSIC

Coping styles can be segregated into two general categories, positive coping strategies and negative coping strategies. Positive coping strategies are those styles utilized by people to effectively cope with a stressful situation. On the other hand, negative coping strategies are coping styles that hinder progress in being able to cope positively with stress, and these more often than not, become problematic to the individual both physically and mentally. Examples of positive coping strategies are meditation and relaxation techniques to reduce stress and induce relaxation, giving time to oneself to relax and escape from the stresses of life, engaging in physical activities to release endorphin, reading to de-stress by taking one’s mind off everyday life, having friends to support you, having humor to lighten the mood, having creative hobbies to relieve everyday stress, having pet because they provide a calming influence on people, sleeping because it is a natural means of the body to repair itself, and having good nutrition to ensure that the body is performing at full capacity. Examples of negative coping strategies are denial, drugs, alcoholism, ignoring or storing feelings, self-mutilation or self-hurt, sedative, stimulants, excessive working, and avoiding problems Effective coping strategies will lead to the development of a more resilient individual. Resilience and Resilience Formation. Resilience is a multifaceted concept concerning a person’s ability to recover and “bounce back” from a specific situation, and is considered as a quality that affects a person’s general health and well-being. Resilience can be defined as the process of effectively negotiating, adapting to, or managing significant sources of stress or trauma. Resilience is regarded as a multivariate, which denotes that a myriad of factors lead to people becoming more resilient than others. One facet to consider is the amount of adversity someone has experienced. The second point is what causes them to become more resilient and how much this affect the individual, this boils down to generally the person’s mindset or outlook.

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And the third aspect looked at is the upbringing and the personality of the individual which is a determining factor in his or her management of reaction to certain stress-inducing situations (Fraser, 2015). Art and Resilience. Art could be an indicator of resilience following the aftermath of a disaster. Coping through the expression of oneself through art is not only a creative expression, but could also be therapeutic for the person. Healing, through art, emerged as early as several months in some parts the Region as the situation stabilized in those areas. Many different forms of art emerged such as visual arts like paintings, drawings, murals, and some forms of modern visual art such as film, photographs, digital arts and other visual arts. Other forms of art, such as music is what piqued the interest of the researchers as they were interested in how creation, and, performing, through socialization Music is a remarkable tool for helping people cope with their problems. Listening to music has been proven to increase happiness by releasing the “happy hormone, dopamine” into the brain. Listening to music has also been proven to reduce stress and improve health by decreasing the release of the stress hormone, cortisol, when you listen to music. Studies have shown that people’s immune system were boosted as they actively participated in making music by playing an instrument, or by singing. Listening to music has also been linked to better sleep. The enjoyment of music is not only limited to listening, creating, and performing. Teaching and formal education of music are also ways of using music for coping. Several studies have found that learning to play or sing, helps improve neural activity, build intellectual curiosity, fine tune auditory skills, develop creative thinking, increase coordination, provide a unique way of self-teaching discipline, and many more. All these things are very helpful,

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specifically the development of creative thinking and self-teaching of discipline could be very helpful in coping through extremely stressful situations. Music as a coping strategy involves the use of music (through listening or playing music) in order to reduce stress, as well as many of the psychological and physical manifestations associated with it. The use of music to cope with stress is an example of an emotion-focused, adaptive coping strategy. Rather than focusing on the stressor itself, music therapy is typically geared towards reducing or eliminating the emotions that arise in response to stress. In essence, advocates of this therapy claim that the use of music helps to lower stress levels in patients, as well as lower more biologically measurable quantities such as the levels of epinephrine an cortisol. Additionally, music therapy programs have been repeatedly demonstrated to reduce depression and anxiety symptoms in the long term. The process of developing resilience involves a dynamic process of the coping styles employed by a person and the with the stressors he/she faces. According to the Resilience Theory, resilience is developed as these protective factors such as the environment, the social support systems, and the coping styles of the person interacts with how he or she resolves the risk factors, in the context of the study, are the negative effects of the Super Typhoon. Research Objectives 1. To describe the processes included in coping after a disaster with the use of music. 2. To explore the different ways of coping through music used by selected artists from Tacloban City.

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STORIES OF RESILIENCE CREATED AND SHARED THROUGH MUSIC

Rationale This study is important of its likely contribution to the field of psychology and allied disciplines by examining how disaster survivors, specifically musician-survivors and how music has helped them cope, this study has the ability to pave way for a deeper understanding of how an alternative coping style could be applied to many fields. Exploring how resilience is built, lived, and shared can provide insights as to how its formation can be made easier. Scope and Limitations Inasmuch as this study only encompass experiences of a specific group of individuals, its results may not be applicable or descriptive of other types of individuals. In other words, this research project may suffer from the problem of external validity whereby research results may not be generalizable to other types of populations. Despite the limitations, the researchers are confident that a research study such as this has a potential of bringing to light new perspectives on principles and insights that provide deeper understanding to coping and the development of resilience, especially to disaster survivors, through alternative ways of coping such as through music. Exploring the therapeutic benefits of music, through listening, writing, performing, teaching, and jamming could provide more information on avenues of sharing resilience, not previously studied in the same context of the research.

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Definition of Terms Music refers to the art of organizing sounds, which usually consist of sequences of tones of definite pitch, to produce melody, harmony, and rhythm. Coping deals with the cognitive and behavioral efforts to manage (maser, reduce, or tolerate) a troubled person-environment relationship. Coping as operationalized by the researchers speaks of how an individual adapts to a stressing situation through jamming with other musicians, performing (as a band or as a soloist) in front of an audience, teaching music, learning music, creating music, listening to music, and experiencing music generally (visual and auditory experience). Resilience is the process of adapting well in the face of adversity, trauma, tragedy, threats or significant sources of stress — such as family and relationship problems, serious health problems or workplace and financial stressors. It should be noted as early as now that the researchers would like to opt to use the term “resilience” rather than “resiliency” throughout the study. Resiliency comes with it the connotation that it is an individual trait or characteristic whereas resilience is a dynamic developmental process which

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Chapter II REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE This chapter contained literature from different sources such as books, journal articles, websites and other modes of materials that are concerned and related to the topic of this study. This section discussed four main points: music and emotions, music and resilience, and the coping mechanisms of teachers. Music and Emotions The Macmillan Encyclopedia defines music as―The art of organizing sounds, which usually consist of sequences of tones of definite pitch, to produce melody, harmony, and rhythm. It can also be described as an outlet or a resource to which an individual can absorb themselves into both creativity and emotionally. The creation of music can be a very private, individual creation. For example, when a composer writes music, that creation comes directly from the composers mind and body. Emotion pours from fingertip to piano or from deep within the diaphragm to vocal cords producing sound in the form of song. Similarly, when a lyricist writes lyrics the words are often so personal when the lyricist relays a personal experience through song (Clandillon, 2014). In contrast, music is also one of the mostly widely shared art forms and is commonly shared within group settings. In 2014, Baltes and Miu conducted a study at the Romanian National Opera House on the emotional response of people towards a live music performance. One hundred and twenty participants took part in the study during a performance of Giacomo Puccini‘s ―Madame Butterfly (Baltes & Miu, 2014). Participants completed a TEQ (Toronto 14

STORIES OF RESILIENCE CREATED AND SHARED THROUGH MUSIC

Empathy Questionnaire) and a VVIQ (Vividness of Visual Imagery Questionnair;e) during the week of the performance. An hour before the performance participants were instructed to complete a PANAS (Positive and Negative Affective Schedule). They were also provided with three copies of a GEMs. GEMs refers to average ratings that belong to four emotional factors. The factors that are measured are sublimity, vitality, unease and chills (Baltes & Miu, 2014). The hypothesis set out for this study was ―that the mood before the performance would modulate emotional experience in a valence-specific manner.‖ (Baltes & Miu, 2014). Analysis of the results found the hypothesis to be supported with links found between three key individual differences (empathy, visual imagery, and mood) and emotional reactivity to music (Baltes & Miu, 2014). The effect to which music evokes emotion is a complex one. Meyer stated that emotion is ―temporary and evanescent (Meyer, 1956, as cited in Hu, 2009). It can be described as ―a complex personal response to a subjective cognitive state, resulting in transitory changes in bodily responses, expressive behaviors and motivated actions (Forsythe, 2006). These definitions can be applied to the emotional effect of music. For example, depending on the type of music and the preference an individual has for a particular piece of music it can be said that the individual may respond to the musical experience with a shift in mood and/or emotion. It may also result in an individual experiencing a physical response or sudden desire to move their body, whether that is a foot tap, a repeated head nod or even a dance. These physical responses were noted by LeDoux as being of importance to the overall understanding of the emotional response system (LeDoux, 1998, p.40).

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Applications of Music in Therapy Not only has music been found to have an emotional effect on individuals but also on their happiness. The human brain has the ability to sense both happiness and sadness in music due to the variation of mode and tempo (Khalfa et al, 2005). Rana and Akhtar conducted a study in 2011 on the relationship between interest in music on health and happiness. In line with a previous study by Khalfa, Schon, Anton and Liegeous-Chauvel‗s study, results of Rana and Akhtar‘s study found ―that there were significant positive relationships between interest in listening to music and time spent listening to music and measures of both health and happiness‖ (Rana & Akhtar, 2011). Thus, a relationship was found to exist between music (and health) and happiness for participants of this study (Rana & Akhtar, 2011). Similarly, a recent study in 2013 by Ferguson and Sheldon found that purposely listening to music to improve happiness can have positive results. The results showed that participants who listened to music which was considered to be positive sounding music had an effective influence on feelings of happiness, even more so when the deliberate intention was to boost feelings of happiness (Ferguson & Sheldon, 2013). Whilst music is often used as a source of enjoyment and pleasure it has also been found to have far reaching beneficial effects than enhancing emotion at a joyous occasion. In recent years the popularity of music as a formal form of therapy has become more widespread in the field of patient therapy to enhance well-being (Wheeler, 2008). The Oxford English dictionary defines well-being as ―The state of being comfortable, healthy or happy‖ (Oxford University Press, 2015). Utilizing music to facilitate well-being is more commonly known as music therapy (Wheeler, 2008). Music therapy can be defined as ―the use of sounds and music within an

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evolving relationship between client/patient and therapist to support and develop physical, mental, social and spiritual well-being (Bunt, 2002, p.3). It has also been found to aid the healing and recovery process of patients suffering from a wide range of neurological conditions including Alzheimer’s and dementia (Sacks, 2007). Furthermore, in 2014, Jamabo and George (2014) said of music therapy, if it is prescribed correctly, it can have positive effects on the well-being of those who are suffering from psychopathological disorders such as schizophrenia. Previous to Jamabo and George‘s study, in 2007 Gold found music therapy to improve symptoms of schizophrenia in adult participants (who had been hospitalized with the condition at the time of the study). In addition to their standard hospital care, the participants of the study were encouraged to express themselves through the use of musical instruments on a weekly basis for up to 45 minutes at a time. The music therapy sessions were facilitated by trained music therapists and results found the hypothesis to be supported by improved symptoms of schizophrenia experienced by the participants of the study (Gold, 2007). This positive result supports the theory of music therapy having a positive effect on the well-being of patients suffering from schizophrenia. Music therapy has also been found to have beneficial effects on patients of Parkinson‘s disease (de Bruin et al, 2010). A cause of Parkinson‘s disease is the degeneration of the cerebellum in the brain. The cerebellum is known to be the area of the brain responsible for motion. Interestingly, the cerebellum is known to be activated when a person listens to music (Levitin, 2006, p.174). A noticeable physical side-effect of the neurological disease is the difficulty patients encounter when walking (Levitin, 2006, p.174). As a result, it can lead to decreased levels of independence and increased risk of falling for patients (deBruin et al, 2010).

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Furthermore, a qualitative research study conducted in 2012 by McClean, Bunt and Daykin on the healing and spiritual properties of music therapy at a cancer care center found to result in similar positive outcomes for the participants. The study took the form of a one off group music therapy session. Participants reported feelings of closeness and connectedness. In support of the benefits of music therapy to cancer patients, the researchers of the study reported an overall sense of connectedness between the group participants. Additional benefits such as making future plans to participate in music on an on-going basis were also reported in this research (McClean, Bunt & Daykin, 2012). Music and Resilience Resilience is defined as a body’s ability to recover its size and shape after being exposed to a compressive stress. However, in a social context, it is defined as an individual’s ability to recover or easily adjust to a misfortune (Resilience. In Merriam-Webster's dictionary. Springfield, MA). Moreover, resilience is the process of adapting well in the face of adversity, trauma, tragedy, threats or significant sources of stress — such as family and relationship problems, serious health problems or workplace and financial stressors. Resilience also means "bouncing back" from difficult experiences (APA (2017).The road to resilience. Retrieved from www.apa.org/helpcenter/road-resilience.aspx). In Positive Psychology, resilience is viewed as the ability to cope with anything life throws at you (Nwiran & Pennock, 2017). Resilience is what provides people with psychological strength to be able to cope with stress and hardships. Additionally, resilience has been called the “mental reservoir of strength” with which people depend on especially during stressful situations (Cherry, 2017). It is the dynamic interaction between perceived risk and a range of protective coping skills that provide an

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individual with the ability to adapt well in the face of adversity and thrive in everyday life (Miremadi, 2013). Resilience is viewed as a two-dimensional construct, “a personality characteristic that moderates the negative effects of stress and promotes positive adaptation” (Wagnild & Young, 1993). Resilience protects against, and can sometimes reverse, depressive episodes, anxiety, fear, helplessness, and similar negative emotions (Wagnild, 2009). In studying resilience, there are three critical conditions: (1) growing up in distressing life conditions and demanding societal conditions that are considered significant threats or severe adversities, (2) the availability of protective factors, including internal assets and external resources that may be associated with counteracting the effects of risk factors, and (3) the achievement of positive adaptation despite experiences of significant adversity (Lee, et.al, 2012). Individuals who possess higher levels of resilience have a better chance to stand up and cope with stressful times. Apparently, adolescents are more susceptible to lower levels of resilience and negative coping mechanisms due to their extreme partaking in risky behaviors (Ahern, et.al, 2008). Resilience in the Philippines does not only encompass the individual, rather, it generalizes to bigger forms such as economical resilience, political resilience and the like (Goldman, 2014). For Filipinos, resilience after a devastating occurrence is deeply rooted to religion and faith (A people of hope. Retrieved from http://www.livinginthephilippines.com/culture-andpeople/philippine-culture/sense-of-being-fili pino/1208-a-people-of-hope). “The Filipino spirit is resilient and remains strong. As they say, the sun shines bright after the storm passes.” (Cadiz, 2013). The Filipinos despite being regularly hit by all kinds of disasters, stay optimistic and this is one of the leading factors to the world-known resilience of Filipinos.

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Coping, in Psychology, refers to cognitive and behavioral efforts to manage (maser, reduce, or tolerate) a troubled person-environment relationship (Folkman & Lazarus, 1985). Coping styles describe how we consciously deal with stress (Golbeck, 2015). Coping style is a mixture of attributional style (perceived source of stress, locus of control, optimistic or pessimistic outlook on finding a solution) and personality characteristics, such as risk tolerance, sense of self-efficacy, and introversion or extroversion (Sahler & Carr, 2009). Through the various definitions and forms of resilience and coping, it has become evident that positive coping styles and strategies equate to a more resilient individual even in the context of the Philippines, wherein he/she applies his/her learned or natural coping styles leading to higher levels of resilience especially after distressing situations, where less resilient people may fall to anxiety, depression and trauma. The researchers define coping in two ways, internal coping and external coping, both in the context of music, the prior pertaining to coping through internal processes, and the latter referring to coping through the external environment by connecting or socializing after a traumatic or stressful ordeal. For the current study, connecting or socializing through music comes in four forms, (1) jamming, (2) performing, (3) teaching, and (4) learning. Music is one of the greatest equalizers, bringing together people from all different social and cultural backgrounds for a shared human experience that transcends all boundaries (Foster, 2018). Music around the globe is a way of connecting with other human beings. It overcomes language, age, and culture barriers (Connecting through music. Retrieved from https://www.si.edu/spotlight/african-americanmusic/connection).

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Music brings people together, it makes people think alike, it induces similar feelings among individuals, it encourages us to share parts of ourselves through the sounds that are strung together or the singer’s prose, basically it’s like magic. Music exists to speak when words aren’t enough to express ourselves, when words fail, music speaks (Suval, 2018). This is also very true during times of distress, when under stress, we are in a negative state, and music can re-program an individual’s brain from being in a negative state to a positive one, thus significantly scaling down the stress levels being experienced by an individual (Kerkar, 2017). Music can trigger a variety of chemical reactions in your brain that contribute to relaxation. From reducing stress hormones to stimulating feelings of happiness, music can almost instantly translate to a good mood. These feel-good effects also produce a number of positive long-term benefits for your body, such as lower stress and anxiety levels, better sleep patterns, and improved overall health and well-being (The Science behind the Relaxing Effects of Music (2017). Creating music, playing music, or simply listening to it have proven to be an effective means of relaxing, reducing the prevalence of burnout, improving one’s behavior and general performance. Regardless of the genre an individual prefers, may it be hard rock, classical, hiphop, soul, or country music, it has proven to make an individual feel better especially when under pressure or stress (Tams, 2013). Perhaps, the effects of music on humans have an evolutionary basis. Mankind has a predisposition to engage in ‘musicking’ (Small 1998), and it seems to be a biological adaptation that was built through evolution. Stern (1985) uses musical concepts to describe the very first communication of the baby with his mother and thinks that the intonation we use when we speak expresses our authentic emotions. The musical happening is a manifestation of emotional communication (Gilboa et al. 2006). Music is an abstract symbolic language with no specific references or associations. Nevertheless, its intrinsic pattern and 21

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structure convey meaning to our brain (Miell et.al, 2005). Music can act as a powerful sensory stimulus, engaging the brain in retraining neural and behavioral functions that can be applied to non-musical context in everyday life, such as therapeutic needs. Music has proven to make an individual elicit legitimate emotions, ergo, an individual’s feelings of calmness are valid (Yehuda, 2011). However, in an experiment conducted last June 2017, it has been found that listening to relaxing music before a stressful event actually increased cortisol levels, a hormone that is elevated when an individual is exposed to a stressful situation, nonetheless listening to relaxing music after the stressful event played a significant part in the recovery of the individual (Riggio, 2017). Looking deeper into the modes of connecting or socializing through music cited by the researchers, jamming has been operationally defined as playing an instrument together and/or singing together as means of connecting with people. Jam sessions are for players to interact with other players and make music in a freewheeling environment, without having to be concerned about pleasing an audience. Some jams are impromptu, one-time occurrences, while others are weekly events that may happen in a private setting or in a public venue. Jams may focus on a particular style of music or even a particular instrument, and every jam has its own culture and etiquette (Yerxa, 2018). To ‘jam' is an expression used by musicians to describe performing together without a set purpose or itinerary. A 'jam session' is often between musicians who do not usually play together and just play one-off for the fun of it (Warthog, 2004). A jam session is a bunch musicians together improvising - not playing to any set score or written music (Rube, 2004). With the current technological advancements readily available for use by anyone, jamming has also elevated to a technological level, wherein people can jam with anyone in the globe online.

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STORIES OF RESILIENCE CREATED AND SHARED THROUGH MUSIC

Moving on to the second mode of connecting as defined by the researchers, performing as a means of socializing. Performing can come in the form of performing in front of an audience or simply performing for one’s pleasure, however in the context of socialization, the prior may be more relevant. An integral and fundamental part in any musician’s career is performing. Through performing a musician is able to showcase what he has learned and the degree of musical prowess he possess through the difficulty of the pieces he is able to perform. Music is better shared and performing is a deeply profound experience for both the performer and for the crowd to experience. Live music events are a great place to hear others play and to meet other musicians who hear you play, what about a room full of people who totally appreciate what it’s like to learn, play and perform – these are your people and performances are a great way to connect. (Performing Music & Why It’s Important. Retrieved from http://www.stormermusic.com.au/performing-music-why-its-important). Jamming and Performing are exceptional means of socializing through music, however, these do not permeate to a deeper psychological and social level. Teaching however is able to do so, through teaching music one is able to connect on a personal level, through teacher-student relations, where a special bond is created through the teaching-learning phenomenon. Teaching music allows one to be more focused and concentrated. Moreover, teaching music is fun (Brewer, 2002). Through teaching, individuals selectively acquire values, attitudes, norms, knowledge, skills, and behaviors (Staton, 2008). Teaching music can be extremely rewarding as a career. Additionally, when teaching music, your network expands, once people find out that you teach music, they will want to collaborate with you, you get to know new students and new teachers as well (Stolpa, 2016).

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STORIES OF RESILIENCE CREATED AND SHARED THROUGH MUSIC

Learning, the final aspect of socialization described by the researchers, is the byproduct of being taught music. The heaviest factor of socialization during learning music is the bond a student creates with the teacher, the second is the bond created with fellow students. When you learn how to play an instrument, you are able to create something beautiful for your loved ones to enjoy, which brings you closer. Learning music can enhance the mind when you pick it up at an early stage. Learning music builds one’s confidence. Learning music entails a significant amount of discipline and patience. Music lets you “look beyond what currently exists and express yourself in a new way”. Learning music allows you to be able to connect yourself with the outside world, regardless of culture, language or any other barrier. Learning music allows you to socialize with other musicians that you may get to know during performances or during training camps. Learning music gives us a way out of our monotonous lives and deviate from our banal activities. Learning music is fun, sometimes it may seem that learning it is annoying, but in the long-run it really pays off (10 Benefits of Learning Music That Will Change Your Life. Retrieved from https://www.libertyparkmusic.com/benefits-learning-music/). Learning music is for everyone, music chooses no one, whatever your age, race, religion and whatever primordial ties there may be, it will definitely enrich your soul and provide benefits you can utilize on a daily basis (Music is for everyone. Retrieved from http://www.learnmusic.com.au/#music-foreveryone).

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STORIES OF RESILIENCE CREATED AND SHARED THROUGH MUSIC

Chapter III METHODOLOGY The study aims to look into the stories of coping and resilience of selected local artist from Tacloban City. The researchers want to look into how music, through its different forms of expression, have helped these individuals cope through the hardships that they experienced after the onslaught of Super Typhoon Haiyan (locally known as Yolanda), especially on how music has helped them become resilient. The researchers also aims to look into how resilience could be shared through expression of music by way of socialization. This chapter is divided into several sections addressing the choice of research design, selection of participants, data collection procedures, instrumentation, and data analysis. Research Design In order to explore the experience of coping and resilience formation through music, the researchers will opt to use the phenomenological method of inquiry. Phenomenological approach seems to be the most appropriate of inquiry as data to be collected will be stories of people. As such, the study will utilize a one-on-one semi-structured in-depth interviews. The interviews will be conducted with men and women with sufficient knowledge and prowess in their specific musical fields; artists. These individuals would be asked how they were able to cope and become more resilient after Typhoon Yolanda through the utilization of music, namely, thru jamming, performing, teaching, creating, learning and experiencing music in general. Theses interview sessions will be recorded depending on the consent given by the participants. The interviews would be analyzed through thematic and inter-rater analyses, so as to examine the processes included in coping thru music, to examine the different forms of coping 25

STORIES OF RESILIENCE CREATED AND SHARED THROUGH MUSIC

thru music, delve into the resilience formation process thru music, and be able to promote a music-based form of coping. The definition of each theme, the connection between the themes, the possible interpretations of these themes, and recommendations that would be gathered will be noted and discussed in the latter part of this study. Participants The selection of the participants would be made through purposive sampling, and a total of eight (8) respondents, each representing a field of music or representing a form of coping thru music defined by the researchers. The rationale for choosing this sampling methods stems from the need to explore the stories of different people and make meaning out of their experiences. The criteria for choosing participants is that 1) they must have experienced Typhoon Yolanda, and stayed within Tacloban City or any nearby municipality for at least 2 months after the onslaught of the storm, 2) they are a practicing musician, be it a singer, a songwriter, instrumentalist, teacher, etc. Procedure The researchers will give a consent letter to the chosen participants, entailing the purpose of the study. The participants would be asked where they would prefer conducting the interview to make the participants more comfortable thus being able to gather richer data. The interviews will be recorded and transcribed by the researchers. Data Analysis Because of the exploratory nature of the study, the researchers will opt to make use of the phenomenological method of analyzing and making sense of the data. The goal of phenomenology is to describe a lived experience, rather than explain or to quantify. As such, to 26

STORIES OF RESILIENCE CREATED AND SHARED THROUGH MUSIC

uncover the processes involved on how a person copes after a disaster, and how, with the help of music, is resilience formed and shared, the researchers will. After transcription of the data, the researches would analyze these through thematic and inter-rater analyses. During the thematic analysis, data would be categorized through the process of coding, where the data will be identified with a category among a set of categories observed by the researchers that are in relation to the objectives of the study. First, the researchers will devise codes or key words that would label data with similar contents. These data will then be grouped together in categories according to their codes. The categories with connections, patterns, and similar general contents will be placed in meaningful groups which will serve as the sub-themes that will constitute the major themes of the study. The major themes will be labeled according to the general term which will capture the whole idea of the sub-themes under it. In order to generate richer themes, the data would be also be analyzed through inter-rater analysis. Ethical Considerations Letters of consent informing the participant what the study is about. It is important that the participants fully understand the nature of the study, and that participation in the study is voluntary. The letter will also include what possible harms could occur during the data collection, and the choice to opt out the research will be included. Consent letters will be crucial in this type of research as interviewing people about their experience of a traumatic event, ie. Disasters, may cause unintentional harm to the participant. The researchers ensure the participants that the study to be conducted will have minimal risk. Statements of confidentiality of the data will also be included. Lastly, participants are always free to withdraw from the study should they feel like so, with no questions asked.

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