Making music with and by people intellectual disabilities

When making music with people with intellectual disabilities, one can experience a reduction to the essentials - emotion and the human way of dealing with it. Far removed from the pressure to perform and a competitive mindset, the focus here is on the individual and music as a means of expression in itself. What foundations and opportunities does making music by and with people with intellectual disabilities offer, and what impact does it have on them? This paper will first explain fundamental aspects of musical perception and its effect on people, as well as existing concepts for defining intellectual disability. Following an overview of the possibilities for making music for and with people with intellectual disabilities and its impact on their self-esteem and quality of life, a case study - based on qualitative interview analysis and observation - will be used to compare the theoretical literature with real-life experience.