Community Music

Abstract

Over the last two decades community music has grown from differing local activities into a global field of study and practice. Despite this development, the term still lacks an agreed international definition. Building on over three decades as a community musician, I will give an understanding of community music values and methods as they are practiced in Ireland, the UK and increasingly internationally. Additionally, I will link community music values and characteristics to aspects of peacebuilding, specifically initiatives that are bottom up. I will also talk about how I used these community music methods over eight years working in Northern Ireland on projects to further peacebuilding.