Victoria Kammin
PhD student

Profile

Biography

Vicky is a first year part-time PhD student working with the Martin House Research Centre at the University of York. Her PhD project focuses on Music Therapy within children’s palliative care.

Vicky also works at the University of Roehampton as a senior lecturer on the MA Music Therapy programme and in clinical practice. She has over twenty years clinical experience as a Music Therapist working with children and adults in a variety of settings including the NHS, special education, residential care and children’s palliative care.  

Qualifications

• BA Music/English
• MA Music Therapy

Research

Overview

Evaluating the role of Music Therapy in Paediatric Palliative Care

Children and young people with life-limiting conditions and their families face significant challenges in their lives.  Music therapy is reported to help improve their quality of life and wellbeing by offering an alternative means of emotional expression, supporting relationships and creating memories. However, there is little evidence about the specific benefits of music therapy for children with life-limiting conditions and understanding about how and when music therapy should be used in children’s palliative care.

This research aims to develop evidence about the potential benefits of music therapy in children’s palliative care and increase understanding about how music therapy should be delivered for children with life-limiting conditions. 

A first study will examine existing published research to explore the meaning and perceived benefits of music therapy from the perspectives of these children and families and professionals working in this area. Findings from this study will be used to design a second phase of research that is likely to include collecting new information from children, families and professionals working in this area, to develop our understanding of the role of music therapy in children’s palliative care.

Research group(s)

• Martin House Research Centre

Publications

Selected publications

• Balancing the Public and the Private: Music Therapy in a Children's Hospice
• Kammin, V., Aug 2019, Music Therapy in Children and Young People's Palliative Care. Ludwig, A. (ed.). London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers, p. 31-47 16 p.
• Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter 
• Music Therapy in Children and Young People's Palliative Care: 'Performing, celebrating and sharing life': an exploration of the value of performance in a joint music therapy and community music project in a children's hospice
• Kammin, V., Aug 2019, Music Therapy in Children and Young People's Palliative Care: 'Performing, celebrating and sharing life': an exploration of the value of performance in a joint music therapy and community music project in a children's hospice. Ludwig, A. (ed.). London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers, p. 127-145 18 p. Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter
• Rocks and Pebbles: a post-bereavement sibling's support group using music to explore grief 
• Kammin, V., 8 Apr 2013, In : Bereavement Care. p. 31-38 7 p. Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
• End of Life Care Journal: Help the Hospices: ‘Making life before death matter’ publication of poster presentation at Help the Hospices Annual Conference, Volume 3, Issue 4, 2009

External activities

Memberships

• British Association of Music Therapy
• The Health and Care Professions Council

Invited talks and conferences

Academic and Creative responses to Death and Dying 2020: Bishop Grosseteste University Lincoln:  Keynote presentation: ‘Rocks and Pebbles’: an exploration of a collaborative approach with bereaved siblings groups in paediatric palliative care.

European Music Therapy Conference 2019: Aalborg, Denmark: The resonance of performance in children’s palliative care.

DICATS conference Roehampton University 2019: ’Together we are stronger’: diversity in practice. An exploration of multi-disciplinary, interdisciplinary family work within a children’s hospice setting.

BAMT conference London 2018:’Together we are stronger’: diversity in practice. An exploration of multi-disciplinary, interdisciplinary family work within a children’s hospice setting.

BAMT conference Glasgow 2016: ‘Balancing the public and the private’: A creative response to the demand for a marketable public profile whilst protecting the integrity and confidentiality of clinical work in the charity sector.

Children, Young People and Families BAMT special interest group 2014: ‘When Music Therapy comes out of the therapy room’: meeting individual need and utilising therapeutic skills in a children’s hospice

Children, Young People and Families Occupational Therapy Conference 2013: ‘Little MOTHS’: A joint venture between Occupational Therapy and Music Therapy.  Exploring joint working with a mother and toddler group in a children’s hospice.

CRUSE Conference 2012: ‘Joint working in a children’s hospice’: a collaboration between Counselling and Music Therapy 

British Association of Play Therapy conference 2011: ‘An exploration of a post-bereavement siblings support group’

Derian House Hospice Conference 2010: ‘An exploration of a post-bereavement siblings support group and innovative work in a children’s hospice’

Key Changes Music Therapy Conference 2010: ‘Exploring the development, implementation and evaluation of a post-bereavement siblings group in a children’s hospice’.

Media coverage

Jessie’s Fund short film for the House of Commons 2015 - Considerable media coverage for Shooting Star Children’s Hospices fundraising campaigns