Singing Beyond Language: How Music Bridges Cultural Divides
When words fail, music speaks. That's the driving idea behind Songify Your Day, an innovative project helping culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) Australians find their voice - literally.
In a country where English dominates, immigrants often struggle to share their experiences and connect with others. Instead of relying on traditional language-based approaches, researchers from The University of Queensland partnered with Moreton Bay Regional Council and Community Action for a Multicultural Society to try something different: songwriting workshops.
Professor Liam Viney notes this breaks new ground in music research, shifting focus from professional musicians to community members. The science backs it up - participants wore physiological monitors that showed increased oxytocin levels as they created music together, suggesting real biological benefits from these creative connections.
A simple question - "What do you remember about your mother's kitchen?" - sparked powerful responses. One group created "Melting Pot," weaving multiple languages with dance, while another crafted a heartfelt chorus: "Smells like home, tastes like home, feels like home in my heart," followed by stories in their native tongues.
Lead researcher Dr Mary Broughton isn't interested in dropping a one-time "culture bomb" on communities. Instead, she envisions lasting partnerships between cultural programs and local groups. Through Songify Your Day, participants aren't just writing songs - they're building bridges across cultural divides, one melody at a time.