Final answer:
Music therapists can work effectively with every culture if they study and understand the cultural context through methods like ethnomusicological fieldwork. Understanding music as a universal language helps to bridge cultural divides and allows therapists to address health care goals in culturally sensitive ways.
Step-by-step explanation:
Music therapists can indeed work with every culture as long as they recognize and understand the cultural context in which they are operating. To do this effectively, they might engage in ethnomusicological studies, which involve reviewing techniques to understand music in its social and cultural settings. Ethnomusicologists often conduct fieldwork, such as interacting with musicians, attending music events, or interviewing audience members to fully grasp the cultural significance of music.
Research has shown that music is a universal language that can convey basic emotions like happiness, sadness, and fear across cultures, as evidenced by a study in Cameroon with the Mafa tribe. The interdisciplinary nature of ethnomusicology requires a depth of cultural knowledge and appreciation, akin to the need in theatre to appreciate global forms and their cultural origins. Therefore, when music therapists study the culture they're working within, they can better connect with individuals and address specific health care goals, accounting for cultural diversity and fostering a sense of wholeness within the group.