The purpose of this study is to deeply understand the music therapy
experience of institutionalized adolescents and to explore their views on their
experiences. Those participants of this study were seven boys aged between
12 and 15 years. Interviews and analyses were conducted according to
Giorgi's phenomenological and qualitative research methods to determine the
essential meaning of the music therapy experience of institutionalized
adolescents. They were 15 sub- structures, 5 subjects, and 3 essence traits
of music therapy experience of institutionalized adolescents. Major themes of
music therapy experience of institutionalized adolescents were 'what is music
therapy?', 'free and comfortable', 'I was not feeling well', 'facility life is
sometimes difficult', and 'I like music therapy'. The categorized natures of
these topics were 'unfamiliar music therapy', 'emotional experience', and
'escape to strict discipline of the facility'. Results of this study, discussions,
limitations, and suggestions for understanding the experiences of
institutionalized adolescents through music therapy are presented.