Project Summary
The project focuses on supporting artists in holistic music therapy, especially on developing their original production and cooperation with musicians from other countries and playing different styles and creating new performances together like joint production, merging styles. The vital part of the project is to increase awareness about this type of art and its possibilities and create publicity for these artists. However, the project also offers new perspectives and opportunities on business associated with the Covid 19 pandemic crisis; the online course can increase awareness about the field of music therapy even in the situation when face-to-face events can not occur. The project’s first activity is an organization of a music festival that contains a performance of Czech and foreign artists, including their original joint production. We will organize this festival every year regularly. The next part of the project is an online course and communication platform for the public audience and all interested people. This platform will be used for sharing information and stay in touch during an occasional lockdown. The course will introduce the history and usage of all the instruments often used in music therapy and the impact on people’s well-being and health. This course will also contain records of the music played on these instruments by professionals. We will create a website about the festival and the rest of the project to promote the artists’ work. Other parts of the project are a mobile music therapy lab that brings artists close to their audience and enables them to organize events in nature. |
Project Intent
This project will support Czech and foreign artists in holistic Music Therapy, and it will bring together professionals and amateurs working in joint music events. Holistic music therapy is an art production used to treat mental disorders, neuroses or improve the condition of mentally disabled individuals. The music therapy art also shows a demonstrable effect on preventing mental health problems in a healthy population. Music therapy work with folk musical instruments in natural tunning (just intonation), and these instruments are usually known for a very long historical period in the local area. Some of these instruments are rattles made from the fabric, which is easily found in the area. They use many types of drums used in tribal history anywhere in the world. There are also many breath instruments, like different kinds of pipes and hollow branches as didgeridoos. Metal instruments like Tibetan bowls or hang drums are also a part of the music therapy performance. Sometimes they use also string instruments like marimba, kalimba, balafon and many others. Music therapy sessions can be passive, more like a gig, or active, like a workshop that requires work with the audience. Passive music therapy relaxation is arranged as a concert, except that the audience often lies and relaxes during the performance. Active music therapy production includes audience activity. Participants play drums, rattles or other percussion instruments or join in singing led by a therapist. This group production will enable the audience to experience a sense of belonging and harmony with the group, which is just one of the healing components of music therapy.
Recently, a few artists work exclusively as music therapists. Most artists work in social care institutions or institutions looking after people with mental disabilities as educators or nurses whose job includes music therapy activities. Other artists work as music teachers who have music therapy
in their lessons or teachers in kindergartens. These musicians search for more publicity and opportunities to perform and become more visible to the public audience. The artists are also looking for new strategies for working with the audience, and this project will support them in these goals. Although the holistic music therapy method is demonstrably effective and its results are described and documented, the current work in the field in the Czech Republic does not have sufficient international publicity. The current project helps develop artistic skills, communication strategies with the audience and building the capacity of actors and the association. This project also helps mentally disordered people to connect with the majority through their music activities.
The main parts of the project are:
- Music festivals (includes a performance of Music Therapy Orchestra)
- A workshop for music therapists
- The mobile music therapy lab
- An online course for public
Justification of Project Proposal
Although the holistic music therapy method is demonstrably effective and its results are described and documented, the publicity of this art is not sufficient in the cultural scene. Most artists do not act as independent subjects. Still, they are employees of schools and social care facilities, where they work in the roles of caregivers or teachers, which does not allow them to devote enough opportunities as artists.
Based on clinical studies conducted by researchers in music therapy in recent years, we can say that music therapy increases the quality of life not only for the mentally handicapped but also people with Alzheimer’s disease. Based on clinical studies conducted by researchers in music therapy in recent years, and positively affects the general population. (Cooke 2010, Fischer-Terworth 2011, Guétin 2009, Petrovsky 2015, Raglio 2015).
From this point of view, it is desirable to acquaint the medical and social facilities and the public with the effects of holistic music therapy and offer it as a possibility of a non-pharmacological solution to uncomfortable mental states or at least alleviate them. Cultural projects are an optimal way how to present ideas and solutions. We aim to increase cultural awareness of the healing abilities of a specific type of music and the opportunity to use this tool to enrich their living conditions. Still, it significantly contributes to the quality of life in-home care institutions and facilities, retirement homes, and the like positively affecting the general population.
Music therapists who engage in artistic activities outside the scope of institutes of schools or institutions as independent entrepreneurs need support in the field of skills and knowledge of independent business, especially in marketing and obtaining resources.
The project includes organising an international festival, which will increase public awareness of music therapy in general. We will make audiovisual recordings from the festival, which will help to promote the field and artistic production.
Literature:
Cooke, M. L., Moyle, W., Shum, D. H., Harrison, S. D., & Murfield, J. E. (2010). A randomized controlled trial exploring the effect of music on agitated behaviours and anxiety in older people with dementia. Ageing and mental health, 14(8), 905-916.
Fischer-Terworth, C., & Probst, P. (2011). Evaluation of a TEACCH-and music therapy-based psychological intervention in mild to moderate dementia. GeroPsych.Guetin, S., Portet, F., Picot, M. C., Pommié, C., Messaoudi, M., Djabelkir, L., … & Touchon, J. (2009). Effect of music therapy on
anxiety and depression in patients with Alzheimer’s type dementia: randomised, controlled study. Dementia and geriatric cognitive disorders, 28(1), 36-46.Petrovsky, D., Cacchione, P. Z., & George, (2015). Review of the effect of music interventions on Raglio, A., Attardo, L., Gontero, G., Rollino, S., Groppo, E., & Granieri, E. (2015). Effects of music and music therapy on mood in neurological patients. World journal of psychiatry, 5(1), 68. of anxiety and depression in older adults with mild dementia. International Psychogeriatrics, 27(10), 1661-1670
