Proceedings, Oxford, UK (2002) - World Federation of Music Therapy

defined characteristics: it should be sufficiently isolated from external
noises, so as to enable communication in the non-verbal context to
proceed aseptically, and it should be large enough to encourage
movement, without leading to dispersion. Within the space, there should
be as few items as possible to distract attention (the minimum furnishings
required, few pictures on the walls, etc.).
Since body movement is encouraged during the session, and since body
vibrations are transmitted, the setting should have a wooden floor, or
better still a raised wooden platform which will help the sound to carry.
As far as the group of instruments is concerned, any item able to produce
an audible sound or a movement as a means of communication can be
included in a music-therapy Instrumental Operating Group. It is
important to bear in mind that an instrument can be used not only
conventionally, but also in any way that makes it a vehicle for
communication and expression.
The musical instruments must be of different shapes and sizes so that
patients have the chance to project their personal fantasies onto them.
The body-sound-music instruments used in music-therapy must have
distinct characteristics: they must be made of natural materials (leather,
wood, materials of animal origin, water, etc.); they must be easy to use,
not requiring particular abilities (motor, sensorial or physical) to produce
forms of sound; they must emit different types of sounds similar to those
made by animals or human beings; they must enable unhindered
movement, using only one part of the body. In addition, they must
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