E-Book of Articles - World Federation of Music Therapy

Wheeler, Barbara: WMFT Proceedings of the Education Symposium
psychology; Psychiatry; Theory of science and therapy. Theory of music
therapy
A comprehensive entrance test includes instrumental and vocal skills,
improvisational skills and talents, and a personal interview. 12-15 of over 40
applicants are admitted every year with an average age of 23-45.
Status and Aim of Experiential Training
Overall the ETMT training has an equally important role as a part of
the basis training as have basic training in musical skills and theoretical
knowledge. The overall aims of this training are as follows:
to increase the sensitivity and flexibility of the students ability for
establishing contact and communication through therapeutic
musical experiences
to explore traumatic blocks, and to develop more personal insight
and resources through therapeutic musical experiences
to develop musical techniques to work with transference and
countertransference issues.
to develop musical techniques to listen to, and to be in a fluent
relationship with body, feelings and consciousness
to generally develop musical techniques to establish and develop
contact with clients at different levels.
Therefore ETMT is designed to emphasise the artistic and
‘sensitivity’ training of the students to be aware of themselves as the
resonating tool for music therapy work, and from there to build bridges
to their consciousness about methodological possibilities with different
client populations. Knowledge is acquired about the connection between
their way of understanding people, music, health, and therapy and their
theoretical foundation and choice of method.
Why Experiential Training?
Whatever method you use in music therapy, a basic tool is your own
presence and mental preparedness as a therapist in just being present, and
in musical and verbal communication, with clients. ETMT offers training in
learning not only to listen in order to analyse the client or clients music, but
also to listen to oneself listening to the client.
The training is very complex, as it has to be done with a clear
understanding of the double character of mental resources and
preparedness, and how these are experienced and expressed through music.
These are, on the one hand, a consequence of a person’s life story and
actual social circumstances, and on the other hand they are genetically
cognitive and emotional fundamentals, with which a person selects,
perceives and influences his/her circumstances.
It can be a vulnerable area to work with because of the vital nature
of these processes. Exploring your life’s experiences and the way you
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