E-Book of Articles - World Federation of Music Therapy

D'ulisse, M. E..: The Educational Formation Of The Music Therapist ...
The Educational Formation Of The Music Therapist According To
Benenzon’s Theory
D’Ulisse M. E., Palermo M.T. School Glass Harmonica Anni Verde, Rome,
Italy
In Italy , as opposed in other countries, the figure of the music therapist
does not yet have a specificity of its own, as far as its legal and professional
recognition is concerned.
Given the current proliferation of courses and seminars of music therapy, it
therefore becomes necessary to address the question of the educational and
personal formation of the music therapist in a systematic and serious way.
The schools that follow the BMT (Benenzon Music Therapy) identify a
number of different fields of study of which the music therapist should have
a basic theoretical knowledge: these fields range from anatomo-physiology
and body expression, to pedagogy, and include studies of etno-musicology
and evolution psychology.
This evidently entails an interdisciplinary education which should precede,
if only partially, the actual beginning of the course of study in any school of
Music Therapy.
The heterogeneity of the cultural and academic backgrounds of future music
therapists must thus lead to a broadening of perspectives as regards their
educational formation, as well as to a more focused approach to the
problems that are inherent to this discipline.
Beyond this ‘informative’ aspect, which deals with the methodologies of
learning as applied to different subjects, we should not forget however,
that in each music therapy meeting, there develops an actual relationship
between the music therapist and his/her patients, which in turn brings to
the surface problems of interaction, notably those of elaboration of
transferal and counter-transferal processes. It therefore becomes
necessary, for the future music therapist, to follow a path of constant
personal analysis in order to be able to know and face his/her own internal
conflicts and regressive tendencies, comprehend the various modes of
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