E-Book of Articles - World Federation of Music Therapy

D'ulisse, M. E.. et al.: A Music Therapy Project Involdving An Autistic Child ...
The sessions were held in two separate premises of the “Anni Verdi”
Association; they were recorded on video cassettes and were as far as
possible in a uniform setting especially with regard to the Instrumental
Group (GOS) made up of percussion and melodic instruments, conventional
and otherwise.
The project involved 24 individual sessions on a weekly basis, lasting about
40 minutes each, and was arranged in the following stages:
1. a phase of observation and evaluation;
2. a phase during which the therapeutic process took place;
3. inclusion of recorded audio material relating to the family background;
4. several sessions with the child’s parents;
5. a final phase involving gathering data and saying goodbye to the patient.
Communicative process
The children came from outside the field of the Association’s activities and
were chosen by random selection. The team psychologist explained to the
parents the aims and procedures of the project, the time involved and the
methodology of the research project.
During these interviews with the psychologist, several questions emerged
regarding the fact that participation was free of charge, the possibility of
continuing the music therapy sessions afterwards, and the reason for the
active presence of the parents during the sessions.
Further clarification took place in interviews with the therapeutic team,
enabling a rapport of trust and collaboration to be set up. In fact, the
families were kept informed (after every four or five sessions) by written
reports and further interviews, on the progress that had been made.
For their part, the families provided recorded audio material on the
background of each member, and filled out a music therapy questionnaire.
The following summarises briefly the case of F., as an example of the work
carried out:
F. is nine years old and has been diagnosed as being slightly retarded in a
cognitive sense, with autistic traits and having difficulty in socialising. His
family is made up of two parents and a younger brother aged six.
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