Music Therapy Today - World Federation of Music Therapy

Pecoraro Esperson, P. (2006) The pleasure of being “differently able”: Integration through music therapy in primary
schools. Music Therapy Today (Online) Vol.VII (2) 413-429. available at http://musictherapyworld.net
apy course authorized by the Ministry of Education and organized by the
cultural association FO.RI.FO. in Rome.
Not all of those who are trained in music therapy are automatically able/
ready to work for integration, normally the reference model is that of
rehabilitation and/or therapeutic. A music therapist in a school very fre-
quently accepts to work only with the disabled, which then leads to the
creation of new “differential” classes (only for the disabled), but this is
not our aim.
In Italy all children are offered a unique and exceptional experience and
our aim is to utilize always and to its best this special opportunity.
The encounter with the handicap becomes a stimulus for everybody, we
learns to be tolerant, first of all towards ourselves, we faces our fears and
discover that diversity is not so dreadful, we discover together that every-
body has something to express and teach.. and it is wonderful to discover
and know ourselves, just like looking at ourselves in a mirror, but this
time we are looking at and listening to others!
To work for the development of the person and his/her well being , the
starting point is “listening” to “diversity”, originality, the uniqueness of
each of us. In music therapy and in life every single emotion and experi-
ence are precious goods for the development of human potentials.
The pleasure of being differently able is a powerful engine which helps
us grow and change for the better.
Conclusion 427