23.7. 1993 Vitoria-Gasteiz / Spain - World Federation of Music Therapy

him and in which he could interact with Pixie of his own
free will. Even though in most of the sessions he
appears to be an observer and listener, it is as if he
were monitoring the shape of the harmony though not
actually participating so that when he did play it was a
continuation of the same melody not an interjection.
Thomas`s particular form of autism freezes
spontaneous movement. He becomes hypo-active as
opposed to the majority of children with autism who
become hyper-active under stress, the dark and light
sides of the same moon if you like. Pixie's music
overcomes this blanketing of movement and emotion so
Thomas can bypass the strictures ot his autism and
express himself freely on the piano. The friendships that
we take so much for granted are not lightly won
between ourselves and people with autism, but Pixie
and Thomas are true friends with a common interest, a
partnership not based on compassion, pity or avarice. It
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is clear to me that the Music Therapy has not only been
an exercise in musical appreciation but a blueprint for
Thomas's life in other spheres. For the first 8 years of
his life, I have been constantly by his side, protecting
and encouraging him towards independence. By using
the same strategies as in the music sessions, that of
gently withdrawing, first with him on my lap, then in the
same room and now short period on his own with a
person he trusts, I am secure in the knowledge that he
can cope on his own, not by using stereotopic activities
but using his hands and his listening ear for his own
entertainment.
I would now like to return to Pixie's word.
I consider the experience of working with Thomas to be
one of the most profound in my life. In connecting to his
innermost depths I am able to reach my own.