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

In a short preliminary conversation we shall try to
determine a choice of instrument and we shall start
playing soonest. In this phase the finding of mutual trust
is of utmost importance.
I usually work with pop-music and I have diverse
reasons for this: [sheet]
1) Surprising results can be achieved with a minimum of
technical knowledge.
This is of importance because there usually is no
preliminary musical education of any level.
Perseverence is low, and if the idea is acquiered that it
will take hard labour and a lot of time before satisfying
results are achieved, many patients are quickly
demotivated.
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2) Pop-music is ego-fortifying, quickly results in an
amplification of self-esteem, of wich they have usually
very little, or a very twisted idea.
If you are able to find the correct individual mode of
working, and prove to the patient that he can enjoy what
he is doing it can be marvellous to see shyness of
expression just disappear.
3) Pop-music strongly invites people to work toqether in
small groups, wherein everybody has a clear function.
This automatically means traininq in communication
and co-operation.
4) Another factor though, is that working with popmusic
is the result of adressina the adult part of the patient.
The generation I work with has a strong affinity for this
music, and are quiet knowledgeable on the subject. If