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

possessed an electronic digital piano, which was
capable of receiving and sending MIDI, and was
equipped with its own amplifying speakers. Therefore to
complete the amount of equipment necessary we
added a computer and a sound module capable of
giving a great many different sounds and timbres; and,
of course, the MidiGrid program supplied in disc form.
Application
Our most immediate consideration was to discover if
MidiGrid could help us in our work at a Residential
Special School for emotionally disturbed adolescent
boys. Originally the boys were brought to the Centre,
but the problem of bringing the boys a distance of over
50 miles each week proved too difficult for the school to
sustain.
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The headmaster requested that when the Mobile Unit
became available, the service should be resumed and
we have now been working there for two years. The
boys at this school are generally of exceptionally high
intelligence. One of the boys we treat is already
achieving marks of over 60% in 'O' Level mathematics'
papers at the age of eleven.
They are often gifted and idiosyncratic, their common
features being a lack of self confidence and/or sense of
self worth. Some have been or are under Care Orders,
possibly resulting from abuse, and normal schools have
been unable to contain their often disruptive, violent or
anti-social behaviour. The use of word processors and
computers helps them produce their school work well,
as their presentation of work can otherwise be very