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

After some time we also worked with groupimprovisations
and bodycommunication:
Gradually signs meaning "fast", "slow" and "hard" and "soft"
were introduced and mastered. The groupmembers are
becoming more coordinated and collaborative. The musicians
become more aware and in contact with themselves, each
other, the instruments and the music therapists. We now start to
try activities with a clear and simple structure. At a sign given by
the leader (one of the music therapists) each musician plays his
(often rather free) part. We are able to do such activities after
some months. But is this music that others would like to hear?
This last question became important. Three of the
community? We contacted the local council for music
organisations. Could any of these organisations be
interested in contact and collaboration with the
members of "Upbeat"? The response was positive. A
choir wanted to work together with "Upbeat". Maybe we
should sing and play together on the 17th of May (the
National Day)? Could this be the start of a new process?
In planning the 17th of May we worked out a lot of
written musical arrangements, but realised that these
had to be just sketches of musical ideas. Accomodation
was allways necessary, and improvisation was still an
important part of our work:
members of the group were now to move out of the
The musicians were asked to improvise different atmospheres
institution and into a house in an ordinary living-quarter.
on their instruments, like "sad", "happy" or "strong". They did this
Was it possible for us as music therapists to contribute
with great interest. We found out that we wanted to improvise
to a process which could enable them to take part in the
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