Music Therapy in the Silesia, south region of Poland
I am a second year student of music therapy in Katowice, Poland, and I would like to share my experiences with reference to the article by Ludwika Konieczna by which music therapy began its development in the Silesia region of Poland.
After returning from study in Louisville, Kentucky, Ludwika Konieczna not only quickly found work as a music therapist (as she writes in her article), but also at the Music Academy in Katowice, opened a new department in her specialty - Music therapy.
In addition to subjects such as music therapy techniques, practical music therapy, art therapy, drama therapy, anatomy, psychiatry, psychotherapy, we students also develop our skills in private piano lessons, private guitar lessons, singing, conducting, improvisation, history of music, ear training, harmony. Additionally, workshops with well known music therapists such as Clive Robbins, Barbara Wheeler, Krzysztof Stachyra, Simon Procter and Wendy Magee were organized in the past four years. Music therapy as a new speciality at our academy (it was opened four years ago, in 2008) is becoming a more popular subject among young students. Every year, more people come to Katowice to take the entrance exams, but our academy accepts only five students per year.
Currently, in Poland, music therapy is most developed in the city of Wrocław. Silesia is an area in which these therapeutic actions are not yet well known. There are many people who have no idea what music therapy is, and what benefits it provides. I am not reffering to those who are not associated with any social institution, I am unfortunately talking about qualified doctors from public hospitals, which I know from personal experience. For some people, music therapy is just a form of relaxation - lying down and listening to music. They have no idea that there are also the active forms of music therapy!
Fortunately, this situation is slowly changing. There are already a few places where our fourth year students work with and strongly promote music therapy. They are working with adults with intellectual disabilities, children with autism, emotional disorders, or speech defects. This provides benefits for younger students - they can be a part of practica and be supervised by older students. For those who are more courageous, there are other institutions that are interested in therapy using music, for example, social welfare homes, special needs kindergartens, public hospitals.
A new student of music therapy starts their first practice at the center for care and upbringing in Katowice - Bogucice under the supervision of Mrs. Ludwika Konieczna. As our tutor and lecturer, she leads the subject "practical music therapy", not as normal lectures in classes, but as active observation and assisting in sessions with the children. In my opinion, this is a great idea, because this kind of practice shows us what Music therapy is really about and helps us to study more effective.
I, as a second year student who attended the sessions there, can truly say that music therapy has become one of the most beneficial and valuable therapies for the children in the center. The nuns who manage it, fully trust Ludwika Konieczna and her students. Music therapy in Bogucice now involves children at any age, with both individual or group sessions. Mostly active music therapy is used there. A boy, who goes to the music school for oboe (which Ludwika Konieczna mentions in her article), still continues his studies in music school. I have already had a chance to work individually with a few children with different problems and with a group of girls with intellectual disabilities at Bogucice.
Students are becoming more and more involved in music therapy at this facility. In September, 2011, fourth year students initiated a project entitled: "Nuda to nie sztuka" ("boredom is not a good way") which started and lasted until March, 2012. It was funded by the European Union. Children from the center in Bogucice were involved and given the opportunity to participate in many classes such as guitar, drums, piano, singing, emotional painting, making jewelry, as well as dance lessons and sports. The children were also taken to concerts in the Music Academy and to cinemas, theaters, and exhibitions. The aim of this project was to show children how fascinating their free time can be and how they can organize it differently.
As you can see, music therapy in Katowice is growing rapidly. Last year in our Music Academy, a two-year complementary master's degree in music therapy was created, making our academy more interesting to people who wish to use music to help others. From my observations, I can see that every year the number of professional music therapists will grow. They will be able to promote music therapy, and educate people about what it really is, and its many benefits. I hope world of Music Therapy be fully understood in Silesia and more importantly, to see the music therapy be widely used with benefits for all involved.
About Alicja Tasinkiewicz
Biography
Music Therapy student at Academy of Music in Katowice, Poland.
Music Therapy in the Silesia, south region of Poland
I am a second year student of music therapy in Katowice, Poland, and I would like to share my experiences with reference to the article by Ludwika Konieczna by which music therapy began its development in the Silesia region of Poland.
After returning from study in Louisville, Kentucky, Ludwika Konieczna not only quickly found work as a music therapist (as she writes in her article), but also at the Music Academy in Katowice, opened a new department in her specialty - Music therapy.
In addition to subjects such as music therapy techniques, practical music therapy, art therapy, drama therapy, anatomy, psychiatry, psychotherapy, we students also develop our skills in private piano lessons, private guitar lessons, singing, conducting, improvisation, history of music, ear training, harmony. Additionally, workshops with well known music therapists such as Clive Robbins, Barbara Wheeler, Krzysztof Stachyra, Simon Procter and Wendy Magee were organized in the past four years. Music therapy as a new speciality at our academy (it was opened four years ago, in 2008) is becoming a more popular subject among young students. Every year, more people come to Katowice to take the entrance exams, but our academy accepts only five students per year.
Currently, in Poland, music therapy is most developed in the city of Wrocław. Silesia is an area in which these therapeutic actions are not yet well known. There are many people who have no idea what music therapy is, and what benefits it provides. I am not reffering to those who are not associated with any social institution, I am unfortunately talking about qualified doctors from public hospitals, which I know from personal experience. For some people, music therapy is just a form of relaxation - lying down and listening to music. They have no idea that there are also the active forms of music therapy!
Fortunately, this situation is slowly changing. There are already a few places where our fourth year students work with and strongly promote music therapy. They are working with adults with intellectual disabilities, children with autism, emotional disorders, or speech defects. This provides benefits for younger students - they can be a part of practica and be supervised by older students. For those who are more courageous, there are other institutions that are interested in therapy using music, for example, social welfare homes, special needs kindergartens, public hospitals.
A new student of music therapy starts their first practice at the center for care and upbringing in Katowice - Bogucice under the supervision of Mrs. Ludwika Konieczna. As our tutor and lecturer, she leads the subject "practical music therapy", not as normal lectures in classes, but as active observation and assisting in sessions with the children. In my opinion, this is a great idea, because this kind of practice shows us what Music therapy is really about and helps us to study more effective.
I, as a second year student who attended the sessions there, can truly say that music therapy has become one of the most beneficial and valuable therapies for the children in the center. The nuns who manage it, fully trust Ludwika Konieczna and her students. Music therapy in Bogucice now involves children at any age, with both individual or group sessions. Mostly active music therapy is used there. A boy, who goes to the music school for oboe (which Ludwika Konieczna mentions in her article), still continues his studies in music school. I have already had a chance to work individually with a few children with different problems and with a group of girls with intellectual disabilities at Bogucice.
Students are becoming more and more involved in music therapy at this facility. In September, 2011, fourth year students initiated a project entitled: "Nuda to nie sztuka" ("boredom is not a good way") which started and lasted until March, 2012. It was funded by the European Union. Children from the center in Bogucice were involved and given the opportunity to participate in many classes such as guitar, drums, piano, singing, emotional painting, making jewelry, as well as dance lessons and sports. The children were also taken to concerts in the Music Academy and to cinemas, theaters, and exhibitions. The aim of this project was to show children how fascinating their free time can be and how they can organize it differently.
As you can see, music therapy in Katowice is growing rapidly. Last year in our Music Academy, a two-year complementary master's degree in music therapy was created, making our academy more interesting to people who wish to use music to help others. From my observations, I can see that every year the number of professional music therapists will grow. They will be able to promote music therapy, and educate people about what it really is, and its many benefits. I hope world of Music Therapy be fully understood in Silesia and more importantly, to see the music therapy be widely used with benefits for all involved.