th

Proceedings of the 14 WFMT World Congress of Music Therapy

July 7-12, 2014 in Vienna/Krems, Austria

WE ALL MAKE MUSIC: A STUDY OF MUSIC ENSAMBLE FOR

SPECIAL NEEDS YOUTH
Juan Pedro Zambonini
Universidad del Salvador, Argentina
Ralf Niedenthal
Centro C.A.M.I.N.O., Argentina
Introduction. The present paper intends to
share our perspectives and findings based
on our experience coordinating a musical
ensemble with special needs youth in the
city of Buenos Aires, Argentina during the
year 2013. The ensemble was carried out as
part of the activities of the department of
Adaptive Musical Pedagogy of Centro
C.A.M.I.N.O. in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
The population included young people
between the ages of 13 and 21 years of age
with diverse diagnosis such as Down
syndrome, cerebral palsy and undiagnosed
disorders. Before entering the group each
patient had to complete an interview to
determine if he/she met the criteria for
admission to the ensemble. The principal
admission condition was to have basic
learning capacity in order to learn a song
and remember simple musical instructions
such as changes in tempo and dynamics.
The ensemble met weekly on Saturdays.
The goals for the project were: to promote
significant social interactions, provide
experiences closed to their chronological
age, develop social skills and experience a
sense of belonging with peers.
Methodology. The project incorporated the
dynamic of co-therapy into its methodology.
Both music therapists coordinated the
ensemble sessions and met twice weekly to
analyze, reflect and plan the project with
periodic supervisions with the center
coordinator. Each ensemble session was

planned with anticipation outlining a

maximum of three possible activities, leaving
room
for
spontaneous
participant
suggestions. After each session both
therapists recorded the most relevant
information in log that documented dates,
patients that attended, goals, activities,
clinical observations, personal impressions
by each therapist as well as suggestions for
future encounters. At the end of the year
members of the ensemble presented two
songs in a yearly concert held by Centro
C.A.M.I.N.O.
Theoretical posture. Initially it was decided
that the encounters would not be considered
under a clinical music therapy framework.
Instead, an approach within the field of
preventive music therapy and recreation
was more appropriate. There were also
several theoretical postulates that emerged
from a need to support the work that would
be done as music therapists. Miguel
Materazzis concept of health as a tendency
presented by Pellizzari and Rodriguez
(2005). Isaac Prilleltenskys sites of wellbeing as well as signs of well-being
influenced the perspective of health adopted
for this project (2005). The most relevant
signs were found within the personal and
relational sites. These were the sense of
community, empowerment, voice and choice
in partnership, affirming partners, empathy
and social skills (Prilleltensky, 2005).
Elements from Music in Special Education

ISSN: 1610-191X
2014 WFMT. All rights reserved.

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Proceedings of the 14 WFMT World Congress of Music Therapy

July 7-12, 2014 in Vienna/Krems, Austria

written by Adamek were a resource to define

the activities (2005). Additionally some
aspects of the clinical musicianship
expressed under the Nordoff-Robbins
Center for Music Therapy approach were
also used (Nordoff, Robbins, Robbins, Turry,
Ritholz, Sorel, Howat, Aigen, Braverman &
Mahoney, 2011).
Techniques and resources. The principal
techniques
used
were:
collaborative
songwriting, visual queuing, hand signals
(similar to those used in the Kodaly method),
technological adaptations with headphones
and prerecorded melodies, Adaptive Use
Musical
Instruments
(AUMI),
group
improvisations and relaxational routines (De
Castro, 2004).
Relevant Findings. Most of the findings
were identified and conceptualized from the
personal impressions of each therapist
documented in the log. Throughout this
process, limitations, shifts in perspective and
positive qualitative results in each patient
were found. The most relevant limitations
that
were
encountered
related
to
technological setbacks, unclear group
admission criteria and irregular attendance
of some ensemble members. The most
valuable findings lay in the shifting of
mindsets as it became clear that preventive
music therapy in a recreational setting can
bring significant changes to participants. For
example, a great change in subjective
positioning was evident in a member of the
ensemble as she demonstrated increased
self-confidence and was empowered to
share her ideas with the rest of the
ensemble; also the interaction among peers
increased to the point of not needing the
music therapist or caretaker to mediate
dialogues, showing signs of empathy and
autonomy; during the verbalizations of the
last
sessions,
ensemble
members
demonstrated clear signs of belonging and a
strong sense of community evidenced by the

naming of the ensemble Los Sabadabadu

at the conclusion of the project.
Conclusion.
The
preventive
and
recreational approach of music therapy in a
musical ensemble with special needs youth
can bring both valuable and positive
changes to those who participate in
sessions regularly. Systematization and a
clear work methodology will increase the
effectiveness of the project and will be
reflected on significant changes in the
members of the ensemble.
References
Adamek, M & Darrow, A. (2005) Music in
st
special education, 1
ed. Silverspring:
American Music Therapy Association.
Pellizzari, P. & Rodriguez, R. (2005) Salud,
escucha y creatividad, 1st ed. Buenos Aires:
Ediciones Universidad del Salvador.
Nordoff, P., Robbins, C., Robbins C., Turry,
A., Ritholz, M. S., Sorel, S. N., Howat, R.,
Aigen, K., Braverman A. & Mahoney, J.
(2011) Clinical improvisation: Expanding
musical resources. New York: NordoffRobbins Center for Music Therapy.
Prilleltensky, I. (2005) Promoting well-being:
Time for a paradigm shift in health and
human Services. Scandinavian Journal of
Public Health. Vol. 33, 53-60. DOI:
10.1080/14034950510033381
De Castro, R. (2004) Sonido, msica,
accin: La msica en el mbito educativo y
teraputico. Buenos Aires: Jorge Baudino
Ediciones.
About the Authors
Juan P. Zambonini & Ralf Niedenthal.
Professors at the University of El Salvador
and music therapist for Centro CAMINO.
Email:
juanzambo@gmail.com

ISSN: 1610-191X
2014 WFMT. All rights reserved.

th

Proceedings of the 14 WFMT World Congress of Music Therapy

July 7-12, 2014 in Vienna/Krems, Austria

ISSN: 1610-191X
2014 WFMT. All rights reserved.