The Music Therapy Study Program of UPH Held a Neurologic Music Therapy Seminar

Patricia Wormington Asked Participants to Practice by Using Musical Instruments

The Conservatory of Music Universitas Pelita Harapan (UPH), through its Music Therapy study program, held such an insightful seminar about ?Neurologic Music Therapy: When Music Meets Science? on May 30, 2016 at the MYC, UPH, Lippo Village, Tangerang. Through this seminar, participants could obtain new information, about how music is not just related with emotional and psychological aspects, but also towards the developmental aspects in order to achieve a certain orientation, in terms of neurology.

This seminar was brought by Patricia Wormington, MMT., NMT, as music therapist and an Indonesian Neurologist Music Therapist, who is currently working in the States. Patricia emphasized her point, on the fact that all of the materials of her presentation today, originated from the thoughts of Michael H. Thaut, therefore, the seminar was also a dedication and appreciation for Michael H. Thaut and his research team.

Michael H. Thaut himself, is an International Leader in the Neuroscience of Music, from Colorado States University, USA.

Patricia started her seminar by asking participants to associate songs, with the emotions they might have felt. From this activity, Patricia said that music could bring an emotional expression, a representation of belief, culture, ideas and etc.

Then, Patricia asked 10 volunteers to take an instrument and play it according to her directions. Through this practice, Patricia wanted to show that, through music, someone?s behavior and movement could be controlled. ?I also use this technique to train my patients, whom had special needs, in controlling themselves and to help them gain focus,? said Patricia, while explaining the attractions which the volunteers played with. 

The whole practice that was shown, to make participate realizes that the paradigms of music has experienced movements. Music does not only affect the emotional and psychology aspects, now music has developed towards the neurology orientation. 

In this seminar, Patricia shared the advantages of NMT with three aspects in the training, First, Sensory-motor training, which involves one?s decreasing ability to move due to neurological diseases, such as Parkinson, stroke and etc. Second, NMT is great for Speech and Language Training, which involves training for people with disabilities in speaking. Third, NMT is also used for Cognitive Training, which involves several point, they are focus and perception training, therapy mechanism and memory training.

More than just a great and practical explanation, Patricia could make this seminar even more interesting just by involving participants in doing practice using the musical instruments, involved with every topic given.

This seminar, which gains many positive responds, was attended by approcimately 50 participants from both inside UPH and outside of UPH, such as from Cikal School Serpong, Tarumanegara University, Al-Azhar Kingerdaten, Cikal School Cilandak, Avila Music School, Global Jaya School, Atma Jaya Psychology, ACG School Jakarta, Cikal Surabaya, Tiga Generasi and Binus School.

Patricia Wormington, wasn?t present in UPH to give the seminar, but she gave several workshops regarding NMT at the Conservatory of Music UPH, which was especially intended for students of Music Therapy specialization (Mt).

Following are testimonies of some participants:        

	Imazko Arto, Sekolah Cikal Serpong ? ?This seminar is very informative to me. Because I?m an early childhood teacher, I could really apply it to my daily routine with my students.?
	Feberina Charista, Mahasiswa Musik Peminatan Terapi Musik, 2013 ?  ?It was very interesting and insightful. I could broaden my knowledge about the application of music, even further and clinically, as well as knowing its benefit towards daily life.?

All of the Participants of the Seminar

Participants were asked to Move their Feet according to the Rhythm of the piano, Played by Patricia