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In a country like India where music therapy as an education, research and practice is new, I am excited to write about the 2nd international conference in music therapy at Mahatma Gandhi Medical College and Research Institute ((MGMCRI), Pondicherry. It was a one day conference with a very small number of invitees and participants of about 100 to 120 people. Having said that, we had among the best of music therapists and educators from around the globe contributing to and participating in the event. The conference was a quiet affair and had around nine speakers who shared their experiences and responses on various music and therapy dimensions. I would like to briefly summarize what the speakers had to say about their work in music therapy.We were honoured to have Dr. Amy Clements-Cortes, President of the World Federation of Music Therapy give a presidential opening speech during the online conference. She was gracious to address a modest crowd and spoke highly of the efforts being taken to develop music therapy in India and the management responsible for the advancements of clinical and medical music therapy.The keynote presentation was by Dr. Gerhard Tucek. It was a pleasurable experience to watch him talk about his work in the field of music therapy in neurological rehabilitation.Dr. Sumathy Sundar, head of the department of music therapy, introduced the start of a Master’s degree in Music Therapy at the university, which will be the first in the country. Being a part of the growth of music therapy in this part of the country, I feel happy and also proud of being among the first few who are a part of a developing program.Dr. Maria Monserrat Gimeno gave us insight on the effects of music imagery relaxation in a medical setting, including the effects of music imagery in procedural pain, stress and anxiety.Dr. Lucy Bolger from Australia is a tutor in the PG Diploma course at Delhi Trust, Delhi and has a PhD from the University of Melbourne. She gave a comprehensive explanation of music therapy as a community service for hospitals. She emphasized the importance of cultural context and community understanding with regard to supporting health and recovery. The work presented by Dr. Lucy was similar to what I have done in the medical college and hospital. There is a need for music therapy to be part of the continuous healing process (before, during and after leaving the hospital). She shared common disadvantages we face in our regular practice.Dr. A.R Srinivasan, registrar of Sri Balaji Vidyapeeth (part of MGMCRI), a musician and a Professor of Biochemistry in the MGMCRI, strongly believes in the effects of music on the human body and mind. He spoke about the limbic system being the seat of emotions and the effect of Indian classical ragas on various emotions. He also gave a brief introduction to the Indian system of ragas and how it works.Dr. Baishali Mukherjee is the Regional Liaison for Southeast Asia with th WFMT, has a PhD in Psychology, and is a Bharatanatyam as well as Odyssey dancer. She spoke about her extensive work in music therapy with autistic children.Dr. Parin Parmar is a doctor from Rajkot, Gujarat, India. He spoke about music and its effects on immunology.Dr. Gene Ann Behrens was gracious to take part in the informative conference by sending her session through a video presentation. She briefed us on how clinical experiences are critical in the development of students’ music therapy skills. Clinical training experiences demand that students integrate a wide range of concepts and skills – such as knowledge about clients, music skills and music therapy techniques – taught within a variety of classes. Such concepts and skills demand that they are learned and refined across several instructional sessions. I am able to relate to what Dr. Gene had to say because that is how I learned about music therapy and the core concepts involved in it.Arnab Chawdhury is a musician trained in Indian Hindustani classical music and western classical music. He spoke about experimenting and experiencing composition in music therapy. He called it the “Aha moment,” the use of rhythm and melody in composing for music as therapy.Aurelio C. Hammer has been exploring and studying musical instruments for their therapeutic values. He is from Austria and settled in Pondicherry, India. He gave us a beautiful experience with sounds of various instruments from different parts of the world that made me transcend from Africa to China and down to North and South of India. It was a wonderful end to a day full of information that enhanced my knowledge about music and its therapeutic effects. I, for one, am filled with excitement to have been a part of the organizing committee. I was able to connect with some great minds and educators.Bhuvaneswari Ramesh, IndiaWFMT Student Delegate for Southeast Asia
