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There is something very special about spending time with colleagues, new and old. Rather than watching one another as ‘friends’ or ‘followers’ on social media, we can meet in person and, over great food and drink, share our passion for music therapy along with the frustrations and challenges which inevitably accompany our work. Being in Vienna for the 10th European Music Therapy Conference has been a really excellent experience; a huge thank you to all the organisers!On July 5th, before the conference opened, the Council of the World Federation of Music Therapy (WFMT) met alongside the General Assembly of the European Music Therapy Confederation (EMTC), which was meeting for a second day. We may have been physically separated by a courtyard but I am sure there will have been many overlaps in our discussions. It seems to me that we share the same vision of a growing profession, and so our time is dedicated to promoting music therapy and supporting the highest standards of training, research and practice in Europe and across the globe. As expressed at the conference, I look forward to stronger links between our two organisations.At the WFMT meeting, the Council members sang Music of the World. This was to celebrate the first World Music Therapy Day, an ambition long held by the WFMT and included in the 2014-17 Strategic Plan. Opinion had been gathered through stakeholder surveys and a date in early July chosen to coincide with the European Conference and with the World Congress in future years.See our Facebook page for videos and words to the song as well as a special post on our website.Our song was written by Declan Suddaby, a music graduate in the UK who, in his own words, “deals with Autism.” I had the privilege of being Declan’s music therapist when he was a young child, and I am full of admiration and respect for the way he has developed as a person and as an extremely talented musician. Thank you Declan, for your gift to the WFMT.The conference delegates also rehearsed a song for European Music Therapy Day on 15th November, the theme being “Sounds of Change.” How topical that is, given the current political climate.So, although there are many unsettling events being reported across the region, it is great that the music therapy community is proactive in strengthening its influence.
- I was honoured to address the 2nd Conference on Therapeutic Uses of Music in Moscow (by video) to offer support and to promote the further development of music therapy;
- We welcome a new organisational member in the Hellenic Association of Certified Professional Music Therapists (ESPEM) and are delighted to hear of the first master's degree in Music Therapy at the University of Macedonia, Dept. of Music Science and Art, Thessaloniki, Greece;
- Following the European conference in Vienna, several delegates went on to present at the second international scientific conference Music, Therapy, Education. Symbol, Expression, Perception in Katowice, Poland;
- There is to be an International Symposium in The Netherlands on the topic of Trauma, followed by a two day intensive workshop by WFMT Commission Chair, Dr Gene Ann Behrens, to coincide with the next General Assembly of the EMTC; and
- The 11th European Music Therapy Conference will be held in Aalborg, Denmark in 2019.
There will be many things that I haven’t covered here – so please, if you have an event you want us to publicise in the Global Calendar on the WFMT website, do let us know by writing to Jen Spivey at secretary@wfmt.info, and if you have thoughts about what the WFMT is doing as an organisation and would like to share them with a European contact, please email me at europe@wfmt.info.Hope to see you at the World Congress in Japan next year!!Angela Harrison, UKWFMT Regional Liaison for EuropeSaveSave
