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In August 2011, I arrived in Buenos Aires after participating as a member of the newly formed Assembly of Students Delegates (ASD) at the World Congress of Music Therapy in Seoul, Korea. Meeting qualified music therapists and students from around the world definitely filled me with enthusiasm and the will to get involved in a project where I could meet people really engaged in helping children with special needs.Fortunately, after my arrival, the music therapists working at “Centro C.A.M.I.N.O de Musicoterapia” invited me to become a part of the music therapy team at a very unique centre called "Casa Angelman" (http://www.casaangelman.org/). The special thing about “Casa Angelman” is that it works as a big family! Engaging a community of parents with children with Angelman Syndrome from around the country, it encourages them to participate in the process of accompanying their sons and daughters in their daily development.Learning about Angelman Syndrome and parents’ commitment to find new forms of treatment has been a wonderful journey but also a big challenge. Although there have been big breakthroughs on the medical aspects, few studies have been carried out regarding how to help children with this rare syndrome through music therapy. Regarding our clinical practice, it was really thrilling to witness each child’s interest and excitement towards music! That was the starting point from which we started investigating and finding new ways on how to use the musical resources in each session.Personally, becoming a part of this family has made me realize the importance of network building and of constructing a communal sense of belonging. Overall, I’m really grateful for this wonderful experience!Lucila Pivetta, Licenciada en Musicoterapia, WFMT Student Delegate for Latin America
