Spring Update From the Eastern Mediterranean

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Aksana Kavaliova-Moussi
Regional Liaison for Eastern Mediterranean
Contact: easternmediterranean@wfmt.info[/caption]Spring is here, and the region is blossoming with all the flowers and young dates growing on the palm trees. There is some news in the local music therapy scene, too. First of all, “The Brain that Sings” documentary, featuring Marion Tennant’s work with two individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders, has won a “People’s Choice Award” at the Dubai International Film Festival in December 2013. The synopsis of the film says:THE BRAIN THAT SINGS follows the journey of two autistic boys in the UAE – 19-year-old Mohammed and six-year-old Khalifa – and their progress over three months of music therapy. The film explores the cultural stigma associated with having a special needs child in the Arab world, and the issues the families face when they plan out the future of their children.There is a new website launched in Dubai, on Gulf music therapy. Nadya Larsen, its developer, decided to include music therapy research information to educate the public and promote music therapy.In Qatar, a representative of the Education city interviewed Dirk Cushenbery, and Al Aribi news filmed one of his sessions. The upcoming Rehabilitation Hospital at the Hamad Medical Corporation plans to offer music therapy services to its patients, according to DR Wafaa al Yazeedi, acting chairperson of the Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Department (HMC). There is also a job posting for a position of Expressive Arts Therapist (drama, music, or art therapist) at the Naufar project for treatment of substance abuse disorders.In Karachi (Pakistan) Sohail Khan has launched his Music Therapy Center. Mr. Khan has his CMT from University of London, UK and got his advanced level BMGIM from the USA.As for me, I am happy to report that the Online Conference for Music Therapy-OCMT2014, where I served as a Chair, was a great success. It gave music therapists from all over the world an opportunity to connect, network, and learn without getting out of their homes. This is especially important for professionals in my region, as we seldom get to attend real-life conferences due to the fact that they take place so far away from the Middle East.As I continuously search for music therapy news in my region, I see some research being published in Iran. Using this international forum I would like to ask music therapists in the Eastern Mediterranean region to please contact me (easternmediterranean@wfmt.info), because together we can achieve even more!Aksana Kavaliova-MoussiEastern Mediterranean Regional Liaison[/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]