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Warmest greetings from the Western Pacific! As we enter into the summer months and flow through the changing seasons of the year, I am reminded of the growth and seasons of change our profession has experienced, both globally and regionally, to arrive at where we are today. Looking back, there are just so much to celebrate on, particularly the victories gained from persevering through the growing pains.
“The 1st Chinese Music Therapy Education Symposium” recently held in Beijing, China, testified to the local music therapists’ struggles, efforts, and victories gained through perseverance, understanding, and unity along the path of a growing profession. It was a historic event that brought together local registered music therapists- both locally and internationally trained, and local music and music therapy educators involved in the teaching of music therapy programs in China to enhance mutual learning and understanding between educators, and to improve and uphold the standards of professional music therapy education.
I am pleased and excited to share with you a brief interview I had with one of the organisers, Ms Ming Ming Liu, on the inspirational event.
V.C.: When was ““The 1st Chinese Music Therapy Education Symposium”” held and who were the organisers? Who were the targeted audience of the symposium?
M.L.: “The 1st Chinese Music Therapy Education Symposium” was held on October
14th-17th, 2018 in Beijing, China. The first 2 days were workshops, and the remaining 2 was the symposium. This event was organised and funded by the Central Conservatory of Music, and co-organised by the Music Therapy Centre of the Central Conservatory of Music.
The participants who attended the symposium were mainly music therapy educators of higher education institutions (universities and colleges) in China that provide music therapy education. Programs offered at these institutions include diplomas, undergraduate and master degrees in music therapy, and introductory music therapy courses as core studies or electives. Music therapy educators include those who are locally trained i.e. graduates of the music therapy program at the Chinese Conservatory of Music, and/or internationally trained registered music therapists, and those who do not have a background in music therapy but have established music therapy programs in which they currently teach and manage i.e. music educators, composers, performing pianists, e.t.c.
V.C.: What were the intentions and goals for holding this event? In what ways did the symposium inform, enrich, and enhance music therapy education in China?
- .: The rapid growth of our profession in China saw the establishment of numerous music therapy programs across the country at various higher education institutions. The purpose of the symposium was to enhance communication and mutual learning between all music therapy educators across the country, to inspire a broadened vision about the professions’ future in the local scene, and to improve and uphold the standards of professional music therapy
The format of the symposium was as follows:
- Keynote presentations: Music therapists and music therapy educators from across China were invited to speak as a keynote speaker at the
- Poster presentations
- Panel: Local music therapy educators formed panels to discuss topics related to music therapy education in
- Workshops: Chang Nai-Wen (Taiwan) and Dr. Annie Heiderscheit (the United States) both conducted one-day workshops at the symposium.
V.C.: Was the symposium met with any challenges in the course of planning and execution?
M.L.: The planning and execution of the event went very smoothly. This symposium actually happened in a rather timely manner…. a time when such a platform for discussion, mutual learning and understanding was much needed among local music therapy educators. A challenge that surfaced during the symposium was that there seemed to be quite a difference between the understanding of music therapy of those who do not have a music therapy background and what music therapy actually is.
V.C.: What were some of the highlights of the symposium?
M.L.: Dr. Chang Nai-Wen’s pre-symposium workshop on “Making connections between music therapy clinical work to research work”, and Dr. Annie Heiderscheit’s workshop on “Music Therapy Clinical Supervision” were highlights of the symposium as they offered participants some very rich and practical take-home messages and advices. This was one of the great successes of the symposium! Additionally, a panel by music therapists who are currently teaching at several different institutions was met with much interest and enthusiasm. The discussions they led on program design, training goals, and student opportunities were very well received since these were some practical issues that most faced at their work. The panelists provided a platform for some dynamic, meaningful, and productive discussions that fostered mutual learning and support.
V.C.: What are some of the learnings gained through this experience that will help inform the next Chinese Music Therapy Education Symposium and/or similar events?
M.L.: As one of the main organisers, 2 points that resonate with me are “embracing” and “respecting” differences. The current development of music therapy in China can be compared with its early beginnings in America. The practice of music therapy was also instigated by other professionals at that time. It was not until the past 40 years or so that music therapy became a scientifically recognised, evidence-based profession with its own training programs, research, and certification system.
There are currently many institutions in China who have already established their own music therapy programs but are taught by professionals who have no music therapy background. There are also unqualified individuals who take advantage of the title “music therapy” for commercial purposes. These are two different scenarios with different intentions. I believe we need to be able to differentiate the two, and our “fight” is with the latter. The former needs our understanding, acceptance, and respect for all that they have contributed, and our continued support to improve and up hold their standard of work.
Uniting all the efforts and resources we have, and supporting each other is the way to bring our profession forward.
V.C.: When will the next Chinese Music Therapy Education Symposium be?
M.L.: The next “Chinese Music Therapy Education Symposium” is scheduled to take place during the upcoming “Chinese Music Therapy Associations’s Annual Meeting“ in 2020. Stay tuned!
Hearing about all that my fellow colleagues are doing across the region and around the world to bring the profession forward have continued to reignite the passion I have for what I do. Our folks in Singapore are gearing up for The Association for Music Therapy (Singapore) Symposium 2019 “Music Therapy in Singapore: Local and International Perspectives”. It will be held on Saturday July 27, 2019. Please stay tuned or visit www.musictherapy.org.sg for more information.
All updates from the Western Pacific Region are provided by local music therapists from their respective countries. If you have any updates and news on the development of music therapy in your country within this region, and would like to share them with us, please do not hesitate to contact me at westernpacific@wfmt.info.
Vivian Chan, MMT, MTA, MT-BC
WFMT Regional Liaison, Western Pacific Region
