Music helps people balance their own emotions.

At the workshop "Culture and Psychological Balancing Therapies" held on July 24th and 25th, 2008 at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Dr. Tran Thu Huong, a psychology lecturer at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, presented a paper on music therapy for children with disabilities. This is a relatively new psychological treatment method in Vietnam, but it is considered quite effective in helping children with disabilities integrate into normal life. We had a brief conversation with Dr. Tran Thu Huong on the sidelines of the workshop.

ReporterMadam, which group of young people with disabilities are the art therapy methods you presented at the workshop aimed at?

- Dr. Tran Thu Huong (Dr. TTH)In my article, I only discussed the concept of disabled children in a general sense. These are children who, due to some physical defect, experience a significant reduction in the ability to perform certain functions compared to normal children. We know that disabilities are caused by many factors: congenital, birth trauma, poisoning during pregnancy; accidents; other illnesses; etc. And there are many different types of disabilities: motor disabilities, sensory organ disabilities (blindness, muteness, deafness, etc.), intellectual disabilities (developmental delay), and other types of disabilities.

At this workshop, I will discuss the use of art-based methods primarily for children with intellectual disabilities and sensory disabilities (visually impaired, mute).

PVSo, what are the goals of music therapy for children with disabilities?

- Dr. TTHThis involves teaching children to feel and express repressed emotions, helping them develop better communication and expression skills, and expanding their interaction with others and the outside world. This allows children with disabilities to have a life closer to that of a normal person.

PVMadam, what scientific and theoretical basis supports the effectiveness of using music to bring mental stability to children with disabilities?

- Dr. TTHYou know, auditory experiences are recorded very early in our mental lives, even while we are in the womb. Scientists have proven that sound plays a role in a child's development thanks to the early relationship established between mother and child. Therefore, if during pregnancy, the mother regularly listens to soothing, calm, and bright music, the child will have a good foundation for development after birth.

From the moment a child is born, the most common way we engage with them is through music. This includes the voices of those around the child, the richness of vocal volume, the specific duration creating sinusoidal patterns of intonation and rhythm, along with the movement of the entire body. These things attract the child's attention and encourage them to shift their focus towards the world of verbal communication. This foundation allows us to easily explain the formation of emotions in children, the meaning of those emotions, and the structure of their emotional world.

[img class="caption" src="images/stories/2008/8/11/p7252411-large.jpg" border="0" alt="Dr. Tran Thu Huong (Photo: Thanh Ha)" title="Dr. Tran Thu Huong (Photo: Thanh Ha)" width="320" align="right" ]

The words surrounding a child express certain content of the messages being conveyed. Children can be nurtured from the initial musical symbols within them, rapidly developing the linguistic messages they receive and absorb from adults, and establishing communicative relationships based on the experiences they learn. According to Peretz (2003), sounds create melodies that express human emotions: love, anger, revenge, longing, and everything that humans feel in the process of living and existing.

For children with disabilities, listening to sounds and the repetition of sounds and rhythms helps them adapt better to their ever-changing environment and express themselves. More specifically, through music, children with disabilities can build, find comfort, express themselves, and become creative. Like normal children, children with disabilities have the right to be creative, and music is one of their creative forms, a manifestation of creative impulses that are sometimes difficult to see but always vibrant. Thus, music gradually becomes the most useful tool for children with disabilities in establishing social relationships.

PVCould you describe the specific methods used in music therapy for children with disabilities?

- Dr. TTHThere are several approaches in music therapy, such as: teaching children to perceive and express themselves through a sound-producing object: children listen to it, listen to others, play with others; teaching children to learn rhythmic passages and repeat them; observing the expression of others; asking children to perform a piece of music; helping children understand music and learn lyrics; memorizing sounds and song lyrics; teaching children how to immerse their entire body in grasping its sensations, feelings, imagination, and emotions.

PVMadam, what is the most important aspect of music therapy?

- Dr. TTHThe key to the impact of music is creating a response in children and opening an effective channel of communication. Even without the music itself, the sounds created and perceived can initiate a dialogue, an exchange, a guiding process aimed at breaking down communication barriers. In other words, music therapy can be essential for children with disabilities because they can use music as a way to express themselves and communicate with the world around them.

A key concept mentioned in music therapy is the concept of harmony. In the various ways of all musical traditions around the world, musical harmony must explain the harmony of the universe, of nature, and of humanity. Therefore, a rich timbre, a beautiful melody, and an exhilarating rhythm are all valuable means of helping children harmonize with themselves and with the world. This is the true and profound role of music therapy. Music, existing in this way, has special significance in treating mental and physical injuries and disorders in children with disabilities.

PVSo, is music therapy used as a standalone treatment or must it be combined with other therapies to achieve the desired results?

- Dr. TTHMusic therapy cannot be used independently but must be combined with other therapeutic methods (e.g., relaxation therapy, etc.) to form a sensory approach, aiming to relieve psychological difficulties through sounds and melodies, while also helping to reduce physical and mental trauma and disorders. Music therapy is a technique within art therapy.

According to Winnicott, music therapy, like other arts therapies, can lead children with disabilities to actively and creatively participate in social relationships. This approach requires less time than traditional verbal therapy methods.

PVHave you personally ever participated in a music therapy session for children with disabilities, and what were the results?

- Dr. TTH: Not yet with children with disabilities. I'm taking a risk using this therapy in treating and caring for a child with mild autism and a child with aggressive tendencies, but so far it's only involved letting them listen to sounds, like instrumental children's music. Whenever I work with them, I usually play music to create a peaceful atmosphere filled with bright, gentle melodies, while also letting them play games like clay modeling and drawing. It can be said that music helps the children calm down and helps me establish a connection with them. Through this, the children have learned an essential principle: discipline, expanded their world of interaction, and become more gentle. Currently, these two cases are still ongoing.

PVCurrently, how is music therapy being applied in Vietnam?

- Dr. TTHCurrently in Vietnam, there are not many facilities or experts using music therapy as a scientific treatment for psychologically traumatized individuals in general, and for children with disabilities in particular. However, from a cultural perspective, this therapy has been used for a very long time in folk traditions. It's very natural. It's like the lullabies our grandmothers and mothers sang when we were children. It permeates us and helps us build deep connections with the natural world and with society.

PVIn your opinion, should music therapy be included in research and teaching as a professional skill for psychology students in the future?

- Dr. TTHIt's absolutely necessary. In fact, this therapy is considered one of many techniques in psychotherapy. Guiding psychology students towards understanding, mastering, and skillfully using techniques and methods to treat psychologically distressed individuals in society is a fundamental goal in training future clinical psychologists in the Psychology Department.

PVOne final question: In your opinion, can music therapy be applied to groups other than children with disabilities, or in specific other cases?

- Dr. TTHMusic therapy can be used with anyone, not just children with disabilities or those in difficult circumstances. Whenever we experience stress or face challenging problems, we can use music to calm ourselves down. Music helps us balance our own emotions.

- PVThank you for the conversation.