« Inspirational Steps » to develop music therapy in the Arabic World

The first Music Therapy Forum ” Inspirational Steps”, held in Sharjah (UAE), March 6-7, organized by the Sharjah City of Humanitarian Services and EWHA University (South Korea), was a fruitful meeting between leading experts and references in the field of music therapy, from around the world, and rich in inspiring experiences.

22 participants from 12 countries and 5 continents, shared their knowledge and experiences in the field of music therapy.

Mrs. Khadija Bamakhrama, head of planning and development and the general supervisor of the music therapy program at the Sharjah City of Humanitarian Services (SCHS), presented the opening speach and launched a video illustrating the music therapy program in the. She said that despite the difficult health context, it was possible to bring together experts from all over the world and organize this rich and fruitful international forum.

The topics of the forum were centered on four axes (The evolution of music therapy, Music therapy and people with disabilities, Music therapy in society and for psychology and Music therapy and medicine).

The first session was chaired by Prof. Ju Chong, head of the music therapy program at EWHA University.

The President of the World Federation of Music Therapy (WFMT), Dr. Anitta Sawanson (USA), introduced the session with a plenary lecture on « Music Therapy to increase Communication », followed by Dr. Melissa Brotons, Director of the Master of Music Therapy Program at ESMUC (Spain), and Dr. Achref Kamoun co-founder of the National Association of Music Therapy (Tunisia), and Mrs. Pascale Abdu El Rami, speech therapist at the El Hadi Institution (Lebanon), who presented the status and development of music therapy in the region.

The Next session was moderated by Ms. Ahlam Sulaiman (UAE),followed by Ms. Nana Abdallah Mansour (UAE) communication,Dr. Safa Gharsalli, Dramatherapist and researcher at the University Paris-Descartes (France) and Ms. Hamda Alkitbi graduated from the music therapy program of the city (UAE).

The third session was chaired by Dr Ga Eul (South Korea) with the presence of Dr Juyong, Ms Jieun, Dr Eun, Ms Jenny, having discussed the use of music therapy in society and in psychological care.

The second day of the symposium, is composed of three sessions, the first was chaired by Dr. Rihab Jebali, President of the National Association of Music Therapy and Master Assistant at the Higher Institute of Special Education (Tunisia); brought together speakers from different countries and continents, Dr. Petra Kern Editor in Chief th Early Childhood Magazine (USA), Dr. Indra Silfarajah (Malizia), Aksana Kavaliova Moussi (Canada-Bahrain) and Enas Awadh (UAE), who presented her experience of music therapy in the school (« Al Amal » of deaf children of the SCHS).

The second session, which addressed the use of music therapy in the field of disability, was chaired by Her Majesty, Sheikha Jameela Bent Mohamed Alqasimi, the Executive Director of the Sharjah City of Humanitarian Services, in the presence of Dr. Cheon Sa KIm (South Korea), Prof. Fatma Rached AlQaidi (UAE), Ms. Yirak Kang (South Korea) and Ms. Sara Rabii Fadi, (UAE), a graduated of the music therapy program at the CHS.

Dr. Soo (South Korea), chaired the last session in the presence of Kristal Foster (Kuwait), Dr. Patsy Tan (South Korea) and Dr. Louisa Salah (Algeria).

All these conferences and debates resulted in a set of recommendations, cited by Mrs. Monaa Alyaafii, Director of the Sharjah City of Humanitarian Services, the most important of which are :

– The promotion and development of music therapy in the Arab world, through the launching of an « Arab Union for Music Therapy ».

– The introduction of university degree courses in music therapy.

– The development of research and exchanges between several sides.

Shaikha Jameela expressed her pride and gratitude to the success of the first music therapy forum held at the Sharjah city of humanitarian services, and she owes this success to the professionalism of the organizing committee and the scientific committee of the forum.

This kind of forum is a springboard for the evolution of music therapy in the Arab world in general and in the UAE in particular.

These are some impressions of the guests of honor of the forum:

-Melissa Brotons, Director of the Master of Music Therapy Program at ESMUC (Spain), says, “It is very satisfying for me to see the growth, organization and professionalization of music therapy around the world. Forums like the one this weekend are always enriching and motivating because they encourage discussion and collaboration and welcome dialogue. Let’s take advantage of this opportunity to observe and share good practices and learn from each other to advance music therapy, especially in countries where the profession is in its infancy.»
-Dr Kern, Editor in Chief th Early Childhood Magazine, Proposes to Advance the profession through Government Recognition, increased access by engaging in effective professional advocacy.and she says « I hope that this event will bust the development of the profession in your region, all the best ».