|
Introduction
Spain is characterized for being a mixture of musical cultures born from different traditions with a wide variety of rhythms and contrasts. Taking into account the fact that it is such a musical country, what has the history of Music Therapy been?, which space does it take within the professional and academic field nowadays?, which are its perspectives and challenges for the future?
When judging Music Therapy in Spain the feature that may attract most our attention is the abundance of international influences on the Spanish music therapists. Therefore it is noticed an enormous interdependence and amplitude in techniques and methods used that little by little have been adapted into the specific cultural moment of each region.
The real increase in the phenomenon of Music Therapy in Spain has 30 years of history, a few years in which the efforts for incorporating Music Therapy to the academic and professional field have been the protagonists. Although it has advanced a lot, we face the future with challenges such as achieve an official recognition of Music Therapy.
History of Music Therapy in Spain
The first references that we have about the scientific use of Music Therapy in Spain are dated in the XVIII century (S. Poch 1970). In 1744 A. J. Rodríguez established the bases of a scientific theory of Music Therapy in his work “ Medical Critical Arena” ( Palestra Crítico Médica ). It is also necessary to quote the doctors F. J. Cid (1787) who studied 12 cases of tarantism and the curative properties of music and B. Piñera y Siles (1787) who treated y cured a case of tarantism at the San Carlos Hospital in Madrid.
Even in the XIX century F. Vidal y Careta published his doctoral thesis in pharmacology about the relationship between music and medicine (University of Barcelona, 1882).
In 1920 Dr. Candela Ardid published the book “ The music as a curative medium of the Nervous Diseases: Some considerations about Music Therapy ”, where explains the therapeutic effects of the music used in their treatments. This book meant a landmark in the history of Music Therapy in Spain, as showed an interest in the discipline from the conviction of its utility.
Little by little this conviction was extended till having its peak in the 60s with the research and doctoral thesis of professionals such us Serafina Poch, with her thesis “ The influence of music on the child ” (music therapy) (University of Barcelona, 1964) and “ Music Therapy for autistic children. History of Spanish Music Therapy” (Universidad Complutense, 1972). These research works created the foundation of a scientific job and the spreading of Music Therapy in Spain. Here it also starts the effort for divulging Music Therapy as a therapeutic discipline within the educative and research centres. Thus, from 1970 to 1975, S. Poch was in charge of a research project in Music Therapy which was taken at the Spanish Institute of Musicology, from the Higher Council of Scientific Research, in Barcelona.
In the 70s in Spain there were a great amount of pedagogues, teachers, musicians, psychologists, etc. who included Music Therapy at their professional practice: S. Poch, Ph D, Mª Natividad García Martín de Vidales, Paloma Camacho, M. Angel Acebedo, etc. At the same time, and at an international level, various events show the blooming of Music Therapy. S. Poch, Ph D, represented Spain at the First and the Second World Congress of Music Therapy (Paris, 1974; Buenos Aires, 1976).
In 1979 the I National Symposium of Music Therapy was held, which gave an official character to the Asociación Española de Musicoterapia (AEMT). The aim of AEMT, which was created by S. Poch, Ph D, and Prof.. J. Obiols Vié, Ph D, was to promote the use of Music Therapy in the treatment of patients, as well as to foment music therapeutic practice and research at the educational field.
Also in 1979, the AEMT and the Chair in Psychiatry of Universidad Complutense organized the II National Symposium of Music Therapy.
The Spanish section of the International Society for Music Education (ISME- Spain) created a study group for Music Therapy that would lead to the organization of further courses and activities.
In the 80s the effort for promoting the use of Music Therapy in Spain continues with the creation of Associations, training centres and symposiums.
In 1982 a Symposium in Music Therapy was held in Barcelona, organized by S. Poch, Ph D, within the Catalan-Croatian Conferences of Social Psychiatry.
In 1983 the Associació Catalana de Musicoterapia (ACMT) – an initiative of S. Poch, Ph D, in Barcelona – and the Centro de Investigación de Musicoterapia – created by Aittor Loroño and Patxi del Campo – were founded. Their function was to divulge information related to the applications in Music Therapy.
Two years later another Symposium of Music Therapy was held in Barcelona, coordinated by S. Poch, Ph D, and this time within the V Mediterranean Congress of Social Psychiatry.
In addition, in 1985, other events took place: Meeting of Bio-music (organized by the Centro de Investigación en Musicoterapia) in Ezkoriatza (Guipuzcoa), the 1 st National Congress of Music Therapy in Barcelona and the Meeting of Music Therapy in Valencia.
In 1986 another Symposium of Music Therapy was organized by S. Poch, Ph D. Dr. J. MacIntyre, former director of the “American Psychiatric Association” took the chair. This Symposium was held within the “X Mundial Congress of Psychiatry” organized by Prof. J. J. López-Ibor in Madrid. SUZANNE E. HANSER, PHD, MT-BC, TOOK PART ON IT, ALSO.
In 1986 Patxi de Campo created the Escuela de Musicoterapia y Técnicas Grupales (the present Instituto Música, Arte y Proceso) in Vitoria-Gasteiz, which was the first Music Therapy School in Spain, destined to support the activities developed at the Centro de Investigación en Musicoterapia from 1983 to 1986.
In 1987 the 1 st Music Therapy Summer School took place in Vitoria-Gasteiz. It was organized by the Escuela de Musicoterapia y Técnicas de Grupo with the support of the I.C.E. of the University of the Basque Country. This summer school is being held year after year celebrating the 19 th edition in 2005. In late 80s, exactly in 1989, the 1 st European Music Therapy Seminary was celebrated in Vitoria, which is being held since then in Vitoria-Gasteiz.
On the other hand, Aittor Loroño founded the Centro de Investigación Musicoterapéutica in 1987 in Bilbao.
The same year Prof. F. Blasco founded in Valencia one branch of the Escuela de Musicoterapia y Técnicas Grupales. This professor had been divulging information and organizing Music Therapy courses. Because of the initiative of this professor the Asociación Valenciana de Musicoterapia was created in 1991.
Afterwards, at the early 90s, there is a proliferation at an academic level of seminaries, workshops, courses, etc of Music Therapy. This happens not just within the programs of universities but as training taught at private centres as mentioned before. In the same way, different Music Therapy associations were constituted around the country.
In 1990 Patxi Del Campo was elected as the coordinator of the VII World Congress of Music Therapy (I Congress of the World Federation of Music Therapy).
In 1991 an International Music Therapy Meeting was organized by Daniel Terán. The same year the European Music Therapy Committee was organized in Vitoria-Gasteiz within the 3 rd European Seminary of Music Therapy, organized by Instituto Música, Arte y Proceso. The founders were Helen Odell, Gianluigi di Franco, Tony Wigram and Patxi Del Campo.
It was in 1992 when the 1 st University Conferences in Music Therapy were celebrated. This took place in Barcelona and was organized by Universidad Ramon Llull and Instituto Música, Arte y Proceso and with the coordination of Patxi Del Campo. The 2 nd edition of these Conferences was held in Salamanca in 1995. This time it was organized by the Universidad de Salamanca and Instituto Música, Arte y Proceso.
The same year (1992) a postgraduate course in Music Therapy was created by S. Poch, Ph D, at the Universidad de Barcelona. The objective of this course was to train music therapists as professionals that could work in the fields of rehabilitation, palliative care, special needs, treatment of mental illnesses, etc. More courses followed to this one: Universidad de Ramon Llull, Universidad de Valladolid, Les Heures and Universidad de Barcelona.
In 1993 Vitoria-Gasteiz hosted the VII World Congress of Music Therapy. After this Congress it was seen an important increase in the number of professionals sensitized by the music therapy practice at their professional activity.
Just before the Congress, in 1992, a group of professionals created the Coordinadora Nacional de Musicoterapia, which after a period of little activity was reactivated in 1998. The Coordinadora tried to constitute a Spanish Federation of Music Therapy. The statutes were approved in September 2000. However, due to disagreements it was not constituted.
The scientific development of Music Therapy was supported by the Health Research Fund with the grant that was given to Dr. Manchola and Patxi Del Campo for the research of the use of Vibroacoustics with patients with Parkinson (1994).
In the 90s there was a proliferation of seminaries, courses and conferences about Music Therapy within the university setting. These initial seminaries resulted in some cases in the creation of specific Music Therapy programs taught at Universities.
In the same way, different Music Therapy associations were constituted around the country with the aim to join efforts and share experiences among the professionals.
In 2001the I International Congress of Music Therapy and Creative Therapies in Neurodegenerative Diseases was held in Vitoria-Gasteiz. This congress was coordinated by Patxi Del Campo and organized by the Fundación la Caixa and Instituto Música, Arte y Proceso.
Apart from the ones that have been mentioned, some of the associations constituted during these years and after are cited below:
- Asociación de profesionales de Musicoterapia: it was founded in 1997. Its aim is to achieve the legal and professional recognition of the Music Therapy profession, as well as to protect the adequate practice of the profession and avoid infiltration. This association tries to maintain a contact with the rest European associations of Music Therapy.
- Asociación Independiente de Musicoterapia (created by Victor del Río) and Asociación Hispánica de Musicoterapia Aplicada (founded by Lorenzo Amado).
- AGAMUT (Asociación Gaditana de Musicoterapia): founded in 1999 by Patricia L. Sabatella. From 2000 it collaborates with the Universidad de Cádiz on the organization of Music Therapy training courses, especially seminaries of music and medicine, as well as music and neurological diseases.
- Asociación centro de Investigación en Musicoterapia y Comunicación no verbal del Mediterraneo, that collaborates with the Universidad Católica de Murcia on the organization of training courses and seminaries.
Present situation and future tendencies
Due to the fact that in Spain this profession is not recognized with an official title by the Work Ministry, the music therapists have difficulties to integrate professionally. In addition, as the limits of his/her competence are not defined, some people work as a music therapist without being properly trained.
In this attempt to “register” officially the profession of the music therapist, it is important to show up the work of the Asociación de Profesionales de la Musicoterapia and the establishment of the Ethical Code, by the Asociación Catalana de Musicoterapia, to regulate the parameters and requirements of degrees and diplomas the a music therapist has to have. Since 1992 this association registers the professional music therapists like it is done in other countries (MTR).
Nowadays, there are few music therapists in Spain who work in public institutions or being part of research projects. The most of them work at a private level, especially in special needs, geriatrics, neurological rehabilitation, medicine and psychiatry.
However, the present situation of Music Therapy in Spain makes the professional music therapists face with some challenges in the future.
On one hand, it is not an official degree recognized by the Work Ministry, even if some entities such as the Asociación de Profesionales de la Musicoterapia have been working to achieve its official recognition.
On the other hand, the lack of precise recognized limits in the practice of Music Therapy promotes the exercise as a music therapist of people who lack proper training provoking professional infiltration.
With the aim of trying to mitigate this lack of recognition and support, three tendencies arise:
• There is an attempt to form work and research groups on Music Therapy in order to join efforts and fight against the professional isolation lived till not long ago.
• More and more research groups try to integrate therapeutic methods of Music Therapy in health and educative centres.
• Attempts to establish an identity, objectives and concrete limits that provide a unitary identity to Music Therapy.
With the incorporation of Music Therapy within university training programs and research projects, an increase of the presence of this discipline is being obtained at an academic level day a day. Furthermore, the creation of the European Space of Higher Education might help the achievement of an official recognition of the profession from the Government and competent authorities' side.
Nowadays, there are 17 associations and 10 Music Therapy training centres in Spain. They work in an independent manner due to the lack of a national federation that would unify the criteria and work lines.
MUSIC THERAPY ASSOCIATIONS IN SPAIN
• Asociación Internacional de Musicoterapeutas ASIMU
c/Bolivia,13 4ºd 28016 Madrid
Phone:+34-913440873
Handy.+34-699801785
E-Mail: secretaria@musitando.org
website: www.musitando.org
• Asociación Aragonesa de Musicoterapia
Paseo Sagasta 41-1ª-1 50007 Zaragoza
virmormar@hotmail.com
• Asoc. Canaria de Musicoterapia
Luis Benítez Inglot, 32, 18º A 35011 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
Jose.acmt@wanadoo.es
• Asoc. Cultural de Musicoterapia de Almería
Avda. Mediterráneo. Edificio Parque Luz nº 248 – P 7 04006 Almería
• Asociación Española de Musicoterapia
Pedroñeras 2, Bajo C 28043 Madrid
teranfd@hotmail.com
• Asoc. Independiente de Divulgación de la Musicoterapia
Balsón 1 C, 3º, 2ª 28025 Madrid
• Asoc. De Musicoterapia, Docencia e Investigación del Principado de Asturias
Foncalada 5 1º P5 33002 Oviedo
Marina@net.com.es
• Centro de Investigación en Musicoterapia CIM
Mazarredo 47 2ª 48009 Bilbao
Musicoterapia@itg-rpg.org www.itg-rpg.org
• Asociación de Profesionales de Musicoterapia APM
Apto. Correos 1549 01080 Vitoria – Gasteiz
apmus@hotmail.com
• Asociación Centro de Investigación en Musicoterapia y Comunicación no verbal del Mediterráneo.
Manresa nº 4, 2º C 34004 Murcia
masquemusica@ono.com
• Asociación Valenciana de Musicoterapia
Av. Dr. Waksman 19 46006 Valencia
Francisco.blasco@uv.es www.avmt.info
• Asociación Catalana de Musicoterapia
C. Vinya del Forn, 16.- 08635 St. Esteve Sesrovires
Barcelona
MTR@draspoch.e.telefonica.net
www.xarxabcn.net/acmt
• Asociación Gaditana de Musicoterapia AGAMUT
Apartado de Correos 555 - Cádiz
patricia.sabbatella@uca.es
www.agamut.org
• Asociación Música Arte y Proceso MAP
Apartado de correos 585 01080 Vitoria-Gasteiz
map@agruparte.com
www.agruparte.com
• Asociación castellano leonesa para el estudio, desarrollo e investigación de la Musicoterapia y la Arteterapia ACLEDIMA
C/ Obispo alcolea 74-76 bajo.d 37006 Salamanca
Info@acledima.org
www.acledima.org
• Asociación de Musicoterapia de Castilla la Mancha
Talavera de la Reina 45600 TOLEDO
Fernandocompany@hotmail.com
• Asociación Galega de Musicoterapia AGAMUS
Rua Remedios, 21
32002 OURENSE
agamus@lycos.es
www.musicoterapiagalicia.es.vg
MUSIC THERAPY CENTRES IN SPAIN Public Universities
- Universidad Autonoma de Madrid . Higher Training Course in Music Therapy. 1 065 hours. Coordinator: Cintia Rodríguez; Alicia Lorenzo, MT http://www.uam.es
- Postgraduate / Master Course in Music Therapy Les Heures. Universidad de Barcelona . 1100 hours. Director of the Course: Dr. Joan Mª Malapeira , Coordinator : Dr. Josep Roma Profesores : Nuria Escudé, S. Poch PhD MTR, Prof. Dr. Carlos Ballús
www.heures.ub.es
- Universidad de Cádiz.
University Expert Course in Music Therapy (60 ECTS)
University Master Course in Music therapy (120 ECTS)
Coordinator: Patricia Sabbatella, PhD, MT
www.agamut.org/agamut/actividades/
http://www.uca.es/dept/didac_efpm/
- Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia (UNED).
Training Course for Teachers: Music and Health: introduction to Music Therapy 200 hours.
Coordinator: Pilar Lago Castro, PhD
http://www.uned.es
Private Universities
Private Institutes
To sum up, it is possible to affirm that in Spain Music Therapy is consolidating at an academic and professional level, so the prospect invites us to be optimistic. However, there are still lots of obstacles to get round. Within the challenges for the future, we have cited the need of establishing limits of the profession, avoid infiltration, promote research and create an Ethical Code (following the guidelines of the European Music Therapy Confederation and Music Therapy World Federation).
Camino Bengoechea Menéndez
President of the Asociación de Profesionales de la Musicoterapia
Spanish representative in EMTC
Bibliography used:
BENGOECHEA, C. (2005). “La Musicoterapia en España”. In T. Wigram, I. N. Pedersen & L. O. Bonde: Guía completa de musicoterapia: teoría, práctica clínica, investigación y formación. Vitoria-Gasteiz: AgrupArte Producciones.
BETÉS DEL TORO, M. (comp.) (2000). Fundamentos de Musicoterapia. Madrid: Morata.
POCH BLASCO, S. y DEL CAMPO, P. (1993). “Music Therapy in Spain”. In C. M Dileo (ed.): Music therapy international perspectives ( pp. 534-556). Pennsylvania: Jeffrey Books.
SABBATELLA, P. L. (2004). Music Therapy in Spain. Voices: A World Forum for Music Therapy. Retrieved March 31 2004, from http://www.voices.no/country/monthspain_march2004.html |