MUSIC AND ART IN THERAPY
How can art and its various areas, such as music, painting, dance and movement, positively affect our body and mind, and how can they accelerate the processes of auditory and general development rehabilitation? We will find answers to these questions during specialists’ workshops that will take place as part of the 9th edition of the “Beats of Cochlea” Festival. The “Music and Art in Therapy” meeting will be conducted by excellent therapists from various parts of Poland. Workshop activities are intended mainly for patients with hearing impairments. This year, every age group will have a suitable program for themselves. According to the Home Clinic of Music Therapy created at the World Hearing Center, the workshop for the youngest participants will be led by music therapists from the Music Therapy Team of the Institute of Physiology and Pathology of Hearing.
The workshop for teenagers will include creative writing and creating a song. The theme of the song and the musical structure will be dictated by the needs and ideas of the group. The leaders hope that creating a complete piece during a short session will give the participants a sense of agency, trigger their sense of empowerment and creativity, contribute to integration and be an occasion to just have fun. The movement workshop will also be engaging, especially for teenagers and adults. Over the past century, technological advances have driven us “away” from our bodies. We lose the ability to pay attention to what signals from our senses. Body movements stimulated by music will become a tool of expression focusing on motor skills and eye-hand coordination. Music is supposed to help in the rhythm and dynamics of movements, build the right mood for the meeting, and trigger positive emotions. When it comes to art therapy, the mirror and the image reflected in it will help us search for answers. The last workshop will be on social skills and bonding. The class participants will have an opportunity to create a musical band. A wide selection of instruments and musical styles will allow you to find your own way to join the fun by singing, playing instruments or dancing.
Workshops are open to various age groups, including people with disabilities. Regardless of musical experience, age or ability, each person can become part of the “community”.
Workshop program
ROOM K2
10:00 – 11:00 – Music therapy according to the Home Clinic of Music Therapy of the World Hearing Center for children with hearing impairments
Instructors: Barbara Kaczyńska, Aleksandra Bykowska
During the workshop, children will participate in music therapy classes conducted per the guidelines of the Music in Human Auditory Development program. Exercises and music used during the exercises will come from the Home Clinic of Music Therapy manual prepared by the Music Therapy team of the World Hearing Center. The exercises are intended mainly for working with patients with hearing impairments.
11:15 – 12:00 – Senses Moved by Music
Instructor: Dr. Magdalena Owczarek
Over the past century, technology has taken us farther away from our bodies. We lose the ability to pay attention to what we feel. Body movements stimulated by music will become a tool of expression focusing on motor skills and eye-hand coordination. The music is supposed to help in the rhythm and dynamics of movements, build the right mood for the meeting, and trigger positive emotions.
12:15 – 13:15 – A song is good for all – songwriting in a general development and therapeutic context
Instructors: prof. Ludwika Konieczna-Nowak, Anna Konopacka
Participants can participate in the creative process of writing a short song during the workshop meeting. Its theme and musical structure will be dictated by the needs and ideas of the group. The leaders hope that creating a complete piece during a short session will give the participants a sense of empowerment, activate their creative resources, contribute to integration and be an opportunity to have fun.
13:15 – 14:00 – Break
14:00 – 15:00 – A mirror is good for all
Instructor: prof. Wiesław Karolak
Mirror – a mirror is a smooth surface reflecting light, creating a reflected image of objects before the mirror. It symbolizes the world, sky, sun, fire, and flame. Additional materials during the workshop will include mirrors, pastels, and cardboard. Participants will work in pairs.
ATRIUM
16:30 – 17:30 – Common note – let’s create a team!
Instructor: Dominika Dopierała
Workshops will be an opportunity to create a musical band. The variety of musical styles will allow each participant to find their own way to join the band – by playing instruments (a wide selection), singing or dancing. Workshops are open to various age groups, including people with disabilities. Regardless of musical experience, age or area of fitness, each person can become part of “Common note”.
Dominika Dopierała
Musician and certified music therapist. A graduate of BA studies in piano at the Royal College of Music and MA studies at the Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy Center in London. After returning to Poland, she joined the Academy of Music in Katowice for three years – she taught classes at the Department of Music Therapy. She is the author of publications in music therapy, conducting training and supervision for musicians, music therapists and specialists in related fields. For 10 years, Dominika has been gaining experience in music therapy work with various social and age groups: people with disabilities, people with refugee experience and adults in mental health and homelessness crises. He creates music bands in one of Poznań’s children’s homes. In 2016, Dominika established the Nordoff Robbins Polska Foundation, which supports the development of music therapy in Poland. As part of the Foundation, she conducts open music sessions, an opportunity for unrelated social groups to meet. The purpose of sessions conducted in public spaces is to build a sense of bond among local communities.
Prof. Wiesław Karolak
He expanded his artistic studies with studies of selected issues in the developmental psychology of children and adolescents and studies in the field of pedagogy. They define the type of his professional activity: from pedagogical work, through artistic activities carried out with children, youth, with people with special needs, to his own artistic statements. Its activities include realizations in art media (art objects, happenings, performances, action arts, mail art, artistic workshops, theatre and film), exhibitions in galleries, museums, art centres, and universities in Poland and abroad. Author of several dozen large events and artistic projects, including UPCYKLING and LAND ART. (2011), FLOOR (2010), LADDER (2009), PYRAMID (2007), FEAST at Pink House (2006), ANIMUS and ANIMA and PYRAMID OF POSITIVE THOUGHTS (2005).
Author of over 20 books. Creator and head of the International Institute of Education through Art at the Academy of Humanities and Economics in Łódź (2001–2011), creator of the program and head of the Department of Art Therapy at the University of Humanities and Economics in Łódź (2000), founder of the Art Therapy Study (together with the Medical Academy in Łódź and the Erickson Institute in Łódź, 1999).
He was the chairman of the Polish Committee of InSEA (International Association of Education through Art, affiliated with UNESCO) for many years. Member of the Board of European and global InSEA. For many years, vice-president of the Association of Polish Art Therapists KAJROS.
He received several awards and distinctions in many national and international competitions. In addition, he was awarded The Gold Cross of Merit of the President of the Republic of Poland and the Gold Medal of the President of the Republic of Poland for long-term service. He received the Prime Minister’s Award for his work for children and youth. He is a Doctor honoris causa of the University of Bielefeld.
Prof. Ludwika Konieczna-Nowak
Head of the Department of Music Therapy at the Karol Szymanowski Academy of Music Karol Szymanowski in Katowice, vice-president of the Polish Association of Music Therapists. Music therapist in care and educational institutions. A graduate of the Academy of Music. Karol Szymanowski in Katowice (theory of music). She completed post-graduate studies in music therapy at the Academy of Music in Wrocław. Within the speciality, she also studied at the School of Music of the University of Louisville (Kentucky, USA). She received her doctoral degree in 2012 at the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music in Warsaw and her habilitation – in 2019 at the Karol Szymanowski Academy of Music in Katowice.
She participates in conferences in Poland and abroad, authorizes many articles in international scientific journals, and is an editor and author of monographs and book publications. Until 2018, she was the editor-in-chief of the Polish Music Therapy Magazine.
Anna Konopacka
She is a certified music therapist and a graduate of the Karol Szymanowski Academy of Music in Katowice, where he currently holds the position of an assistant at the Department of Music Therapy. She works as a music therapist with children with hearing impairments and intellectual disabilities in Special Schools Complex No. 42 in Zabrze.
Dr. Magdalena Owczarek
She conducts artistic works with music, movement and performative actions. Assistant professor at the Academy of Music in Łódź, lecturer at the Institute of Rhythmics, Therapy and Music Education, and directs the Department of Rhythmics and Piano Improvisation work. Her teaching achievements also include cooperation with the Faculty of Military Medicine of the Medical University of Łódź and the Faculty of Art of the Jan Długosz University in Częstochowa and the Faculty of Art of the University of Technology and Humanities in Radom. She teaches at the Secondary Music School in Częstochowa.
The artistic output of Dr. Magdalena Owczarek includes concerts of piano improvisations, movement interpretations and choreographies of over 140 pieces of music from various eras, presented in Poland and abroad. She authorizes a series of musical and movement performances Pars pro toto. Film recordings of the etudes are available on the YouTube channel (www.youtube.com/@laplamur5974, www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RxaXV7ZOjc, www.youtube.com/watch?v=djkfmm6xL7M).
Her scientific achievements include publications, editorial works in the publishing houses of the Academy of Music, reviews and papers presented at Polish and international conferences, also presenting her artistic output. Dr. Magdalena Owczarek conducted international and national artistic workshops, methodological workshops, and workshops for students of the University of the Third Age, for students of music schools and for youth from amateur theatres.
