Marco Zanolini
Musicoterapeuta e musicista
Musictherapist & musician
Projects
"Step after step, note after note," is the title of a show based on dance, music and words (Sunday, September 20th .2009 RSA S. Francesco, Residenza Angelina and Angelo Pozzoli) The initiative is the contribution that the structure intended to provide on the XVI World Alzheimer's Day, established by the World Health Organization and by Alzheimer's Disease International to create public awareness about the disease, which affects 520,000 people only in Italy. This number is unfortunately destined to increase, with an incidence of 80,000 new cases every year.
Educating, training and raising awareness are the commitments that the "S.Francesco" has made and fulfilled since 2003, focusing the attention of the studies on the importance of non-verbal communication in dementia, the role of artistic expressions, and the use of the body to estabilish a contact with the world. Dr. Rosalia Rigo, medical director of the Residenza, gave a talk about movement in the elderly affected by dementia. followed by a show of contemporary dance, music and reading, with performances by Daniela Macchi, dancer and choreographer, Marco Zanolini, musician and music therapist and Paola Azzimonti, animator. Movement is joy, life and dance: it uses the body as an instrument, it is one of the greatest expressions of life, as well as the most ancient form of artistic expression.
Three common models
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Music therapy is a technique based on a psychodynamic approach. The music therapist grasps the sound-musical elements (either conscious or not) of the patient, expressed through instruments, voice or body and reproduces them to get in touch with the patient.
The music therapy intervention is performed in accordance with the demands and needs of the patient. It is non-invasive, and has no specific or special contraindication. The model for the psychodynamic approach (mostly for the methodological aspects) is based on the theories of R.O. Benenzon.
During the sessions, the music therapist helps the subject/s improve the quality of social interaction and communication, trying to build up a kind of non-verbal communication based on music and sounds. This is due to a recognition of the self and of the self in relationship with the other, which brings significant impact on the overall quality of life.
- Individual Intervention
Thanks to this kind of intervention, the music therapist tries to establish an optimal relationship with the patient allowing him to reach out all or part of the goals he has set during the very first sessions. These objectives are then proposed and discussed with those who have requested this type of intervention and the therapists who are already working with the patient.
- Group intervention.
As a group, the relationship is more complex; not the music therapist, but also the various participants need to come in contact with different sound and musical identities. The therapist can thus set common or complementary objectives among the different participants in the group.
- Music laboratory .
This last type of intervention has no therapeutic features. It can become part of a larger project developed and managed by a music therapist together with the team.
The models mentioned above are considered as standard. Anyway, it is possible to plan a path suitable for every single patient, offering a unique programme.
FIELDS OF APPLICATION:
infantile autism
mental retardation
disabilities
Alzheimer's disease and other dementias
depression
psychosis
mood disorders
somatoform disorders (especially chronic pain syndromes)
eating disorders (anorexia nervosa)
pregnancy
stress
Music & pregnancy
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Music and music therapy for pregnant women, offers women an opportunity for greater harmonization with their own inner world, trying to improve relationship and communication, which are natural processes not so obvious in their quality.
The therapist will try to "distance" every mother from her certainties , proposing alternative routes accompanied by the world of sounds in order to find new strategies for spatial, temporal and relational adaptation suitable for herself , for the birth and the growth of the child.