New ideas for the future: palliative care and music

Last week "Old music" together with the outaptient clinic organized meetings with the doctors and nurses from Alytus city. Medical doctors from Vilnius were invited to Alytus. Dr. Adele Dimsiene and Aldona Vilkeliene gave presentations about the project "Sing, smooth and smile" and their work at the hospital.

Project meeting. Vienna 17-23th , November, 2008.

Project meeting. Vienna 17-23th , November, 2008.

Project meeting
Vienna
17-23 th of November, 2008
HOST of the meeting : dr. Gerhard Tucek, Institute of Ethno music therapy, Austria , Asim Al Chalabi, Christina Tucek, Gerhard Bujak, Alfred Lohninger
PARTICIPANTS
Coordinator: Old music (Lithuania): Aldona Vilkeliene, Giedre Simanaviciene, Adele Dimsiene, Ceslova Moceviciene, Alis Kruvelis , Audrone Venckuniene.
Partner institution: AEOLIS (Greece), Stratonici Kardakari, Christos Sotiropoulos, Georgios Michalellis, Charalampos Petrelis , Myrsini Tourvali .

Meeting minutes
November, 17
Partners arrival, meeting at the congress Mozart and science. 15.00- 18.00 S.Kardakari participates at the congress: listening to the presentations, preparing stand material, sharing project material for the visitors.
November, 18.
14.00
Lithuanian partners arrival. Settling at the hotel Lehrerhausverein.
14.30 – 15.00. Introduction. G.Tucek, Institute of Ethno- Music –Therapy (Austria).
15.00 – 18.00. Presentation at the congress Mozart and science. Presentation “ Psichosocial effect of performing ethnic group songs sutartines”. (A.Vilkeliene, Lithuania)
16.00 -16.45. Common ground in special education – national traditions and values. C.Moceviciene. Alytus city municipality. (Lithuania). Practical activities at the congress during stand presentation – performing ethnic songs, project material dissemination, sharing project experience (all partners).
16.45-17.00. Coffee break.
17.00 – 17.45. Education based on the history and traditions – humanistic education. S.Kardakari (Greece)
19.00- 21.30 Visit to the Vienna Philharmonic.

November, 19.
Congress “Mozart and science” (all partners).
9.00 – 11.30. Chronobiology and human health. dr. A.Lohninger, Autonomic health clinic. (Austria).
11.45 – 13.30. Music and healing. Case studies. Practical examples. Partners discussion.
13.30 – 14.30. Lunch.
14.30 -18.30. Sociocultural activities. Visit to the Beethoven’s, Mozart’s museum.
19.00 – 20.00 Dinner
20.00 -22.00. Project meeting. Discussion about the next meetings in Lithuania, Austria and Greece.
Next meeting was planned in 7th of May (in Austria – staff echanges), 29th of May (in Lithuania – project meeting, project book presentation, dissemination), 21th of July (project meeting on Greece – book presentation, dissemination).
November, 20.
Meeting in Gfoehl (Institute of Ethno music therapy). Meeting with the Mayor
Seminar “Different countries and special education – arts are our common ground”
11.00 – 12.00. Meeting with the Mayer of Gfoehl and municipality officers. Project “Sing, smooth and smile” presenation. All partners present their culture and traditional songs.
12.00 -12.45 Interdiciplinary research on the effects and the experience of music. G.Tucek, Institute of Ethno music therapy
12.45 -13.30 – meeting at the local music school. Discussion about music education, special artistic education and integration.
13.30 – 14.30 Lunch.
14.30 -16.00 Meeting with the disabled. Exhibition. Discussion about social integration and arts in Lower Austria. (All partners).
16.00- 16.30. Local community in the context of the social integration: Lithuanian practice.C.Moceviciene, Alytus city municipality (Lithuania)
16.30 – 18.00 Visit at the Krems University. Discussion about music therapy programme (Ch.Tucek, all partners)

November, 21.
Seminar “Different countries and special education – arts are our common ground” Monitoring and evaluation.
9.00 -10.00. Traditional music instruments in the process of the special education – conclusions. G.Tucek.
10.00 – 11.30. Project plans – sharing duties for all countries. G. Tucek, , Ch.Sotiropoulos, A. Vilkelienė, G.Simanaviciene.
Austria is responsible for the project brochure (layout)
Greece is responsible for the international research (questionnaire results)
Lithuania is responsible for the blog and next meeting in Lithuania.

11.30 -13.00 Lithuanian partners departure.
14.00 -16.00 Greece partners prepare questionnaire results for all countries and analyse differences and common ground.
16.00 -18.00 Sociocultural activities. Visit to Music instrument museum.
November 22

9.00 -11.30 . Practical activities for Greece and Austrian staff.. Oriental traditions in a music therapy. Al Calabi Azim. Institute of Ethno music therapy
11.30 -13.00. Music for stimulating. Greek rhythms and their use in a social environment. C. Sotiropoulos, N. Kardakari.
13.00 -14.00. Lunch.
14.00 -16.30. Project monitoring and evaluation. Partners were asked to present their positive experience in Vienna showing very concrete examples of activities. Project report.
16.30 -18.00 Sociocultural activities. Visit at the opera house.
November, 23.Greek partners departure.

Staff exchane (Austria - Lithuania)

PROJECT “SING, SMOOTH AND SMILE” STAFF EXCHANGE 2008 08 10-13, Alytus
Hosting institution: Association ensemble Old music, Alytus, Sporto 12
Participants: coordinator Aldona Vilkeliene, Giedre Simanaviciene, Audrone Venckuniene, Rita Balsyte, Alis Kruvelis, Rasa Urboniene (Lithuania)
Partners: dr. G.Tucek, I.Stiglmair, M.Sobotka (Austria)
Main and most important activities
Project meeting: monitoring,programme, planns for the future.
Visit to Alytus outpatient clinic. Music therapy with the handicapped. Aldona Vilkeliene and Rita Balsyte worked with the handicapped boy. They used traditional music and instruments. Lithuanian games “Katinas ant peciaus”, sutartine “Rygailio rygailio” and others were presented. Disabled youg boy played the kankles and improvised. Music therapy session was under supervision of Austrian partners.
Meeting with the relatives (mother and grandmother) of the disabled. Both mother and grandmother explained their expectations concerning boy’s behavior and mood. Dr.G.Tucek explained basics of music therapy session and reveald the role of the realtives in this context.
Outpatien clinic. Analysis of videotaped material. Disucussions. Dr. Aldona Vilkeliene has demonstrated video material from the first and second music therapy session and compared it with the 6th music therapy session results. I.Stiglmair and M.Sobotka gave their remarks about traditional music, grendmother’s behaviour. Dr.G.Tucek analysed role of the co-therapist in the session.
Music therapy at Alytus hospital. Discussion with the doctors, creating work and therapy atmosphere. Austrian partners were introduced to the staff of the neurorehabilitation centre and doctor Dina Peciuliene. All participants discussed situation concerning patients deseases.2 cases were chosen – individual and group.
Music therapy with the stroke patient. Aldona Vilkeliene, Iris Stiglmair and Marlies Sobotka worked with the stroke patient. Traditional music, kankles, rebab and water procedures were used during the session. Dr. G.Tucek gave methodical remarks.
Music therapy with the stroke patients group. Both Lithuanian and Austrian partners worked in a group. Traditional Lithuanian songs and instruments, also Orf instruments , Oriental music instruments were used. Doctors and nurses noticed very important changes in their patients behaviour. For exmple, women, who did not want to communicate, began to sing solo in front of all the group participants.
Discussion and analysis of the music therapy session at the hospital. The learners: doctors, psychologist and kinesytherapeut, also nurses discussed with the project participants about all possible alteranitive methods in the health care.
Project meeting workshop: history and results, plans for the next meeting. Project staff prepared training modules for learners and discussed theoretical and practical aspects of music therapy.
Visit at Alytus medical rehabilitation and sports centre. Meeting with the director and project learner dr. J.Jakutis. Director was speaking about structures and patients. He emphasized, that music activities organized in the frame of the project “Sing, smooth and smile” revealed very important changes in the patient’s behaviour and mood
Music activities with the geriatric patients. Traditional songs were sang in the geriatric group. They played the kankles, drums and pipes. The geriatric patients sang several traditional songs by themselves solo.
Individual music therapy session. Meeting with the patient and discussion. Man with the complex disability and paralytic was painting and listening to the music. Dr.G.Tucek talked with him about his life, experience and expectations. Project participants communicated with the patients.
Lunch
Seminar discussion with the project SSS learners and staff. Dr.A.Vilkeliene and dr.G.Tucek gave a lecture for the learners and answered their questions about music therapy.
Analysis of the questionnaires. Writing project meeting report.
Discussions with the project staff about ethnic music and music therapy.
Preparation for the project results dissemination: material for the web site (blog), and material for the article in the local press.

Project meeting and documentation. Finishing project meeting report.Sharing project activities.

Meeting in Greece, June

Project meeting: 2008,15th - 20 th of June.
Participants:
I.Georgiadou, S.Kardakari, Ch.Sotiropoulos, AEOLIS, Greece, hosting organization.
G.Tucek, Al Calabi Azim Institute of Ethno music therapy, Austria, partners.
G.Simanaviciene, A.Vilkeliene, Ensemble "Old music", Lithuania, coordinators.
Main and most important activities:
Introducing to the Greek history - Acropolis, Museum of Greek folk instruments
Partners share their experience in the project "Sing,smooth and smile". Introducing to the Lesvos island history and traditions. Meeting with the local community members.I Georgiadaou, A.Vilkeliene.
Greek language lessons.Culture lesson.I.Georgiadou, AEOLIS.
Seminar for local community,music teachers "Therapeutic impact of traditional music". dr. G.Tucek, Al Calabi Azim (Austria).
Visit to KYPSELI NGO. Meeting with the disabled and their educators. Concert. Discussions with the teachers and managers, practical activities with the disabled.
Meeting with the local community Paggeragotikos association (Lesvos). Sharing repertoire, teaching learners lithuanian songs, discussion.
Project meeting activities - questionnairies, planning project actions, monitoring and evaluation.
Meeting with the Plomary local community. Bizantian chants as the cultural fenomen in Lesvos. Concert.
Lullabies and traditional children songs and games. Meeting with the autor of book about children's games. Practical activities with the adults and children.

Project meeting in Greece (Lesvos)

The second project meeting - staff exchange 16-19 of May

Meeting programme

16, May - visit to Trakai, Healthy and medicine centre. Meeting with the doc. dr. L. Navickiene. Discussion about music for pregnant women, possibility to integrate arts in order to make people feel better and improve their health .

The partners have decided to organize last project meeting -the international conference. Possibility to establish association of integrated arts therapy was discussed.

17, May -meeting with the project staff. Project plan for the next meeting in Lesvos was developed.

18, May - Project staff from Austria, dr. G.Tucek and A. Lohninger gave a seminar for the medical doctors and music teachers at Alytus hospital. The participants have learnt about music therapy and possibility to measure it's impact on a human's emotions and health state.

Dr. G.Tucek gave an information about some Oriental instruments (Oud, sura, kabak keman) and their tuning. Dr. A. Lohninger made measurements during this musical activities and analyzed the results.

Project partners developed project monitoring and evaluation, they filled the questionnaires.

19, May -partners departure

First meeting report

LLL Grundtvig Learning Partnership
SING, SMOOTHE AND SMILE
PROJECT MEETING RESULTS
9-13 April, 2008 Lithuania, Association Old music

1. Monitoring project development
Staff meeting in Vilnius and Alytus. Participants : Aldona Vilkeliene (Lithuania), Giedre Simanaviciene (Lithuania), Audrone Venckuniene (Lithuania), Ifigenia Georgiadou, Christos Sotiropoulos, Kardakari Stratoniki, George Gioltzoglou, Emannuel Tzanetos – AEOLIS, Greece, discussed about plans for the project. Gerhard Tucek (Austria) participated virtually - via e mail. The main topics were getting to know the partners and the development of the project. The representatives of the various institutions introduced themselves and presented their scope of work.Dr. Aldona Vilkeliene, the head of the association “Old music”and coordinator G.Simanaviciene (Lithuania), gave an overview on main activity areas at the Vilnius Pedagogical University, Alytus local community with Association Old music and Alytus music school vand the activities of the project Sing, smooth and smile. The therapeutic impact of ethno arts was emphasized. Ifigenia Georgiadous introduced the organisation AEOLIS and the specific of Lesvos island and greek culture.
Gerhard Tucek, head of the Institute for Ethno-Music-Therapy, who could not participate because of his illness presented the activities and ideas of his institute via e mail.The work with ethno music and language and its therapeutic use was chosen as the topic of the first project year.
Products were created:
analysis of lecture about lithuanian traditional songs and discussion with prof. etnologist Marija Baltreniene (video material, photos and pictures)
conference "Artistic education problems: stiuation and analysis" -the conference material ( abstracts)
practical seminar with the learners ( songs and games, reopertoire sheets, video material)
blog http://www.singsmootheandsmile.com/
local TV presentation (video material)
Article in the local press ("International experience you can learn without leaving your home" Aldona Vilkeliene. Alytaus naujienos. 2008.04.18.)
2. Project evaluation
Comparative analysis was carried out. All countries participants are very different in their experience in the music therapy. Greece has experience in the culture and arts education, greek language training. There are a lot of refugees from Orient countries in the Lesvos island. Tolerance and help for different cultures and local community groups can be developed here. Austria is highly experienced in an ethnomusic therapy, they can demonstrate methods. Lithuania only begins to find some ways between special pedagogy and music therapy using ethno music, but they are experienced in special artistic education of the disabled. It is possible to integrate people with disabilities, consolidate young families and develop traditional music in the project activities.
The content of the project repertoire was analyzed, target groups were chosen. Greece decided to work with the ethno arts, collect ethno songs and rhythms and to use it in a family and with the social workers, teachers and psychologists working with the disabled and refugees. Austria was introduced with their last year project “Healing yarns of music notes” work results. They decided to work on the ethno therapy
Work plan
According to the projects work plan the following tasks should be done by the end of the second project meeting:
To create logo for the project “Sing smooth and smile” - responsible Greece.
To create the blog for the project “Sing, smooth and smile” – all partners
To find repertoire appropriate for all partners using ethni musicfor therapy (songs, lullabies, tales, games, playing instruments) – all partners
To organize staff for teaching Lithuanian and Greek learners for oriental ethnomusic therapy (practical activities) - Austria
to create questionnaire for the learners– Lithuania and Greece
To share methods how to work with the disabled, refugees and people with different illnesses using ethno music (theoretical approach) – responsible Austria
To prepare teaching material for the next meeting seminar – all partners
3. Dissemination of the project results in all the participating countries
To create the blog of the project and administrate it– Lithuania, Greece
To write articles in a press or local TV –Lithuania, Greece, Austria
To collect 1 part of the material for the brochure – all partners.

According to the projects work plan the following tasks should be done by the end of the project period
Our final product – small brochure (printed or in digital version) about ethno music therapy, to involve as many people in all countries participants as possible.
To collect material for the semi final and final project report.
RESPONSIBLE: all partners
ACTIVITY TO BE COMPLETED BY 30 MAY

Association ensemble Old music Aldona Vilkeliene
project coordinator Giedre Simanaviciene

First project meeting results

April 10-13 project meeting events were very important for partners and local community. Project ideas were disseminated at Vilnius pedagogical university, discussed with the lecturers and students.

(left) Meeting at Vilnius pedagogical university. Prof. Marija Baltreniene demonstrates an old traditional instruments - ragai for AEOLIS (Greece) partners Ifigenia Georgiadou, Stratoniki Kardakari and others.


(right)
Meeting with the project "Sing, smoth and smile" learners. Association ensemble Old music in cooperation with Alytus music school and AEOLIS have organized practical seminar and concert. Lithuanian and Greek songs and games were performed and learnt.

International conference "Artistic educations: situation and analysis" was organized at Alytus music school. AEOLIS partners (Ifigenia Georgiadou, Christos Sotiropoulos, Stratoniki Kardakari, Emmanouil Tzanetos, George Gioltzoglou), association ensemble Old music and Lithuanian history and music teachers Aldona Vilkeliene, Audrone Venckuniene, Giedre Simanaviciene and pther music teachers from Alytus music school and Alytus district took part at the conference and gave their presentations.

First project meeting in Lithuania, 2008-04-09-13.

09.04. AEOLIS (Greece) partners arrival
10.04. Meeting at Vilnius pedagogical university with ethnologist prof.M.Baltreniene and learners. Project discussions.
11.04. Meeting with learners. Conference - seminar in Alytus. Cultural events.
12.04. Meeting with learners. Practical activities with families. Alytus. Project evaluation and monitoring.
13.04. Partners departure.

Partners

Lithuania. Alytus. Association Ensemble Old music. This organization has never asked and never got European support before. It works on a voluntary activities and a private support. The Association was established in 2000. There are experienced teachers participating at the organization: music and Lithuanian history teachers, disabled- the formers from Alytus music school and their parents, local community members. They play traditional Lithuanian instruments, sing national songs. Ensemble “ Old music” takes part in a local community events – songs festivals, song contest of disabled people. There are some musicians who participate in a research study (head of “Old music” is a doctor of social sciences) and projects with other educational organizations. For example: municipality project “ Our region – culture and traditions” ( together with Alytus Ramanausko Vanago secondary school); “ Chanting Lithuanian songs “sutartines” (together with association of scientists “Vizija”.) The proposal for International conference of the Humanities in 2005 in Cambridge was illustrated by activity recorded with ensemble “Old music”. Musical activity of the disabled participating in such activity was described in a book (A.Vilkeliene. Exceptional children and their integration in a process of the musical education, Vilnius, 2003), in a local newspaper Alytaus naujienos (2004, 2005).

Austria. The Institute for Ethno-Music-Therapy was established as a cultural institute with the objective of uncovering and preserving the therapeutic potential of music from different cultures and making it accessible to the public. The institute is co-founder of "IMARAA" (International Music and Art Research Association Austria), a collaboration of universities and institutes dedicated to coordinating research on the effects of art in Austria. The institute looks back on 15 years of work and experience with Ancient Oriental Music Therapy in areas of intercultural exchange & cultural transfer of music therapy theory, as well as clinical practice and research. A continuous, close integration of practice, research and theory ensures that the knowledge conveyed is up to date. Activities of insitute are: taking a respoinsible approach to therapeutic concepts from countries outside Europe, organising scientific lectures, seminars,conferences, music lessons, political activities linked with the profession of music therapy, contemporary handling of tradituion. Institute of Ethnomusic therapy works with the disabled and use ethno music. There are students and researches at the Institute. They organize seminars, conferences about oriental music, folk austrian music ant its use for the health. Head of the institute dr.G.Tucek published a lot of articles about ethno arts (Music) and it’s use for the health. Institute of Ethnimusic therapy had participated in a Socrates Grundtvig project “Healing yarns of music notes” and others. They are experienced in a folk arts and therapy. AEOLIS-Cultural Development Society of Lesvos Island develops cultural activities and initiatives in Lesvos since June 2006. Its aim is to sensitize and mobilize the citizens of Lesvos towards developing and promoting the Greek culture worldwide, as well as promoting the value of cooperation amongst persons and countries through the exchange of cultural elements, cultural production and the preservation of the natural environment of the island and the area of the Aegean Sea. More specifically, the organization aims at: promoting Lesvos’s culture, indigenous artists, and generally promoting the cultural as well as the natural quality of the island; bringing different cultures in contact with each other, mobilizing the citizens of Lesvos, the mass media and the general social environment, towards actions concerning the preservation of the Greek cultural tradition and of the natural environment of Greece and of Lesvos in particular; Creating to the visitors and foreign inhabitants of our country positive feelings towards Greece, and supporting the Greeks living abroad by any possible means; promoting the Greek language, Ancient Greek as well as Modern Greek, and supporting all those who teach Greek as a second or foreign language.
- Developing a spirit of cooperation amongst institutions, in the national as well as the international level, a network which take action in the fields of the arts, languages, peace, environmental protection and sustainable development. AEOLIS organizes cultural activities, develops actions in the field of cultural tourism, organizes theatre and cinema shows, music events, cultural visits and excursions, workshops and conferences which aim at informing and sensitizing the citizens on Greek language and art, the natural environment and the global cultural heritage

Project aims

The aims are:
to share intercultural experience how to teach young people to communicate with children, using old traditional arts ( lullabies, tales, dance rhythms) and apply their knowledge to elderly people (to sing together with the elderly).
To find the best solution how to use old traditional music for disabled or people with mentally illnesses. This kind of music should calm them and increase a good mood.
to involve young mothers and mothers in the future into new activity – learning to communicate with the child singing lullabies, kid’s songs, playing traditional rhythms.
to increase local community group’s interest in traditional music and to increase their motivation to save national tradition
to create new methods – ethno therapy use for family members, disabled and elderly people.to learn foreign language, to gain basic skills of communicating in English. Children’s songs are very simple and it is easy to learn it in foreign language

Project "Sing, smooth and smile" description

We have partners from European countries which have an old tradition living in EU. Sometimes they feel themselves more European identity than their national identity. Therefore searching old melodies, customs and comparing it with nowadays life can reveal what are we lack for – national identity and self confidence.
Young mothers, parents in modern countries are super civilized - they don’t sing lullabies for their babies, don’t have a good experience how to tell old tales or don’t play small games with kids. The same phenomenon is felt is Lithuania. Ethnic arts are explored very wide in Turkey. Thanks our project we will be able to learn tales, lullabies, compare it with other countries participants and will publish book and create website about oldest songs – lullabies, children’s songs. We will explore the therapeutic impact of lullabies and old songs on a person’s emotional state and health, because we will sing it for the elderly, for the disabled and parents of the disabled. We will gather repertoire from the countries participants and spread it when teaching young parents. Some lullabies and kid’s games will be taught in their national languages – this way and repertoire is easy for the language learning.
After we learn different lullabies, songs and small tales we will go to the elderly home or clinic and sing it. It will help to improve mood and make feel better disabled or people with illnesses.