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