Music Therapy. A word that raises many questions in people's minds. Today, we will talk about music therapy with Irena Johanka Savkova, who has been professionally engaged in it for many years. She will also reveal some interesting things we can look forward to at the event Music Making at Holos – Rhythms of the Heart, Rhythms from Within.
Hello, Mrs. Savkova, thank you so much for taking the time for this interview, which concerns not only the upcoming event "Music Making at Holos," but also music therapy in general. First, I would like to ask you this question:
What can a layperson imagine when they hear the term music therapy?
That's actually a very difficult question. Here in our country, the term music therapy is not that well-known. This means that people can imagine that when someone plays the piano, for example, serious music, music therapy is taking place, or when they listen to relaxing music on YouTube, lie down, and relax in this way, music therapy is taking place. So, regarding the concept of music therapy, I think that this term is not well-established here.
And how did you get into music therapy in the first place?
I used to do drum circles for corporate drumming about ten years ago. This means that I traveled with 40 to 50 drums to different organizations and companies where I performed drum circles with the aim of connecting people, removing communication barriers, promoting creativity, and encouraging teamwork. I also worked with individuals who had difficulties or disabilities, and I realized that I had limitations with drum circles, especially with individuals who were lying down. So, I searched for another technique to use music therapy with individuals who had severe disabilities or who were in palliative care. By chance, I was invited as an honorary guest to a weekend workshop by Dr. Lubomir Holzer, who developed a method of holistic music therapy and teaches it at the University of Olomouc. After completing the workshop, I decided that this was exactly what I needed, especially for users who were lying down. So, I completed a specialization program in Olomouc, which had three semesters of basic education and then an additional second level.
Therefore, I have completed six semesters of holistic music therapy at the University of Olomouc. I work with children, from the age of three to adulthood, who have severe combined disabilities, and drum circle was not a technique that I could use with them. I did not know how to activate these children with the most severe combined disabilities using this technique.
Thank you very much for sharing your journey. Now, I would like to move on to the event called "Music Making at Holos". Is it an event only for experienced musicians or can someone who is musically inexperienced also attend?
"Music Making at Holos" is a weekend experiential program held in a beautiful environment full of energy. It allows people to be with themselves and try out all the instruments. Participants definitely don't need to own any musical instrument, have musical talent, or have studied at an art school. The program is designed for everyone who would like to work with rhythm. I won't say "music" because we focus more on rhythm.
And how will the seminar actually proceed? What can we look forward to?
It will proceed in a way that I will bring instruments – djembes, percussion instruments, didgeridoos, as well as Tibetan singing bowls and gongs for the weekend. The first part is called active holistic music therapy, where people sit in a circle and play djembes together. Participants will learn the basic three beats and use them to create rhythms. So we use the djembes, then we involve percussion instruments and we will create a so-called music therapy orchestra. Another big part will be called receptive music therapy, where participants will lie on mattresses and only perceive the sounds that come to them. I will play various instruments for us for about an hour or an hour and a half. That means they let themselves be carried away by the rhythms and vibrations of individual instruments. That's roughly how Making Music at Holos will proceed. So in no way do you have to worry if you don't play any instrument and everyone has always told you that you can't sing because it's unbearable to listen to. Here, people will sing or rather rhythmize, use their voice, because the voice is an amazing instrument that we have within us and it's a shame not to use it for our own healing purposes.
And the last question – what will a participant of such a seminar take with them in the following weeks or months?
So far, all the people who have been to "Music Making at Holos" have enjoyed this weekend seminar immensely. They have let go of all their worries and devoted themselves purely to playing instruments. They have relaxed and taken away beautiful experiences from music therapy. And they will last for a very long time. A long time. A month. Two months. Three months. Participants take away the experience and positive energy. Some of them get rid of a cold, for example, because we will practically be playing instruments that transmit vibrations. We use ethnic instruments that are not tempered, which means they are not artificial. And such instruments actually have a healing effect on the body, vibrating all the cavities. So if there is anything stuck there, it will be released. At most, participants may leave with some stress, blocks, or a cold. So participants don't take away anything bad, rather they take away this positive experience and cleansing of the body.
Thank you very much for your time and your answers, Mrs. Savkova, and we look forward to the event under your leadership.
Are you interested in the topic of music therapy and its healing effects? Do you want to play unconventional instruments and try out vibrational massages? Would you like to relax to the sound of live music? Join us for "Music Making at Holos". You can find the registration form at the following link:
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