彭氏音樂治療中心

　　Being a music lover and a health care worker, music therapy appears to be very tempting at all times. The lack of formal music therapy course and registration in Hong Kong keeps me away from the field for decades. Thanks to the commencement of this Professional certificate course, which provided me a precious opportunity to be exposed to the field and explore more about music therapy. This is a very comprehensive course which comprises of theories and practical components. The final practicum module is especially useful in bridging the learnt theories and practice.

　　Mr. Pang is kind enough to share his professional knowledge and experience with us, who plays the visual recordings of his music therapeutic sessions on children with special needs in class. He also demonstrates different techniques in handling different skills. This is truly beneficial to us, for we can learn by observations in the first place, and internalize what we have seen to generate new music activities which are well-suited to our clients. We can also compare our plans with his, so that we can know what we are deficient in.

　　The interactive mode of teaching and learning makes the class more interesting, and we are able to share our experience and thoughts with on another, in exchange of instant feedback from our teacher. The practical modules, which include guitar and djembe skills, are especially helpful being powerful tools in drawing our targets' attention and concentration.

　　The experience in the practicum is even more fruitful as we can use all we have learnt in the course, and try to apply the theories into practice, adding the component to react spontaneously with regards to the response of our client. It is encouraging to see our client grow and change positively after a few sessions of training held by ourselves. Furthermore, it is surprising that the coordinator of the center of practicum reveals her will in recommending us to be their part-time tutors in therapeutic music activities, disregarding our experience, though subject to approval by their head office.

　　The practicum evaluation session at the beginning of our practicum gives us ample room to improve and the directions given by Mr. Pang enlightened our minds. I very much agree with a comment made by Mr. Pang during the practicum evaluation session that it is worthy to work on musical expressions. Music is a universal language, and is a very impressive weapon in behavioral therapy like ours. Music expressions should be extravagant and attractive enough so that ultimate behavioural changes can be made. Moreover, if we are on our best at each music therapy session, there is nothing to regret. Our client should be able to gain something valuable our of the therapy session, and this is just the same for us.

　　I am a volunteer of a creative music group in Agency for Volunteer Service, targeted on underprivileged children with physical/mental impairment or those coming from a low-income or single family, as well as those new immigrants. The contents of the course equip me to be an all-rounded volunteer, that I become more confident in planning and conducting music activities nowadays. Moreover, I have just discovered that there is a Saturday Service for autistic children in my church. I am thankful for being gifted with the knowledge for serving God and those autistic children and family.

　　After all, this is a very practical course. I would appreciate more if all reading materials can be written in English, or bilingually; as it would be quite difficult for us to relate some learnt English terms with novel Chinese ones in some modules. Further, if the course can be more generally recognized and if it can be converted to a music therapy course of a higher level, this would be even more valuable and attractive to students like myself. Finally, it would be even more appreciative, if working opportunity or research activity to be done in partnership with Pang's Music Therapy Centre can be arranged.