Ferrara tour! A special tour for many of us. Besides a beautiful Beethoven 3 and Brahms Piano Concerto no. 2 with David Afkham and soloist Nino Gvetadze, there were many members with extra activities: chamber music coaching, individual lessons with students from the Ferrara music conservatory and a course in music therapy with sessions to post coma patients through music therapy.
The music therapy was what I did, with Geoffroy Schied and Olivier Patey. The course and the sessions took place at San Giorgio Hospital in Ferrara. This hospital is well known throughout Italy and has mainly patients from post coma but in a vegetative state. They have had an accident which caused traumatic brain injuries or they have had a stroke, an infection or a tumour which causes non-traumatic brain injuries. The symptoms are: language disturbance (aphasia) and low awareness state (vegetative state).
The first day we got a lot of information from the two music therapists (Lucia and Michele) who work there. A little background information about the hospital, the various states in which the patients are and a few sample movies that explain a bit how the therapists work. In the afternoon we also spoke with two mothers of patients about the impact of the whole situation on the family and basically their whole lives.
This day had a big impact on me. I've thought a lot about life and what your life is worth to yourself and your family if you are in this vegetative state of being in which I have seen many patients. But our task is to see what we can add (and whether we can add) to make life more comfortable for the patients and their families. I saw in the preview videos that music can mean a lot for family and patients. It's amazing to see what Michele and Lucia have already reached with music therapy with a lot of patience (sometimes years).
My husband Richard and our daughter Tamar were also in Ferrara. Tamar had autumn holiday. We always feel very much at home in Ferrara. Tamar has been joining me in Ferrara already since she was 3 months! It's nice to have your family with you on tour especially after such intensive days, it is a welcome distraction.
The sessions We arrived at the hospital and went to the music therapy room. Immediately after we went to get the patient. He was ready, waiting in his wheelchair. He is 62 years and has had a scooter accident resulting in traumatic brain injuries. He can't speak or move but only look into the eyes. His attention is divided. Machines went with him to test the oxygen in the blood and the heart rate. In the room, Michele introduces himself and Lucia to the patient, and explains that we are musicians, and especially here to play something. In the room there was a tense atmosphere. It's very hard to communicate if there is no clear answer or reaction of the body. Patience is important in waiting to see if there is something of a reaction. Michele and Lucia try to interact with the patient with different little instruments, drums and bells. Exciting, how he will react. It is very difficult to know what he feels and how he experiences this. The next step we took was that I played on the violin very simple tunes for him, not too much dynamics. I looked in his eyes to see if there is any reaction. He seemed to have more focus and relaxed but also he got a sadness in his eyes, but this was perhaps imagination. It was special to be able to do something. The doctors told us that they are mostly working on the medical part of the patient and that music is so important for the emotional part of the brain. I found it in any case an emotional event that is difficult to express in words. Geoffroy also played beautifully Bach on his violin. But soon his machine started beeping, oxygen in the blood went down. Perhaps the emotions or tired? In any case we had to bring him back. There is still much work to be done with this patient. There is a possibility that by using sound/music therapy the patient learns to communicate better. I hope so.
The second patient was a woman of middle age and looked a little more lively. But still there is no clear yes or no on any question. She didn't show any interest in drums or bells but when Olivier started playing the clarinet she was full attention with eye contact. She clearly enjoyed Olivier playing for her. She used her voice to show her appreciation. Geoffroy and I also played some violin for her. There was much eye contact but I really felt she enjoyed the clarinet more. Again a great experience!
The doctors and therapists gave us a tour through the hospital. Then we still talked a lot together about our experiences and how to continue with a possible collaboration with MCO. Michele and Lucia told us that even a little bit is better than nothing.
For me, it is clear that this is a huge expansion in the way of making music. I have huge respect for Lucia and Michele who give with much patience day after day an attempt to improve the living conditions of these patients.
We still gave two great concerts in Ferrara and Perugia with many thoughts about this in my mind!
