International Forum of Global Crisis

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Prof. Tian Gao
Regional Liaison for Western Pacific
Contact: westernpacific@wfmt.info[/caption]

Dear Colleagues,

In May 12, 2008, an earthquake the magnitude of eight occurred in the Sichuan province of China. This was the most serious earthquake in more than one thousand years in China resulting in 90,000 deaths and 370,000 injured. Chinese music therapists and students responded quickly to this severe disaster and about 60 music therapy students and therapists went to the earthquake site to offer services. The people of Sichuan province soon realized that music therapy is a helpful intervention in this difficult situation and the music therapy teams became the most welcomed “psycho-first aid professionals.”

In October 2009, the Chinese Professional Music Therapy Association (CPMTA) hold The International Forum of Music Therapy Crisis Intervention and Annual Conference in collaboration with the WFMT Global Crisis Intervention Commission in Chengdu, China. The President of WFMT, Dr. Petra Kern (USA/Germany), the President of AMTA. Dr. Barbara Wheeler (USA), the Chair of the WFMT Global Crisis Intervention Commission, Dr. Lucanne Magill (Canada/USA), along with Barbara Else (USA), Dr. Joanne Lowey (USA), and Dr. Clare O’Callaghan (Australia) were invited to share their knowledge and experiences in applying music therapy interventions after disasters and crisis around the world in keynote presentations. Additionally, the international experts gave workshops related to their specific expertise to further develop music therapy in China.

This was the biggest music therapy conference in China since 1989 with about 200 Chinese music therapists and music therapy students attend the event. CPMTA is planning to have annual music therapy conferences in the future.

Tian Gao

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