Mercedes
College Music Therapy
Acclaimed
for his
outstanding achievements as a multi award winning
sitarist, composer, and music director, Dr. Chandrakant Sardeshmukh
began playing the start when he was barely four years old. He was
declared a child prodigy by Pt. Ravi Shankar at the age of eight and
trained under the maestro himself for many years. He was conferred a
doctorate in Sanskrit for his research into Samaveda and he has a
family heritage over many generations in Ayurveda.
Hearing
about the marvelous benefits of music therapy and Dr. Sardeshmukh's
mastery in the field, several staff members expressed an interest in
inviting him to the College. In October 2001, students ranging in age
from 10 to 17 years met Dr. Sardeshmukh for the first time when he
conducted several group music therapy sessions.
Since then our Year 12
classes have become a special focus for music
sessions, Head of the Senior School, Mr. Tony O'Doherty, takes a
holistic approach to supporting their needs and strongly believes that
music therapy has helped to combat the stresses felt by these young
people in their final year of schooling. Sessions were originally held
at the end of the school year as students prepared for their final
exams, but this year, in response to requests from students, it was
decided to offer a session at the very beginning of the year as well.
Students
listen to music for approximately thirty minutes and then they
have an opportunity to discuss their observations with Dr. Sardeshmukh.
Wonderful conversation always follows and everyone has the chance to
share in his or her own way. The students are always fascinated to
learn about the effects that the music vibrations have on the body on a
cellular level and to have their physical response explained in a
scientific manner.
Students frequently ask how they can find balance in their lives saying
that they often feel very tired. Conversation is then focused on the
need for a healthy diet, restful sleep and exercise. Dr. Sardeshmukh
suggests good home cooked meals offer the best foundation for creating
more energy.
Many of 1200 students who make up our student body have experienced
music therapy and some will have been lucky enough to have had more
than one session. These students have found it easier to relax and
surrender to the music during subsequent sessions, thus consciously
experiencing some of the benefits to be had through amazing music
therapy. We have all been impressed over the years with the insightful
feedback that we have received from students and teachers following the
sessions.
Already this year, Dr. Sardeshmukh has conducted sessions for the Year
12 students and during his next visit in June, all students in the
Middle School, will be attending. Due to the overwhelming response from
Year 12 students, Dr. Sardeshmukh will now be working with them each
time he visits the College.
In February this year Mrs. Josi Babozetta, our Inclusive Education
Coordinator and Gifted & Talented Program Consultant, hosted a
music therapy session at the college for students and teachers from the
Torrens Gifted and Talented cluster group. It was a wonderful
opportunity for representatives from ten Catholic Colleges from
Adelaide to come together for their first experience of music therapy
and they very much enjoyed meeting Dr Sardeshmukh and having the chance
to chat informally about the benefits of this therapy. We trust that it
will support the students, helping them to have a more confident and
focused approach to their studies.
Even the youngest members of the college community met Dr Sardeshmukh
when he paid a surprise visit to their classroom last year. During the
term they had enjoyed learning about different aspects of life in
countries around the world including India and when they received this
impromptu visit, their studies suddenly came to life! The children were
very curious and managed to keep Dr Sardeshmukh occupied with an
endless stream of wonderful questions, these being brought to an end by
a lively piece of music on the sitar. Hearing the music, the children
immediately began singing, dancing, and clapping, totally involved in
the music, no fear, no inhibitions - just pure joy.
This beautiful childlike state is undoubtedly something that we would
all like to experience. Music therapy helps us on a journey of
self-realization and a return to our natural state.
Debbie Goss.
Photo - The Torrens Cluster Group for Gifted and Talented Students and
their teachers joined with Dr Sardeshmukh.
November,
2005
Information:
Preston Struthers,
Adelaide
struthersp_at_triplei.net.au
www.darshanam.com
www.darshanam.org
