Introducing The Psychological Impact of Musical Instruments Towards Special Children
Helping the Underprivileged Community
Music has been identified as a strength in people with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Psychology, music therapy can often be used to facilitate communication skills with individuals. Children with communication disorders may benefit in many ways. However, modern musical instruments are too complicated for them to comprehend. Therefore, we plan to introduce a special set of musical instruments from the day-to-day materials. The uniqueness of this special instruments is that it can accommodate rough handling. Consistency of sounds is able to be maintained and long lasting too.
Overview of Issue / Background
Music has been identified as a strength in people with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Psychology, music therapy can often be used to facilitate communication skills with individuals. Children with communication disorders may benefit in many ways. However, modern musical instruments are too complicated for them to comprehend. Therefore, we plan to introduce a special set of musical instruments from the day-to-day materials. The uniqueness of this special instruments is that it can accommodate rough handling. Consistency of sounds is able to be maintained and long lasting too.
Project Objectives (Vision & Mission)
The objectives of this project are as follows:
- To create special musical instruments from simple day to day materials
- To use the special musical instrument as diagnostic tool for hand coordination
- To make music from the special musical instruments
- To improve communication skills among the special children
- To make the special musical instrument as an avenue to express their thought (for those non-verbal)
- To facilitate expression of feeling through the special musical instruments
Project Details (Activities and Tasks)
Our activities consist of two (2) major tasks:
- To design and invent the special musical instrument
- To use the instrument as an avenue for the special children to express thoughts and feeling
Details:
- When we invented our instrument, we were thinking about those with autism spectrum disorders.
- Further, patients with development issues within communication and social interaction are also facing the problems with their dexterity in their daily life.
- The good news is, according to researches, music therapy improves the symptoms of depression, improves mood, reduces blood pressure and it is an effective solution to alleviate depression, anxiety, and other mood disorders.
- Besides, most importantly, music improves communication and social behaviors, alleviate their anxiety issues and helps them focus better.
- With the collected data, we decided to combine the music therapy and dexterity instrument to help the autistic patients overcome both weaknesses at the same time.
- Our special instrument is going to be made from industrial zinc.
- The length of the zinc is what makes the sound and pitch to be different.
- Unlike other musical instrument, our musical instrument lasts for a very long time without any changes in the sound.
- For example, the piano needs to be tuned for every year for quality sound. And if you don’t play it properly, the keys will spoil and you have to replace it with a new one.
- However, for our musical instrument, even if you hit it with force, the pitch is still the same and it won’t be damaged.
- The usage of our invention can varies from musical instrument to dexterity training tool.
Expected Project Result & Outcomes
The expected result & outcome of this project are as follows:
- Improving communication skills among the special children
- Improving interaction among the special children
- Reducing stress and anxiety among the special children
- Producing a special musical instrument which can also be used as diagnostic tool among ordinary teenagers
0% of RM1.00 Goal
Project Information
| University name | : | International University of Malaya-Wales (IUMW) |
| Project leader name | : | Aurelia Ava Oswald |
Section I
a. This project aims to improve communication skills, improve interaction among the children with special needs and reduce their stress and anxiety. Its goal is to spread awareness to the public about people with autism.
b. Our fundraising activities were selling kitchen utensils, pre-loved items or ‘bundles’. Apart from that, we have been granted with the permit to place a donation box to collect donation under the name of REACH Segamat. Thus, all collected cash via the donation box were donated to REACH Segamat.
c. Details of project:
I. One of the unexpected matters that occur during the project is the time constraints. Due to tight school regulation from the district office, we were unable to hold our project frequently at the named schools. This made us focus our scheduled visits and therapy only at the autism centre i.e. REACH Segamat.
II. There were no language barriers as the participants and the committee both are able to converse in English and Malay.
III. The need for sensory instruments is highly anticipated. However, the use of zinc or metal produces sharp and painful sound to the autistic children.
IV. The beneficiaries are as follows
- 18 Special children of SK Li Chi, Segamat Johor.
- 23 Special children of SK Wan Idris, Segamat Johor.
- SMK Cannossian Convent, Segamat Johor.
- 13 autistic children of REACH Segamat Johor.
- 100 visitors and members of the public at U-SENTRAL MALL, Segamat.
- 23 members of Enactus Club of UNVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA (UiTM), Segamat Johor
- parents, members of the public, teachers & lecturers
V. Long-term impact / Sustainability / Future
- Less-complicated modern instruments
- Durable instruments
- Increased brain plasticity
- Increases hand-and-eye coordination and linguistic skills
- A medium for expression of feelings and thoughts
Section II
a. In the short-term, this project brings happiness to all the people who participated in this project. The committee members were able to be closer to each other and get to know each other more through working together in this project. The committee members were also able to gain deeper insight into the lives of the children with special needs and gain the knowledge on ways to assist them. The participants were simply elated only with the sight and presence of us. They know that there are concerned people out there coming to know them better.
In the long term, the committee members will be able to use the knowledge obtained during the implementation of this project and apply it accordingly in situations that they may encounter in the future. In the long run, awareness can be spread to the general public as more and more people are conscious about the existence of people with autism and be more sensitive to their needs and accommodate to them to allow these people to go through their daily life comfortably.
I am an impatient person. This project taught me that I had to be more patient. With autism, patience is crucial. More often than not, the outlook I had was pessimistic but this project taught me that I have to be more optimistic. With autism, a positive outlook is essential. I have always had a big heart and lots of love to give. But with autism, there’s no better therapy than unconditional love. These are the invaluable lessons that I have learnt and changes the way I view the world
b. “Participating in this project taught me the value of patience. To deal with the children, we must be patient in accommodating to their needs but most importantly is having the empathy in understanding their situation and give our best to meet their needs.”
Thus, “love is patient and kind” (Aurelia Ava Oswald).
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