The classes are organized by the Welfare Department of the Riga City Council and OnPlate. A total of eight meetings are planned, which will be conducted by certified art therapist specializing in music therapy, Inga Berzinja. No musical abilities are required from participants — although the classes will involve not only listening to music but also playing instruments: more precisely — extracting individual sounds from them, experimenting with rhythm, in order to talk about it and discuss their feelings. The goal is to learn to better recognize and express emotions, reduce tension, and improve emotional well-being. Music therapy is not just a fancy name for sitting around to pleasant melodies. The World Federation of Music Therapy defines it as a professional method in which listening, singing, playing instruments, and improvisation under the guidance of a specialist have a specific therapeutic purpose. It can be active, when a person sings or plays themselves, and receptive — when they listen to music. Research shows that it is certainly not a universal cure for all ailments, as it is sometimes portrayed on the internet, but a certain therapeutic effect does indeed exist. For example, music therapy, in addition to regular treatment, significantly reduces symptoms of depression and anxiety. So, no mandatory dose of Mozart in the morning and Beethoven before bed is prescribed by science yet. However, using music as a way to express what can sometimes be difficult to articulate in words is a very real therapeutic practice. The Riga cycle will begin on October 12. The following classes will take place on October 19 and 26, and then on November 2, 9, 16, 23, and 30. All meetings will be held from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at 5 Murnieku Street. Participation is free, but the number of places is limited and pre-registration is mandatory. You can register through the form on the website veseligsridzinieks.lv. Additional information can be obtained by phone at 29423020 or by email at ieva@onplate.lv.
