Music therapy is not yet an established practice in Georgia, but music therapists from Georgia and the UK have been working across borders to enable Georgian teachers to use music to help children with disabilities to fulfil their potential.  This presentation explores how a proven distance learning programme was adapted to the Georgian sociocultural context.  How could music therapy practice from outside the country become meaningful in a different cultural context?  Could we break down disciplinary barriers to increase access to the benefits of music therapy? 

Teachers receive ten monthly tutorials and produce written assignments to consolidate their learning; they develop confidence using new musical skills and resources, tailored to the strengths and needs of their children, at a 2-day in-person training delivered by music therapists.  Participants complete a Practical Assignment, running regular music sessions for select groups of children, documenting their experiences and with supervision from a Georgian music therapist. 

The culturally-tailored training course introduced teachers to ideas and theories drawn from music therapy which they put into practice in their schools.  Teachers’ feedback evidences its positive impact for their children and for themselves as practitioners. 

Discussion will interrogate how inter-cultural collaboration integrated professional music therapy practice and education for children with disabilities in Georgia:  Are there differences between how a teacher can learn to see a child in music and how a music therapist is trained to see music in the child?  What has this interdisciplinary approach taught us that will enrich music therapy practice in Georgia, and beyond the country’s borders?

This is a unique opportunity for my country to shine on such an important platform. Georgia has never participated in the World Congress of Music Therapy before. This is even more significant because it’s happening with collaborating Music as Therapy International, which makes this more fabulous!

Music Therapy is slowly gaining ground in our country, which is greatly facilitated by events like this. I expect that the colleges will also understand the difficulties I face along the way.This is a unique opportunity for my country to shine on such an important platform. Georgia has never participated in the World Congress of Music Therapy before. This is even more significant because it’s happening with collaborating Music as Therapy International, which makes this more fabulous!

Music Therapy is slowly gaining ground in our country, which is greatly facilitated by events like this. I expect that the colleges will also understand the difficulties I face along the way.

Tamar (Tako) Jordania