Training Workshop on Learning Music at the Faculty of Health Sciences

 The Faculty of Health Sciences at Damascus University organized a training workshop entitled "Learning Music" for students of the Audiology and Speech and Language Therapy Departments. The workshop included topics such as an introduction to music, its history, types of musical instruments and their sounds, important musical terms with examples, the musical scale, notation and dimensions with a practical application. The workshop also shed light on aspects of the influence of music on behavior.

Dr. Samer Mohsen, the Dean of the Faculty, pointed out that the training workshop is aimed at students of the Audiology and Speech and Language Therapy Departments. Music is used in these specialties as a diagnostic and therapeutic tool. The purpose is to familiarize students with specialized concepts and dimensions related to the use of music, which are not covered in their curriculum. Specialized music professors are consulted to introduce students to its concepts and connections with the concepts they study in their courses, in order to enhance their understanding.

Dr. Mohsen explained that students who delve deeper into their specialization use music as a training tool when dealing with certain cases, such as cochlear implants for individuals with central auditory disorders. This requires them to choose the type of music that suits the patient. Additionally, music is used in the treatment of neurogenic language disorders based on the principle of rhythm, which should be perceived and understood by the therapist. This is the main objective of this workshop.

Amin Turkmani, the music workshop trainer, explained that the workshop aims to establish a connection between the field of music and the students through theoretical explanations and practical application. Music has connections in many areas of life and influences individuals from childhood. It contributes to the development and refinement of personality over time. He emphasized that the practical aspect of the workshop will focus on distinguishing between tone, melody, and rhythm, and demonstrating their importance and impact on a person's life. Music is not limited to a specific group of people, and it is not a field that requires specialized knowledge. Any person can recognize musical activities, melodies, and their meanings regardless of their level of education.

Dr. Tamar Yard, a professor in the Audiology and Speech Therapy and Language Departments at the college, stated that music is a language that opens windows and perspectives to a different way of thinking and perceiving sound. She pointed out that music has become a part of modern therapies in the field of medicine in general, and specifically in the Audiology and Speech and Language Departments. It is a functional tool in the life of the patient, and it is important to recognize its significance. Understanding the concepts of sound, tone, and frequency is crucial for an audiologist. Frequency and related concepts are interconnected and cannot be separated. Understanding and applying these terms in a physical context broadens awareness and improves the approach to dealing with them, thus providing assistance to the patient.