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European Association of Holistic Music Therapy

Music therapy is the treatment with music. But do we know what kind of music? All people around the world listen to some music almost all the time. Music surrounds us, it is part of our lives. If any music had healing potential in itself, all the people in the world would be healthy. We know very well that this is not the case. Music alone does not equal music therapy. So what kind of music is music therapy appropriate and effective? Which music can both heal and cure? This is the question addressed by holistic music therapy, the CMLH method, which provides answers to the questions raised, shows us one way and presents solutions to the basic music therapy questions - what music is music therapeutically appropriate and effective for a person and why. Holistic music therapy has existed in the Czech Republic since 1991 in the form of the method "CMLH - Holistic Music Therapy by Lubomir Holzer". L. Holzer has been creating and developing this method for more than 26 years and is its author.

Holistic music therapy has in its philosophical basis a holistic approach to the World, the Universe, man and therapy itself. Holistic music therapy always acts comprehensively on the physical, psychological, emotional, social, energetic, mental and spiritual components of the human being. Its effects are just as complex. The primary effect observed is the rapid calming of clients, gradual relaxation and the resolution of emotional, psychological and physical tensions and spasms. Measurable effects are the slowing and calming of the heart and breathing rates, the stabilization of blood pressure, and the transition of the electrical activity of the brain on the EEG from the β - beta level to the relaxation level of α - alpha or θ - theta. The specific music used in holistic music therapy works down to the cellular level of the human organism and energizes and harmonizes the organism naturally and physiologically.

We understand holistic music therapy as a universal therapeutic tool, without known contraindications, for all those in need, from all areas of health or social classification. CMLH works extensively not only with clients with intellectual disabilities and combined disabilities, with clients with behavioural disorders and with autistic spectrum disorders, but also applies itself significantly in the field of supporting the communicative competences of pupils with specific educational needs. Music therapy has been successfully applied in work with psychiatric, neurological and oncological clients and in the field of neonatology. Another developing area is the use of CMLH in working with the elderly, clients with Alzheimer's disease, dementia and Parkinson's disease.

Holistic music therapy works in the field of natural acoustic laws. Its manifestation is the so-called natural tuning, which means a completely characteristic arrangement of relationships between tones. Today's music mostly uses a tempered, modified tuning that differs in frequency from the natural tuning. From a music therapeutic point of view, the natural tuning corresponds most adequately to the human organism. Music played and sung in such a tuning is therefore ideal, most suitable and most effective for music therapy purposes. It is in harmony and in tune with the human being on all levels, in all systems and functions. This specification, together with the use of musical instruments made from natural materials and handcrafted, makes holistic music therapy a unique music therapy method with the most profound and effective therapeutic effects. However, everything depends on the expertise, experience and skills of the music therapist himself.