The “Harmony of Healing” Music Therapy Symposium was held by Üsküdar Üniversitesi Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Ergotherapy. Led by Prof. Dr. Sevda Asqarova, Head of the Ergotherapy Department and Director of MÜTEM at Üsküdar Üniversitesi Faculty of Health Sciences, the symposium focused on topics such as the healing effect of music, ‘Child Development and Music,’ and ‘Brain and Music.’ The symposium, attended by experts in their fields, emphasized the importance of music therapy.
The opening speeches of the event, held at Üsküdar Üniversitesi NP Sağlık Campus, were delivered by Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Hikmet Koçak, Dean of Üsküdar Üniversitesi Faculty of Health Sciences Prof. Dr. Arif Aktuğ Ertekin, Dean of Üsküdar Üniversitesi Faculty of Medicine Prof. Dr. Haydar Sur, and Head of Üsküdar Üniversitesi Faculty of Health Sciences Ergotherapy Department and MÜTEM Director Prof. Dr. Sevda Asqarova.
Prof. Dr. Hikmet Koçak: “In health, alongside the physical aspect, there is also the spiritual aspect”
Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Hikmet Koçak delivered the opening speeches at the symposium. Koçak stated: “As a cardiovascular surgeon, I see that regarding health, our body’s physical aspect is not alone; there is also a spiritual aspect. In fact, we see that and act accordingly. Alongside our physical treatments, we also have other treatment methods, such as music therapy. The masters of this work are here, and I thank them.”
Prof. Dr. Arif Aktuğ Ertekin: “Music is one of the most important concepts that bring humanity together”
Üsküdar Üniversitesi Faculty of Health Sciences Dean Prof. Dr. Arif Aktuğ Ertekin, stating that some concepts such as language, religion, and race are universal, also emphasized the universality of music. Ertekin continued: “Music is one of the most important concepts that brings humanity together. There are people who publish scientific studies, there are cultures. We must protect our culture and values. At this point, a great responsibility falls on young people. Work, produce, research.”
Prof. Dr. Haydar Sur: “Music therapy is one of the oldest practices in human history”
Üsküdar Üniversitesi Faculty of Medicine Dean Prof. Dr. Haydar Sur, delivering the opening speech of the event, stated: “Music therapy is perhaps one of the oldest practices in human history. When we look at encyclopedias, it is an application recorded in the 1950s. The roots of the Seljuks’ and Ottomans’ success in systematizing this subject should be sought in Samarkand and Bukhara. Our ancestors rightfully carried out these practices. During periods when people were burned for being ‘possessed by the devil,’ we appeased people by giving them music and healing.”
Prof. Dr. Sevda Asqarova: “We aim to increase awareness of music therapy”
Üsküdar Üniversitesi Faculty of Health Sciences Ergotherapy Department Head and MÜTEM Director Prof. Dr. Sevda Asqarova said: “‘The Harmony of Healing’ Music Therapy Symposium is a platform that aims to bring together experts, researchers, practitioners, and all relevant stakeholders working in this field to exchange information, discuss new developments, and increase awareness of music therapy. Attention should be drawn to key points in scientific studies on music therapy, such as networking and collaboration, innovation vital for professional development, and social awareness. It is extremely important that symposiums serve as a platform for individuals working in this field to share their knowledge and experiences, allowing academics, clinicians, and other relevant professionals to come together, strengthen relationships, and enable the development of future projects, research, or applications. It enables participants to learn new skills, acquire up-to-date information, and support their professional development. In this context, participants can enhance their practical skills and expand their expertise in their fields through various workshops, seminars, and conferences. Platforms provided for researchers to present their latest findings and share them with colleagues also contribute to the emergence of new discoveries and innovations. It helps us learn more about the effectiveness and scope of Music Therapy. Furthermore, the ‘Harmony of Healing Music Therapy Symposium’ aims to increase public awareness about the benefits of Music Therapy, simultaneously informing the public on how music can be beneficial and utilized to improve people’s quality of life in various health and well-being conditions, thus demonstrating the importance of the field with all scientific rigor.”
Prof. Dr. Levent Öztürk: “We became the first certified music therapists in the history of the Republic”
The chairman of the 1st session of the symposium, Prof. Dr. Levent Öztürk of Trakya Üniversitesi Faculty of Medicine, shared his presentation titled “Music Therapy: New Custom for an Old Village” with the participants. Öztürk stated: “Since the 2000s, a wind of music therapy began to blow in Turkey. A caravan related to music therapy formed, and we joined it. Music therapy began to be studied in the scientific field. Concerts were held. The purpose of these concerts was to provide information about music in therapy. We tried to explain this by conducting media studies. Along with this momentum, legal regulations came. The Ministry of Health added music therapy to the law. Thanks to these applications, we advanced. Research on this also emerged. We became the first certified music therapists in the history of the Republic. My main studies are on sleep. I tried to reveal how music therapy works in sleep studies. This became a topic discussed for the first time in the literature. In Turkey, our physician colleagues are divided; some said, ‘Modern medicine kills in all healing practices,’ while others say, ‘All of these are nonsense; you should look at modern medicine.’ The medicine called modern medicine today did not descend from the sky. It is the 5,000-year accumulation of human history. Over time, we saw what worked. We abandoned what didn’t work halfway. Today, we should not make a distinction like modern medicine versus traditional medicine. We need to understand that these two are together and think about how we can benefit from them.”
3 sessions were held
The first session of the symposium was chaired by Prof. Dr. Levent Öztürk from Trakya Üniversitesi Faculty of Medicine. Öztürk delivered his presentation titled “Music Therapy: New Custom for an Old Village.” Subsequently, ICF Executive and Leadership Coach Berna Pınar TUNÇ shared her presentation titled “Harmony of Healing” with the participants. Lecturer Melisa Akköse Kaya from İstanbul Nişantaşı Üniversitesi (SHMYO) Child Development Program delivered her presentation titled “Child Development and Music.” Neurologist Dr. Bülent Madi from Madi Neuroscience Clinic shared his presentation titled “Brain and Music” with the participants, concluding the first session.
The second session of the symposium was chaired by Prof. Dr. Haydar Sur, Dean of Üsküdar Üniversitesi Faculty of Medicine. Sur delivered his presentation titled “Health, Music, Medicine.” Subsequently, Museum Designer Türkan Kafadar delivered her presentation titled “Dar’üş Şifa Museum Design (Edirne Health Museum, Music Therapy Healing House).” Specialist Dr. Mustafa Sedat Özdemir from Sağlık Bilimleri Üniversitesi Training and Research Hospital shared his presentation titled “Music in Medicine” with the participants. Research Assistant İbrahim Erarslan from İstanbul Medipol Üniversitesi Faculty of Health Sciences, Ergotherapy Department, delivered his presentation titled “Therapeutic Effect of Musical Materials on Cognition.” Necdet Abdi Turhan, Administrative Manager of Derince Community and Mental Health Center and Okmeydanı Training and Research Hospital, and Clinical Psychologist Ayla Karaca presented their talk titled “Music Therapy & Rhythmotherapy.” Evren Erik and Onur Birol Kırış from Sense Cosmos Ergotherapy delivered their presentation titled “SAS Method in Music Therapy,” concluding the second session.
The third session of the symposium was chaired by Prof. Dr. Sevda Asqarova, Head of Üsküdar Üniversitesi Faculty of Health Sciences Ergotherapy Department / MÜTEM Director. Asqarova delivered her presentation titled “Evidence-Based Music Therapy Practices in Sensory Integration.” Erg. Emel Gençtürk from Kilis 7 Aralık Üniversitesi Alaaddin Yavaşça State Conservatory, Turkish Music Department, delivered her presentation titled “Elderly Health and Music.” Musicologist Hanife Hilal Özdemir delivered her presentation titled “Peter Hess Singing Bowls and Sound Frequencies in Music Therapy.” Erg. Şevval Ateş from Üsküdar Üniversitesi Institute of Health Sciences, Ergotherapy Department, delivered her presentation titled “Music Therapy in Autism Spectrum Disorder.” Kadir Akpınar from Psikosanat Psychiatry Clinic delivered his presentation titled “Music is the Fermentation of Man,” and the third session concluded.
Music recital was held
A music recital was held at the end of the program. During the recital, Yahya Geylan played the tanbur, Canan Geylan played the violin, and Prof. Dr. Haydar Sur and Prof. Dr. Levent Öztürk played the oud. The soloist of the program was Fadıl Atik, a voice artist from the Ministry of Culture.