Music therapy for Russian children

Disabled children in Russia are being offered the chance to learn through music.

Elina Sapiyeva is making her regular trip to a music therapy class in North Ossetia.

She is one of several disabled children who are using music to overcome physical and emotional challenges.

Her family says the positive effects are obvious.

(SOUNDBITE) (Russian) ELINA'S FATHER, ALBERT SAPIYEV, SAYING:

"It improves her mood. She dances a lot, she puts on music in her room and dances, has fun."

Studies show that repeated exposure to music helps improve morale and calm anxiety.

And Elina's grandmother, Marusya says it is working.

(SOUNDBITE) (Russian) ELINA'S GRANDMOTHER, MARUSYA SAPIYEVA, SAYING:

"When she gets upset, she listens to music, she dances and her mood improves."

Music therapy might not be new, but in Russia it is still rare.

The teachers and musicians developed this programme in V. They say the children leave their classes charged with positive emotions, and improved skills.

(SOUNDBITE) (Russian) MUSIC THERAPY SPECIALIST AT VLADIKAVKAZ'S REHABILITATION CENTRE FOR INVALID CHILDREN, NATALYA MERKURYEVA, SAYING:

"Such lessons then develop voice, a feeling of rhythm, musical memory, hearing and some of them start singing."

It is combined with physical therapy, and allows the children to mix with others their own age. Staff say that otherwise, many of these children would sit at home all day on their own.

Elina is certainly taking her new skills seriously. Not satisfied with just playing the piano, she is also learning to write music and sing.

Suzannah Butcher

Reuters