Bulletin No. 2, 2015

Finally the audience was encouraged to sit quietly and appreciate music. The project aimed at providing an innovative, cost-effective and replicable way to encourage autism sufferers to express themselves through the appreciation and playing of music. It was hoped that this would reduce emotional and behavioural problems and enhance competence and psychological well-being. Another aim of the project was to change misconceptions in the community about sufferers and to foster appreciation, respect and empathy for them. The project also produced a book and a website ( www.musicautistic.com ). One special needs child remarked after the concert, ‘It seems that I have entered into a dream-like musical world.’ An autistic child drew his first picture after attending the concert. A mentally retarded participant known for throwing temper tantrums was able to stay calm and relaxed throughout the concert. Professor Chan, a Buddhist, said her motivation for the project came from within herself and she preferred to think of it as ‘humanity transfer’ rather than ‘knowledge transfer’. S o it’s not a myth after all—some autism sufferers may be more musical than the average person. Scientific evidence suggests that despite significant language impairment in autistic people, their ability to process music remains preserved, even enhanced. Music has also been shown to have positive effects on cognition. These are some of the scientific observations that spurred Prof. Agnes Chan of the Department of Psychology to launch ‘Interactive Concert for Autism’, an ICON project that brings together clinical psychology and music to help autistic children express themselves. Together with another psychologist and a music professor who helped to select musical pieces and musical instruments, Professor Chan organized four two-hour interactive concerts free-of-charge in 2013 and 2014, for close to 2,000 people including autistic or special needs individuals and their families. During the concerts, participants were played music of various genres including classical, pop and Chinese while being encouraged to express themselves by singing, dancing, drawing and jumping. Then tracks composed for the occasion were played and the audience invited to do mind-body exercises. Knowledge Delivered to the Doorstep—Knowledge Transfer Project Fund 9