P11 - The “Bandalarga” project: School's concerts in oncology

Abstract

Background: Music finds various application fields in medicine, especially in Oncology, where it can be used to relieve physical and mental pain and to induce relaxation as some studies showed.The National project “Donatori di Musica” proposed by AIOM has inspired the creation of a network of musicians that work inside different Oncology wards. The “Bandalarga” project aims to introduce music at the Oncological Day Hospital (DH) in Guastalla with the contribution of young students of the various music schools of this area. Materials: January 2015 the physicians of the oncological DH took contact with 9 music Schools in Reggio Emilia area. After joining the project, the headmasters organized training meetings with the young students, to prepare them to the strong emotional impact that could come from getting in touch with the hospital and with oncology patients. Methods: February 23, 2015 at 4 p.m., the Boretto Musical School hold the first concert of “Bandalarga”. After this first appointment, everymonth, a concert has taken regularly place at the oncological DH, performed by different schools: Guastalla Musical School, Luzzara Musical Schooland Dosolo Musical School. The artistic program will end in June 2015 with Brescello Musical School and start again with the monthly shows on 23 Sept 2015. The designate school provided the basic staging and equipment for them show. A various number of young musicians played a large inventory, including Italian folk songs, foreign rock and blues pieces, supervised by their teachers. Every concert lasted about 120 minutes. Patients of the oncological Day Hospital, volunteers, families and hospital professionals were invited to participate at the events. The wide appeal of “Bandalarga” was possible also thanks to Emilia Romagna Project “The open Hospitals”, a regional project that aims to use some hospital spaces for social and cultural activities. Results: An increasing audience are taking part in each appointment. The events are having a positive feedback both from patients and hospital staff. Also the young students are appreciating more and more the value of the project. Conclusions: In order to create a socializing moment, “Bandalarga” offers monthly concerts to oncological patients, letting them benefit of the positive effects of music on health. Its aims is to create a link between the local health system and the local education system and allow young students to get in touch with hospitals in a different way.