The symposium aimed to explore the effects of music on the health and well-being of individuals and society from the perspectives of various scientific disciplines and across a range of social settings, including cultural, healthcare, educational, and consumer environments.Music interventions are among the most effective non-pharmacological approaches and can influence health and well-being on multiple levels: physical, cognitive, socio-emotional, and spiritual.

The symposium therefore sought to highlight music interventions and present examples of good practice in their application. Its objective was to bring together practical insights into the effects of music from the fields of music psychology, music education, cognitive science, music therapy, psychotherapy, medicine, computer science, other academic disciplines, and the musical arts.

Further information about the symposium is available at: https://www.simpozij.ag.uni-lj.si/sl

The international conference The Secret World of Autism brought together a range of perspectives on autism. Speakers included Dr Marta Macedoni Lukšič, Dr Branka Jurišič, Dr Kaja Korošec, Dr Adam Ockelford, and Nina Kompare. Dr Katarina Habe and Dr Andreja Marčun Kompan presented the work of the Working Group for the Implementation of Inclusion in Music Schools, which operates under the Ministry of Education in Ljubljana. At the conclusion of the conference, Dr Katarina Habe moderated a round-table discussion entitled “Music – A Path to Life”. Movement breaks were led by Ivan Vodopivec, a Feldenkrais practitioner with extensive experience working with autistic people.

Further information about the international conference is available at: https://www.doremi.si/dogodek/mednarodni-posvet-skrivni-svet-avtizma/

The symposium aimed to provide insight into how different disciplines – including music education, music psychology, medicine, sociology, anthropology, and musicology – use music to promote the well-being of individuals and society. The 2023 International Symposium of the University of Ljubljana Academy of Music addressed inclusion in its broadest sense: the intersection of diverse disciplines seeking ways to foster inclusion and connection through music; the integration of art, science, and professional practice; and the interplay of the different identity roles embodied by musicians. The future of society and of each individual within it depends on embracing diversity and nurturing every person’s potential in harmonious relationships with others – and music can play a vital role in this process.

Further information about the symposium is available at: https://www.simpozij.ag.uni-lj.si/sl/arhiv/symposium-2023

The symposium brought together international researchers, artists, and experts from a range of disciplines to explore the significance of sound and music in early development, among vulnerable groups, and in the contexts of health, education, art, and social inclusion. Particular attention was devoted to how sound and musical experiences influence perception, emotional self-regulation, communication, well-being, and the quality of living environments.

Further information about the symposium is available at: https://img.rtvslo.si/_files/2023/08/16/55_474189199692529683_program-simpozij.pdf