Music Therapy for Angel: autism, rhythm and space-time of being

Abstract

This study presents aspects concerning the spontaneous body and rhythmic expression of a boy with mild signs of autism. Six Music Therapy encounters have been filmed aiming to register the sound, rhythmic and game-like activities he expressed. These video-taped activities have been described for a subsequent construction of a mosaic made up of the observed manifestations. The analysis revealed that Angel limited the boundaries of his own Music Therapy process by making a trajectory of space-time in which he expressed himself and his actual possibilities of interaction. Data showed that he used a ritualistic posture to face the reality which surrounded him. This attitude mirrored the rhythm and patterns of his identity.