A model of approaching melotherapy through on-line sources- An alternative to the treatment of children with communicative deficiencies Nelida NEDELCUŢ 1 , Ciprian Gabriel POP 1 , Cristina BORZAN 2 Department of Continuing Education and Distance Learning Academy of Music Gheorghe Dima I.C. Bratianu Street, no. 25, 400079, Cluj-Napoca University of Medicine and Pharmacy Iuliu Haţieganu 8 Victor Babes Street 400012 Cluj-Napoca Cluj-Napoca ROMANIA nelidanedelcut@amgd.ro, ciprian.pop@amgd.ro, borzancristina@yahoo.com Abstract: - Melotherapy is an alternative therapy, psycho-preventive which involves, using movement, sound and music, in order to open new channels of communication for people. In modern psychiatrics, the use of melotherapy has brought benefic results through the improvement of nervous disorders, noting every so often the patient’s recovery. The use of technology in music teaching and learning has been a field of research for many years and the highly interdisciplinary nature of the field is reflected in the diversity of approaches given to the applications of ICT in music as melotherapy. Assisted by a music teacher, a psychologist and a school doctor, the children from a special needs school in Alba Iulia underwent active methods of melotherapy, where electronic informational resources have been used in order to establish ways of communication for improving aggressiveness. Applying the active methods of melotherapy, by referring to computerized infrastructure and specialized software, this has led to outline an innovative methodological model in melotherapy which intends to be theoretically and applicably grounded in the future, due to the improvement in the behavior of children participating in the project. Key-Words: melotherapy, children, interdisciplinary research, computerized infrastructure, communication deficiency 1. Introduction The therapeutic value of music was attested centuries ago, the clinical applications of music therapy (environmental, receptive and active) generating a large spectrum of therapeutic changes: physiological, psycho-physiological and sensorial, of movement, perception, cognition, behavior, communication, creativity. The connection between music and medicine originates in the old times customs. Long ago people started to treat affections or physical discomfort with rituals of white magic accompanied by music used to invoke divinities. Music therapy was also used with the intention, as well as with the result of revigorating the depressed or encouraging those preparing for battle. However, until the 19th century, music therapy was an empirical method of treatment and doctors hadn’t studied what kind of curative effect could sounds, have the harmony, the rhythm in some melodies the treatment of psychological and even physical affections. The scientific studies in the last decades have shown that music modifies the cerebral waves and the cardiac frequency [1]. Music is capable of awakening the spirit of freedom and the conscience, of removing pessimism and melancholy, of improving the quality of sleep and creativity, of reducing stress and depression [11]. Melotherapy can have a strong effect against pain and fatigue because it stimulates the release of the endorphins, the so called hormones of happiness. Music therapy can treat hidden aggression, mental or affective disorders, but it can also influence several psychosomatic illnesses, such as asthma or nutrition disorders [4]. Nowadays, there are many research institutes and sanatoriums where melotherapy is being successfully used as a therapeutic method (e.g. Perceval St. Prex Vaud Institution- Switzerland, Cross - France, Deutsche Akademie fur Wissenschaftliche Musik Therapie, Medizinische Resonanz Therapie Musik, Center for the Study of Violence - Iowa State University, USA). They improve and note healings in affections like: stress, nervousness, anxiety, physical and psychological asthenia, headaches, migraines, insomnia, depression, high blood pressure, palpitations, arrhythmia, dyslexia, Parkinson disease, Alzheimer’s disease, cardiac insufficiency etc. 2 Techniques of Melotherapy Melotherapy is an alternative therapy, psycho- preventive, which involves, using movement, sound and music, in order to open new channels of communication for humans. In modern psychiatrics, MATHEMATICAL METHODS AND APPLIED COMPUTING ISSN: 1790-2769 467 ISBN: 978-960-474-124-3