Finding their inner music

Making subways serene

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"Music therapy isn't anything new. It was even mentioned in traditional Chinese medicine books," Wang says. "It can be used widely in our daily lives, such as to help people quit smoking and improve sleeping quality."

Since Jan 7, the National Center for the Performing Arts has sponsored a music program in Beijing's subway stations. Classical music is played at five different time periods every day, between 5:30 am and 10:30 pm. The music reaches a total of 160 stations on 10 lines.

Wang Chunqiang, an official with the Beijing Municipal Commission of Transport, was quoted saying that "music creates a good environment for passengers and relieves their anxiety."

Cui Yong, who is also the board chairman of the Chinese Music Therapy Association, says that at first music therapy in China was limited to playing music to patients.

"Now we have a broader vision thanks to some professional music therapists, like professor Gao, who has brought the modern theory and methods to China during the past two decades," he says.

He also says that the practice should be standardized in China. With nearly 300 registered members, who are mostly working in the music therapy-related fields, he says that the association plans to map out a professional certification system.

"Some people learn music therapy from some private training organizations, which are not professional and cannot meet the needs of the patients," Cui says. "Music therapy is still at the beginning stage in China, and it takes time for it to develop and become mature."