The Congress was jointly organised by the World Federation of Music Therapy (WFMT), Korean Music Therapy Association and SW University of Seoul.

Agra's Dr Lovely Sharma, the only D Lit in India in Sitar and author of eight books plus numerous research papers in various journals, along with Devashish Chakrovarty, eminent classical guitarist, conducted a workshop "A study of healing techniques through music and yoga," with more than 50 participants to prove the beneficial effects on concentration, relaxation and positive mood changes.

Talking to Agratoday.in, Dr. Lovely Sharma said, "It was high time we took a lead in developing appropriate technology, guidelines and a proper scientific frame to promote Music Therapy, which has already been recognized as an alternative therapy, capable of bringing about significant responses and aiding treatment through other therapies."

India, she said had a vast treasure in the form of classical ragas and musical strains which had in the past proved their efficacy but in course of time "we were swept away by modern influences and adopted western ways. But now even western countries are recognizing the role and contribution of Yoga and Indian classical music, as was evidenced by the impressive participation of so many countries from the west in the World Congress at Seoul," Lovely said. 

Her recent experiments in various jails where classical music strains were orchestrated to bring about desired changes in the thinking and orientation of inmates, led her to focus on extending her frontiers in the domain of music therapy.

The findings of her experiments with jail inmates have been widely published and acknowledged. "The Agra central jail has been my laboratory and I have learnt a lot by interacting with the inmates and experimenting with various ragas to increase their concentration and cool down stress levels. From my own resources I have provided instruments worth thousands of Rupees but I am happy they are continuing. Now other jails too are regularly organizing musical classes to reduce stress level and violence streaks in some of the criminals to good effect."

Dr. Sharma, said "the rich repertoire of classical ragas and our continuous endeavor to experiment in new conditions and to newer challenges, has paid us dividends, reflected in the kind of responses we are getting from all over."

Each year, Dr. Sharma's Kriti Kala Sansthan, organizes several national level programmes to promote classical music. "For children of under privileged families we organized a summer camp and these children took a lot of interest."

Talking about music therapy Dr. Sharma said according to ancient Indian scriptures and texts, ‘Nada-Yoga’ has enormous power to heal. It is believed that Indian classical music has very positive effects on human behavior modification when used as a therapeutic tool. Recent advance research on this subject disclosed the fact that Music along with ‘Yoga’ (both movable and stationary postures) can heal outer or inner disorders like Hypertension, Arthritis, problems related to upper or lower part of the body, mental stress, tension etc."

At the Seoul workshops, the participants learnt some important Asanas (postures) with the singing of compositions or chanting of hymns required for healing of various disorders which were first short listed based on literature and authors’ own experience. "After 15-20 therapeutic sessions, it was observed that participants were feeling very much relaxed and noticed an improvement in their physical and mental conditions."

She said there were references of healing techniques in the ancient Indian Philosophy. According to some ancient texts, ‘Nada-Yoga’ the science of utilizing sound vibrations has been adapted by all schools of thought as a final tool to achieve ‘salvation’. Since the history of ancient Vedic period, the saints and mystics of India, who developed and used ‘Sound Therapy’ along with ‘Yoga’, the suitable scientific physical postures, which is generally known as ‘Asanas’, believed that chanting of some specific ‘Manatras’ (hymns) from ancient Indian scriptures and singing or playing compositions from Indian classical music have an enormous power. Deep aesthetic appeal of Indian music can touch anybody more quickly because of its microtones and quarter tones.

The musical instruments to be used would include stringed instruments like Sitar, Guitar etc. and percussion instruments like Tabla, Mridang etc. and metal instruments like chime balls, manjira etc. along with electronic drone instruments.