Children with Williams syndrome make music: A community-based care model in the Czech Republic

The Williams syndrome (WS) is a multifactorial genetic disorder that results from a deletion on location 7q11.23 and is characterized by a broad spectrum of pathological features. The strong affinity of affected individuals to music inspires promising therapeutic and community-based activities with instruments and the voice. Children with WS display an extraordinarily creative behaviour and have an eyecatching, outgoing personality. On the basis of a short review of research dedicated to music processing and music-associated benefits in WS, this article presents community-based music therapeutic approaches in Prague/Czech Republic. Taking sociocultural aspects of acculturation into account, it also discusses the multifaceted role of music therapists. Professional community music (CM) practice with WS encompasses manifold benefits such as social inclusion, developmental progress and personal growth, reduction of symptom-associated weakness, and subjective wellbeing through cultural participation.