This time, we stepped into the university campuses of Taitung, where we witnessed emotions being understood and placed amidst notes and rhythms. When music becomes more than just a performance, but a force for companionship and healing, National Taitung University, together with Professor Nai-Wen Chang, guided students to rediscover the deeper meaning of "self-care" through music therapy and SEL (Self-Learning Experience), making every listening and response more relatable.

The Department of Music at National Taitung University invited Professor Nai-Wen Chang to give a lecture. Professor Chang first proposed that the intervention goals of music therapy include "physiological rehabilitation" and "psychological and emotional well-being." He then mentioned that five major teaching hospitals in Taiwan offer full-time music therapy services. During the lecture, he also discussed "MedRhythms Gait Training" (RAS), an evidence-based neuromusical therapy method. It utilizes the rhythmic components of music (such as beat and tempo) to directly affect the brain's motor center, helping individuals with walking difficulties due to neurological damage (such as stroke, Parkinson's disease, or brain injury) improve gait, speed, and balance. Professor Chang suggested using instruments like pipes, drums, and bells in the activities, making the training process less tedious and even enjoyable, increasing the patient's motivation to participate in rehabilitation. Furthermore, Professor Chang presented the impact of nine musical elements on auditory reception, helping students understand the importance of musical elements in music therapy.

Professor Zhang further pointed out the message the Zhang Wen incident conveyed, prompting music students to reflect and answer. This led to an introduction of SEL (Social and Emotional Learning) and its key applications in higher education. SEL aims to cultivate five core competencies in students: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, interpersonal relationships, and responsible decision-making. This learning process not only improves students' academic performance and emotional management but also helps them empathize with others and build positive interpersonal relationships.

Teacher Zhang also pointed out that if a music major wants to become a music teacher after graduating from the music department, they need to possess certain professional qualifications, including...
1. Knowledge: Psychology, Music Psychology, Child Development
2. Technology: Music expertise + connection between hearing/auditory perception (music) and other senses such as vision/visual perception and touch.
3. Ability: Combining knowledge and skills

In this lecture, Professor Zhang not only explained the theories but also shared and discussed numerous video and audio recordings and reflections on various topics. This allowed music students and the directors and teachers of the Taitung Interdisciplinary Aesthetic Education Seed School to experience the core competencies of SEL (Skills, Intelligence, and Emotions). The lecture was met with enthusiastic responses. Afterwards, teachers from the Interdisciplinary Aesthetic Education Seed School and music students consulted Professor Zhang about many aspects of the lecture.

This event was planned and organized by Director Ho Yu-Chen of the Department of Music at National Taitung University. As part of the interdisciplinary aesthetic education and SEL integration curriculum, it is hoped that through the application of music therapy, music students and directors and teachers of seed schools for interdisciplinary aesthetic education will be inspired to pay attention to social-emotional learning, so that every word and response in many moments of life can convey the power of "understanding emotions and expressing feelings".