Frequently Asked Questions

IMPULSES.ART is a professional music therapy project that combines live piano performance with psychological, scientific, and artistic approaches. Our goal is to support emotional healing, foster resilience, and encourage cultural integration among immigrant and refugee communities, as well as individuals seeking personal well-being.

The project was created and is directed by pianist and composer Ernesto Cisneros Cino, a musician with over three decades of international experience across Europe, Asia, and the Americas. He has worked in film, television, and digital arts, in addition to his pedagogical work in music and art. Learn more about his work on his official website: ernestocisneros.art.

Each session is tailored to the group or individual. Through live piano pieces, improvisation, active listening, and participatory dynamics, a safe space is created for expressing emotions, sharing experiences, and building stronger connections. Additionally, other arts are integrated, painting, drawing, creative writing, audiovisuals, as complementary means to enrich the experience and open more channels of expression.

Extensive research supports the effectiveness of music therapy in different contexts:

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• Mental health: reduction of stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms (American Music Therapy Association, 2020).

• Trauma and resilience: improved emotional regulation and identity rebuilding after adverse experiences (Bensimon, Amir & Wolf, 2012).

• Social integration: enhances communication, empathy, and sense of belonging (Koelsch, 2014).

• Neuroscience: music activates multiple brain regions related to memory, emotions, and language (Levitin, 2006).

Live piano creates a unique interaction: the performer perceives the group’s reactions and adjusts rhythm, tonality, and dynamics in real time. This generates an immediate emotional feedback loop that strengthens connection and belonging. Research in music therapy (Bruscia, 2014) highlights that improvisation and live music have a greater therapeutic impact compared to passive listening to recordings.

​Sessions are offered in Spanish and English. When needed, we hire a professional interpreter for any language to ensure full participation, since part of the dynamics include spoken interactions that reinforce the bond between the pianist-therapist and the participants.

Both options are available:

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• Group sessions: encourage social cohesion, trust, and community building.

• Individual sessions: allow for deeper focus on personal emotional processes.

Sessions can be held in community centers, educational institutions, churches, cultural venues, or even virtually, depending on the needs of each group.

While our main focus is on refugees and immigrants, we also work with:

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• People seeking personal growth and emotional well-being.

• Schools and educational programs.

• Cultural and artistic projects.

• Groups experiencing grief, work-related stress, or personal crises.

You can schedule a free evaluation by writing to ernestocisnerosmusic@gmail.com or calling +1-786-816-9791. In this initial conversation, we’ll analyze your needs to design a tailored individual or group plan.

• Bruscia, K. (2014). Defining Music Therapy. Barcelona Publishers.

• Koelsch, S. (2014). Brain and Music. Wiley-Blackwell.

• Bensimon, M., Amir, D., & Wolf, Y. (2012). Drumming through Trauma: Music Therapy with Post-Traumatic Soldiers. The Arts in Psychotherapy.

• Levitin, D. (2006). This Is Your Brain on Music. Penguin.

• American Music Therapy Association (AMTA, 2020). Music Therapy and Mental Health.

No. IMPULSES.ART is a complementary approach that works alongside medical or psychological treatments, never as a replacement. Our focus is to provide an artistic and emotional space that strengthens resilience and supports other therapeutic processes.