Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy

Defined by Dr. Paul Nordoff and Dr. Clive Robbins, the approach is based upon the belief that there is an inborn musicality residing in every human being that can be activated in the service of personal growth and development. This self-actualizing potential is most effectively awakened through the use of improvisational music in which the individual's innate creativity is used to overcome emotional, physical, and cognitive difficulties. In this form of co-creative endeavor, children take an active role in creating music together with their therapists on a variety of standard and specialized instruments. In all of its applications, this work emphasizes the potency of individualized musical experiences as a means of developing relationship and the inner resources of children. Music and musical experience are the primary areas in which the therapist intervenes and in which the child's development takes place.

Training

Nordoff-Robbins training is unique in its comprehensive focus on the technical application of music and the development of musical resources. There are two levels of formal training offered: an internship program for students engaged in graduate study in music therapy and a Nordoff-Robbins Certification program for professional music therapists. The content areas and structure of the two programs are similar and are differentiated by the level of clinical competency the trainees are expected to attain. Nordoff-Robbins Level 1 Certification is offered to graduates of the professional course, which usually takes from one to two years to complete. The training course has three elements: 1) clinical work in individual and group therapy; 2) clinical supervision; and 3) classes in Clinical Musicianship, Improvisation, and Group Music Therapy.

1. Clinical Practice
   Candidates will participate in the following clinical and related activities: individual and group music therapy with experiences as primary therapist and co-therapist; video/audio documentation (indexing) and analysis of therapy sessions; conferences with parents of child clients; communication with professionals involved in clients' treatment; report writing; development of video technique in filming and producing clinical oriented video recordings of therapy sessions; compilation of video excerpts and/or research studies of music therapy processes; presentation of one case study of individual therapy including video examples and spoken commentary.

2. Supervision
   Candidates have a clinical supervisor with whom they meet for a minimum of one hour of individual supervision each week. At times, the trainee and supervisor will conduct clinical work as a team. Supervision is used to facilitate the candidate's integration of the various experiences in Nordoff-Robbins coursework and clinical work. Support is offered in a variety of areas: musical skill-building and enhanced listening ability through review of audio/video recordings; addressing clinical issues emerging from sessions; and, processing personal reactions and their emergence in music.

3. Coursework
   Our training program is unique in its comprehensive focus on the clinical application of music, and the development of musical resources. In addition to clinical work, there are instructional classes, which meet weekly. There are 5 classes offered in the course:
   • Clinical Improvisation
   • Clinical Musicianship
   • Practice and Theory of Group Music Therapy
   • Certification Seminar
   • Clinical Improvisation Workshop

Interns take the first three classes. Certification candidates take all five courses. These courses run throughout the training. Supervised clinical practice takes place concurrently. Readings will be assigned throughout the training.

Clinical Improvisation focuses on developing musical resources and practical skills, studying various musical styles, idioms and forms. Goals include increasing responsiveness and learning to improvise with a sense of compositional form and clinical intention. Individual reactions to music, as well as students' personal musical styles, will be explored.

Clinical Musicianship offers lectures that articulate the philosophical foundations of this work and illuminate empirically the process of music therapy through detailed analysis of individual therapy case presentations. Whenever possible, ideas from the lectures are worked on practically on piano or guitar.

Practice and Theory of Group Music Therapy covers a variety of topics through practice and direct application: Clinical considerations including goals, stages of development of the individual & group, the place of improvisation and composition in group process; leadership styles; Techniques involved in improvising songs and developing instrumental improvisations; Techniques involved in both leading and playing composed or arranged songs and instrumental pieces; Composing vocal and instrumental pieces based on the needs of specific clients; Selection,care and use of a large number of specially-designed and general instruments. Trainees will have the opportunity to present original material in class. In addition, students are encouraged to bring in videotape excerpts of on-going group music therapy for discussion and feedback.

Certification Seminar provides participants with an opportunity to share excerpts of their ongoing work and receive practical feedback on their clinical-musical interventions. It will also be a place to follow up in more depth on some of the philosophical foundations addressed in the class on Clinical Musicianship.

Clinical Improvisation Workshop provides a forum to explore and further develop musical resources for specific clinical situations. The focus is on practical, clinical techniques and role-playing specific situations that arise in trainees' clinical practice. Discussions regarding aspects of the Nordoff-Robbins approach as well as any relevant clinical/musical issues the group wishes to examine are welcomed