The Nordoff–Robbins approach to
music therapy
Music therapy, an allied health profession, "is the clinical and evidence-based use of music interventions to accomplish individualized goals within a therapeutic relationship by a credentialed professional who has completed an approved music th ...
is a therapy developed for children with psychological, physical, or developmental disabilities. It developed from the 17-year collaboration of
Paul Nordoff and
Clive Robbins beginning in 1958,
and its early development was influenced by Rudolph Steiner and anthroposophical philosophy and teachings. Nordoff–Robbins music therapy is grounded in the belief that everyone can respond to
music
Music is generally defined as the art of arranging sound to create some combination of form, harmony, melody, rhythm or otherwise expressive content. Exact definitions of music vary considerably around the world, though it is an aspect ...
, no matter how ill or disabled they are. It holds that music as therapy can enhance communication, support change, and enable people to live more resourcefully and creatively.
Nordoff–Robbins music therapists practice worldwide and have graduated from training programs around the world including the United Kingdom, the United States, Australia, Germany, New Zealand, Scotland, South Africa, and the Far East.
United Kingdom
Nordoff Robbins is a registered UK
charity
Charity may refer to:
Giving
* Charitable organization or charity, a non-profit organization whose primary objectives are philanthropy and social well-being of persons
* Charity (practice), the practice of being benevolent, giving and sharing
* Ch ...
that receives no statutory funding. The charity runs the Nordoff–Robbins music therapy centre in London and a number of music therapy outreach projects nationwide. It also runs postgraduate training courses in music therapy and a research programme with public courses and conferences.
Nordoff Robbins runs the annual
Silver Clef Award
The O2 Silver Clef Awards is an annual UK Popular music, music awards lunch which has been running since 1976.
History
The Silver Clef fundraising committee was founded in 1976 by musicians and managers from across the British music industry, who ...
s that raise money for the charity.
United States
Founded by Clive Robbins and Carol Robbins, the Nordoff–Robbins Center for Music Therapy at
New York University
New York University (NYU) is a private research university in New York City. Chartered in 1831 by the New York State Legislature, NYU was founded by a group of New Yorkers led by then-Secretary of the Treasury Albert Gallatin.
In 1832, the ...
,
Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development
The New York University Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development (commonly referred to as Steinhardt) is the secondary liberal arts and education school of New York University. It is one of the only schools in the world of i ...
, opened in 1989. The Center is affiliated with New York University's Graduate Music Therapy Program. The mission of the Center has six main components:
# Providing music therapy services to people with disabilities including
autism spectrum
The autism spectrum, often referred to as just autism or in the context of a professional diagnosis autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or autism spectrum condition (ASC), is a neurodevelopmental condition (or conditions) characterized by difficulti ...
disorders, behavioral disorders, developmental delays, sensory impairments, and psychiatric disorders. The Center provides individual and group therapy sessions.
# Offering advanced music therapy training.
# Conducting and publishing research. The Center maintains an extensive archive that includes recordings and documentation of the work of Nordoff and Robbins (1959–1976). The archive is continually updated by contemporary clinical work. Ongoing research in clinical practice focuses on the role of improvisational music therapy in addressing the needs of clients with different areas of disability including autism spectrum disorder, stroke, and hearing impairment.
# Presenting lectures, workshops, and symposia to professional audiences.
# Publishing musical and instructional materials to in clinical process and improvisation.
# Disseminating information and resources. The Center serves as a resource for music therapists, students, the media, and the general public. It provides consultant services, organizes seminars and workshops, and hosts over 150 visitors annually.
The Nordoff–Robbins training at
Molloy College
Molloy University is a private Roman Catholic university in Rockville Centre, New York. It provides more than 50 academic undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degree programs for over 5,000 undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral students.
Hi ...
, established in 2010, is the newest approved Nordoff–Robbins program in the US. It is located at the Rebecca Center for Music Therapy at Molloy College, an outpatient center serving children and adults in the Long Island and metropolitan New York area.
Both training programs include assessment, archival coursework, clinical work, group music therapy, and clinical improvisation instruction. Trainees come from both the US and abroad.
References
External links
Nordoff Robbins websiteEEUU: Nordoff - Robbins Center For Music Therapy''History of Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy'', The Steinhardt School, New York University''Osbournes win Silver Clef honour'' ''
BBC News
BBC News is an operational business division of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) responsible for the gathering and broadcasting of news and current affairs in the UK and around the world. The department is the world's largest broadca ...
'', June 16, 2006
{{DEFAULTSORT:Nordoff-Robbins music therapy
Music therapy