This historic photograph of Paul Nordoff and Clive Robbins “musicing” with a young lady captures the spirit and impact of our daily work as music therapists. Music therapy colleagues Dr. Alan Turry and Jacqueline Birnbaum sat down at the AMTA-Pro microphone to explore the history and practice of Nordoff-Robbins music therapy, and to share songs and stories illustrating the music-centered approach to therapy where elements of music, active listening, creativity, flexibility, and interactive music-making are used in the clinical process. Among other things, Alan and Jackie tell of Paul Nordoff’s music therapy with Johnny and with Edward, clinical stories accompanied by historic recordings from Nordoff’s work in the 1950s. This AMTA-Pro podcast begins and ends with Alan and Jackie making music and includes examples of the co-creative partnership of music and therapy, e.g., the therapist’s observations of each individual’s interaction with and response to all the elements of music when developing customized music therapy sessions. The text section of this AMTA-Pro podcast includes additional resources, photographs and other information.


Exploring Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy

AMTA-Pro Podcast August, 2017
Alan Turry, DA, LCAT, MT-BC and
Jacqueline Birnbaum, MSEd, MA, LCAT, MT-BC

This historic photograph of Paul Nordoff and Clive Robbins “musicing” with a young lady captures the spirit and impact of our daily work as music therapists. Music therapy colleagues Dr. Alan Turry and Jacqueline Birnbaum sat down at the AMTA-Pro microphone to explore the history and practice of Nordoff-Robbins music therapy, and to share songs and stories illustrating the music-centered approach to therapy where elements of music, active listening, creativity, flexibility, and interactive music-making are used in the clinical process. Among other things, Alan and Jackie tell of Paul Nordoff’s music therapy with Johnny and with Edward, clinical stories accompanied by historic recordings from Nordoff’s work in the 1950s.

This AMTA-Pro podcast begins and ends with Alan and Jackie making music and includes examples of the co-creative partnership of music and therapy. For example, the discuss the impact the therapist’s observations of each individual’s interaction with and response to all the elements of music has on developing customized music therapy sessions. These elements include tone, modes, dynamics, rhythm, register, touch, and other components. The therapist uses improvised music and lyrics to develop a co-creative partnership, building relationships through the music. Alan and Jackie also tell AMTA-Pro podcast listeners about the Nordoff-Robbins Center of Music Therapy which focuses on clinical music therapy as well as research and training new music therapists. The text section of this AMTA-Pro podcast includes additional resources, photographs and other information.

Resources

Website of Nordoff-Robbins Center website – http://steinhardt.nyu.edu/music/nordoff

Videos of work done at the Nordoff-Robbins Center – http://steinhardt.nyu.edu/music/nordoff/videos

Nordoff, P and Robbins, C (2007). Creative Music Therapy: A Guide to Fostering Clinical Musicianship. NH: Barcelona Publishers.

Guerrero, N and Turry, A (2012). Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy: An Expressive and Dynamic Approach for Young Children and on the Autism Spectrum. In (Kern, P, Humpal, M Ed) Early Childhood Music Therapy and Autism Spectrum Disorders.

Aigen, K. (1998). Paths of development. Gilsum, NH: Barcelona Publishers.

Aigen, K. (2002). Playin’ in the Band: A Qualitative Study of Popular Music Styles as Clinical Improvisation. NH: Barcelona Publishers

Ritholz, M, & Robbins, C (Eds) 1999. Themes for Therapy. New York: Carl Fisher

Ritholz, M., & Robbins, C. (Eds) 2003. More Themes for Therapy. New York: Carl Fischer

Turry, A. (1998) Transference and Countertransference in Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy. In The Dynamics of Music Psychotherapy. Ed by Bruscia. NH: Barcelona Publishers.

Turry, A (2009) Integrating Musical and Psychological Thinking: The Relationship between Music and Words in Clinically Improvised Songs. Music and Medicine, Volume 1 Number 2

Marcus D and Turry A (2005). Teamwork: Therapist and Cotherapist in the Nordoff-Robbins Approach to Music Therapy. In AMTA Perspectives Vol 23 Issue 1.

Hartley, M, Turry A, Raghavan, P (2010). The Role of Music and Music Therapy in Aphasia Rehabilitation. Music and Medicine 2 (4) 235-242.

Raghavan, P. Geller, D, Guerrero, N, Aluru, V, Eimecke, J, Teresi, J, Ogedegbe, G, Palumbo, A, and Turry A (2016). Music Upper Limb Therapy-Integrated: An Enriched Collaborative Approach for Stroke Rehabilitation. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience., 07 October 2016 | http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2016.00498

Birnbaum, J. C. (2013). Healing childhood trauma through music and play. Gilsum, NH: Barcelona Publishers.

Birnbaum, J. C. (2014). Intersubjectivity and Nordoff-Robbins music therapy. Music Therapy Perspectives, 32(1), 30–37.

Information about AMTA-Pro podcast speakers

 Jacqueline Birnbaum, MSEd, MA, LCAT, MT-BC a board certified music therapist and licensed creative arts therapist, is the Administrative Coordinator and a Senior Therapist at the Nordoff-Robbins Center for Music Therapy at New York University, with over 35 years of experience in the field. Prior to becoming a music therapist, she earned a Masters degree in Early Childhood Education and spent several years in the classroom. After completing her Masters degree in music therapy at NYU in 1981, she developed music therapy programs at a number of schools for children with special needs in the New York City area.

In 1990, Jacqueline joined the first advanced training course in Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy offered in the United States. After receiving her Certification in 1991, she became a member of the staff and later the Administrative Coordinator of the Nordoff-Robbins Center, which specializes in treatment, training, and research. She has presented on the use of creative music therapy at numerous regional, national, and international conferences, including the World Congress in Brisbane, Australia (2005) and the International Shafallah Forum in Qatar (2008). She recently co-led a 3-day workshop in Beijing. Jacqueline has served on many professional committees over the years, and was Chairperson of the Certification Board for Music Therapists. A pianist, guitarist, violinist, and composer, Jacqueline has had her songs for therapy published. Jackie’s groundbreaking e-book – Healing childhood trauma through music and play – contains 29 video excerpts of her work with a girl adopted from China.

Dr. Alan Turry, DA, MT-BC, NRMT, LCAT is Managing Director of the Nordoff-Robbins Center for Music Therapy at New York University. The first music therapist formally certified to run a Nordoff-Robbins training course, he is responsible for the overall administration, research, clinical services and the training program at the Center. Turry also teaches clinical improvisation in the New York University Master’s program. He has lectured internationally on his work with a wide range of client populations including self-referred adults, psychiatric patients and the developmentally disabled. Dr. Turry is recognized for his innovative contributions to the Nordoff-Robbins approach. These include his success in incorporating contemporary music styles into the resources for Creative Music Therapy, his use of improvisation and improvised songs in group music therapy, as well as pioneering work with self-referred adults integrating music psychotherapy and community music therapy practice.