Conversations on Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy
Rachel Verney and Gary Ansdell
This short book presents a series of animated conversations about aspects of Nordoff-Robbins music therapy by two experienced practitioners and trainers. One of the authors, Rachel Verney, was trained directly by Paul Nordoff and conveys through these conversations both the craft and the vision of his pioneering work. Whilst attempting to characterise the key principles and values of this approach, the conversations are also questioning and sometimes iconoclastic—teasing out both the subtleties and the mysteries of the work. Subjects covered include: listening to a person musically; the ‘musical/personal’; “workplay”; the relationship between music, people and pathology; working in and with music; the client-therapist relationship; teaching and supervising music therapists; the role of beauty in music therapy. A key message that emerges through these conversations is the natural connection in Nordoff-Robbins work between the importance given to careful reflection on the precise details of musical craft, and the ‘big questions’ that this work often evokes for therapists and clients. The book ends with some concluding thoughts about music therapy today, and how the ‘perennial understanding’ of people, music, health and illness within the Nordoff-Robbins approach is as relevant as ever. The book is direct and personal; it conveys its ideas through plain language and vivid examples. Although the book is primarily addressed to music therapists with a working knowledge of Nordoff-Robbins music therapy, it would also be of interest to any music therapist, and to anyone working musically with people. Clive Robbins writes in the Preface “there is nectar to drink in these pages”.
Guitar Skills for Music Therapists and Music Educators
Peter Meyer, Jessica De Villers, and Erin Ebnet
This book and DVD are the ideal text to be used in functional guitar courses for music therapy and music education majors as well as anyone interested in learning the basics of guitar playing quickly. The text is designed to assist the student in developing their functional guitar skills in a fun and easy to follow format and can be used in both the classroom and for individual self study. The text and accompanying exercises begin with the very basics of guitar playing and expands into more challenging material as the reader progresses through the chapters. Topics covered include basic and advanced strumming patterns, fingerpicking, flatpicking, barre and power chords as well as authentic stylistic accompaniment in styles such as the Blues, Jazz, Rock and R & B. In addition to functional guitar skills, music therapy/improvisational applications are also discussed and demonstrated through modifications including alternate tunings and the use of slide guitar.
Improvising in Styles: A Workbook for Music Therapists, Educators, and Musicians
Colin Lee and Marc Houde
It is surprising there are only a few published guides on how to learn to clinically improvise. This publication aims to redress this gap by providing a comprehensive workbook specifically designed to give music therapists the tools to successfully improvise in their work. Knowledge of formal properties of music and associated cultural contexts will inform and influence the practice of music therapy. Each player and therapist must find their own way of playing so they can bring musical authenticity to their work. Just as piano students explore different interpretations and meanings of the same Beethoven sonata, so each exercise can be interpreted and applied according to the therapist’s own developing voice. The layout of the workbook was designed to make the content practical, accessible and concrete. By basing oneself in authentic musical renditions, readers will experience each style in way that cannot be described in words. This publication can be used as a reference, in order to address specific clinical situations, and as a daily practicing guide for long-term study. The book contains valuable information for therapists, educators and general musicians interested in developing the use improvisation in their work.
Developments in Music Therapy Practice: Case Study Perspectives
Anthony Meadows
IN PRESS: To be released in 2011.
