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Music therapy was first introduced in Iceland by Mr. Eyjòlfur Melsted in 1970. He graduated from the Hochschule für Music und Darstellende Kunst in Vienna, Austria and practiced music therapy at Kòpavogshælid, a residential institution for the severely disabled from l970 to 1973; and at Safamyrarskòli, a special school for the disabled from 1983 to 1987. At present he is practicing in Austria.
Music therapy has been introduced to health care professionals and the general public through personal endeavors. In 1986 an introductory newsletter on music therapy was distributed and articles on music therapy have been published in newspapers, magazines and various professional journals. A couple of radio programs on music therapy have also been broadcasted by the National Broadcasting Service. Besides workshops and lectures given at various institutions, schools and associations every year, occasionally Icelanders have had the opportunity to attend seminars and experiential workshops given by Mr. Claus Bang from Denmark, Mr. Joseph Moreno from the U.S.A. and the founder of the Drake Research Project, Ms. Adele Drake and her associates from England. Music therapy is thus relatively well known to parents' associations and various health care professionals, contrary to what might be expected.
Employment
Music therapy is not a recognized profession within the National Health Service, the Social Service or the Educational System, and has not been granted an official approval. Practicing music therapists are not licensed and there is no designated music therapy positions within the social infrastructure. Music therapists have, however, been employed by the State. They have occupied teachers positions or been hired as contractors and have had considerable freedom to shape their music therapy practice.
Music therapists have worked in residential institutions for the severely disabled and in special schools with the same population. The School for the Deaf employed a music therapist the school year 1990 to1991. From 1987 to 2000 the Reykjavik Children's Music School ran a department to serve children with special-needs. This department worked in collaboration with Tonstofa Valgerdar, a private music therapy practice. The State Child Psychiatric Hospital has paid for music therapy services on an hourly basis since 1987. Although limited in scope, music therapy serves an assessment function in the interdisciplinary team at this hospital. Tonstofa Valgerdar was established in 1987. This music school and a private music therapy practice serves 50 to 60 students/clients a week. The clients' ages vary from very young to adults and their disabilities span a broad spectrum.
Wherever music therapy has been introduced as a treatment modality, it has been met with respect and interest. Music therapy practice has also been appreciated and regarded as a viable form of therapy by parents, caretakers and health care professionals.
Theoretical orientations
Today, one can obviously not talk about an Icelandic "school" of music therapy. However, in the future, music therapy in Iceland will undoubtedly reflect the different backgrounds, schooling and experiences of the pioneers in this field. Practices will be eclectic in nature and characterized by a variety of opinions, methods, techniques and philosophies without any single one prevailing. It is hoped that such a diversity will be beneficial to the development of the profession and not a hindrance. In general, people in the helping professions, such as psychologists, psychiatrists, speech, occupational and physical therapists, many social workers and special teachers, to name a few, travel abroad to further their education or specialization. These specialists have gone to the United States, to Scandinavia and Europe; their education and theoretical orientations are thus varied like the music therapists. Undoubtedly, this broad perspective has been beneficial for the practice of music therapy as health professionals are accustomed to considering diverse theoretical orientation.
The core of music therapy work in Iceland is carried out in the above mentioned private practice where individuals of different ages and with different problems, such as: mental retardation, learning disabilities, multiple handicaps, psychiatric disorders, social, emotional and behavioral problems, sensory impairments, communication disorders, physical and orthopedic handicaps, neurological impairments, life threatening diseases, and other disabling conditions benefit from the power of music and the relationships developed through it.
Serving individuals who vary so greatly in their functional abilities, experiences, needs and strengths, has called for a comprehensive approach to music therapy; an approach that is eclectic in nature, rooted in many different treatment theories and methodologies. An active vocal, instrumental, and movement improvisation is used, in conjunction with a variety of structures, musical and non-musical tasks, such as listening, performing, composing, movement, dance, play, art, and story-telling.
The Future
In 1997 three music therapists staying in Iceland at that time, managed to form the Icelandic music therapy association (Físmús). The association is presently working towards gaining an official approval and recognition from the Ministry of Health. This process has yet led us nowhere despite phone calls, e-mails, meetings, official letters, and information packages (introducing music therapy, our education, our practices, the status in other countries, etc.). In the year 2001 Físmús and the Icelandic art therapy association decided to join forces in this campaign. Musicking together we also decided to form a coalition of the fine art therapies (an umbrella association). It is believed that such an organization will be instrumental in making our presence felt stronger and also in providing support on both personal and professional level.
Presently Físmús is also working towards the development of a code of ethics and standards for professional registration. An Icelandic music therapy educational/training program comparable to those in the other Nordic countries has not been developed. If at all feasible for such a small nation, it will be an exciting task for the second or third generation of Icelandic music therapists. As mentioned before, those interested in music therapy seek their education in different countries and this variability has hitherto only been regarded advantageous for our profession.
Today, and to the best of knowledge, eleven Icelanders have degrees in music therapy and at least three more are presently studying music therapy. These degrees have been acquired from five different schools: the Hochschule für Music und Darstellende Kunst, Vienna; the Capilano College, Vancouver; the University of Kansas, Lawrence; the Aalborg University, Aalborg; and the Norwegian Academy of Music, Oslo. For the past thirty-five years, only one to three of these have been practicing at any given time and when this is written only six music therapists are living in Iceland.
Three new research projects, two undertaken by Icelandic master students graduating from Aalborg university in Denmark (a research done with patients with Alzheimer's disease and another with cancer patients) and a research done by a music therapist finishing her doctoral degree in psychology from University of Leicester in England (The Relative Effect of Short Term Interpersonal Cognitive Problem Solving Therapy With Young Children) have already been instrumental in introducing music therapy to a broader range of health care professionals. Whether these research projects will develop into new music therapy practices has however yet to be seen. . The initiation of music therapy practice into new clinical areas, has been slow and difficult. Although small private conquests have been made, no actual developments have occurred. The state of music therapy in Iceland could thus be described as prolonged infancy.
Closer professional contact with colleagues in other countries has become realized both through personal contacts developed in relation to our education and also through sharing of information on the world wide web. The increase in number and availability of interesting books on music therapy has also made a difference for us Icelanders. In our campaign for recognition organizations like the World Federation of Music Therapy Incorporated and the European Music Therapy Confederation will undoubtedly be instrumental.
What the future holds is difficult to foresee but unless more music therapists become practitioners, music therapy in Iceland will develop with the snail's speed as hitherto. If we make use of advancements in other countries and new research findings, maintain professional relationships with colleagues, and build our self-esteem and identity as knowledgeable professionals with an important and a unique medium our future will be bright and exciting.
Reykjavík, Iceland February 8th 2005.
Delegate:
Valgerður Jónsóttir, music therapist.
The Icelandic music therapy association, Físmús, Hátúni 12, 105 Reykjavík
Iceland
tonsvj@mmedia.is
Phone: +354 5612288
+354 8622040
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