NORWAY

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

1960: Nordic Association of Music Therapy (Nordisk Forbund for musikkterapi)

1970-ies: Nordoff and Robbins held music therapy workshops in Norway

1972: Norwegian Association for Music Therapy with the journal “Musikkterapi”

1978: The first two-years post-baccalaureate full time training program in music therapy started in Oslo at Norwegian State Academy of Oslo (former Østlandet’s Music Conservatory)

1988: Two-years post-baccalaureate full time training program at The Faculty of Higher Education at Sandane

1991: First Nordic Conference in Music Therapy, Sandane

1991: Nordic Journal of Music Therapy

1992: The Programs fully approved by the Government

1993: MA Program (hovedfag) at the Norwegian State Academy of Oslo

1997: First Norwegian Conference in Music Therapy, Oslo

1999: Ph.D. Program at the Norwegian State Academy of Oslo

2000: MA Program (hovedfag) at Sandane (in co-operation with Oslo)

2001: “Voices”. A World Forum for Music Therapy

2003: One-year baccalaureate training program in Music and Health in Oslo at Norwegian State Academy of Music, and at The Faculty of Higher Education at Sandane.

2004: Two.years MA-training program in Music therapy in Oslo at Norwegian State Academy of Music, and at The Faculty of Higher Education at Sandane.

MUSIC THERAPY TRAINING PROGRAMS

Norwegian academy of Music:

Contactperson/ coordinator
Rita Strand Frisk, Music Therapist
E-mail: Rita.S.Frisk@nmh.no
Address: Norges Musikkhøgskole, P.b 5190 Majorstuen, 0302 Oslo
Telephone: +47 23 36 72 55
Fax: +47 23 36 72 01
website: www.nmh.no

1. One-year baccalaureate full time training program in Music and Health.

2. Two-years full time training program, MA, in Music therapy.

3. Doctoral Program (Ph.D).

The Grieg Academy - music department, University of Bergen:

Contactperson/ coordinator
Rudy Garred, Ph.D, Music Therapist
E-mail: Rudy.Garred@grieg.uib.no / studieveileder.grieg@uib.no
Address: Lars Hilles gate 3, 5015 Bergen
Telephone: +47 55 58 69 61/ +47 97 47 92 95
Fax: +47 55 58 69 60
website: www.hf.uib.no/grieg

1. One-year baccalaureate full time training program in Music and Health.

2. Two-years full time training program, MA, in Music therapy.

THEORETICAL FOUNDATION

Eclectic philosophy based on humanistic psychology, (special) educational music therapy, “psychotherapeutic” music therapy and music as Cultural Engagement. Improvisation has always been a central part of the repertoire in the programs, due to the influences by Nordoff and Robbins. No commonly definition of Music Therapy. The definitions vary from (Even Ruud 1990): “Music therapy is the use of music to increase possibilities of actions”, to Kenneth Bruscia’s definition (in Defining Music Therapy, 1998 2^nd edition).

The Norwegian approach to music therapy in the training programs includes:

1. Theory and methods: E.g. Theory of music therapy, Improvisation, Composition, Clinical music therapy, Projects, Drama

2. Pedagogical and psychological skills: E.g. Neuropsychology,, Psychology, Special education theory

3. Musical- and personal development: E.g. Different musical courses, Self-experience, Functional piano, GIM level I, Supervised clinical work (1 day a week)

RECOGNITION

Approx. 250 trained music therapists in Norway. Fully approved by the Government in 1992. Granted a code, which secures the rights of music therapists having an approved diploma from the Academy (or it’s equivalent)

JOURNALS

Nordic Journal of Music Therapy
Editor-in-chief: Brynjulf Stige, E-mail: brynjulf.stige@sts.hisf.no, Http://www.hisf.no/njmt

Musikkterapi

E-mail: info@musikkterapi.no, Http://www.musikkterapi.no

“Voices”

A World Forum for Music Therapy, Editors-in-chief: Carolyn Kenny (USA/Canada) and Brynjulf Stige (Norway) E-mail: brynjulf.stige@sts.hisf.no, Http://www.voices.no

MUSIC THERAPY ASSOCIATION

The Norwegian Association for Music Therapy (Norsk Forening for Musikkterapi, NFMT) was founded in 1972. Since 1981 NFMT has been a member of The Council for Music Organisations in Norway (Norsk Musikkråd, NMR. NFMT has approx. 400 members. Besides music therapists and students, these members represent a wide spectre of professional areas. E-mail: info@musikkterapi.no, Http://www.musikkterapi.no

TRADE UNION FOR MUSIC THERAPISTS

Norwegian Musicians’ Union (Musikernes Fellesorganisasjon e.g. MFO), E-mail: majliss.mydske@musikerorg.no, http:://musikerorg.no

WORKING AREAS FOR MUSIC THERAPISTS

2. Clinical- or psychiatric work: E.g. Hospital (e.g. palliative, cancer), Psychiatric hospital, Geriatric ward, Private music therapy centra, Childcare institution

3. Community-based work: E.g. Cultural engagement (culture and health), Youth clubs, Activity centre e.g. mentally handicapped, Projects, Human service system e.g. health stations

4. Consultants: E.g. Health care system, Administration, Education (high school, university), Counselling, County team, Autism centre, Observation center

RELEVANT LITERATURE (published in English)

DELEGATE : Kerstin Dyblie Erdal, music therapist, Oslo Voksenopplæring, avd. Skullerud.