Julie Sutton

A Dialogue with Prof. Tony Wigram: Considering Music Therapy and Music Therapy Research in a Changing World

This article reviews the career and publications of Prof. Tony Wigram. This enables the reader to follow the changing face of British music therapy during the period from its origins to the present day. Through tracking the career of a prominent and internationally renowned UK therapist, it is possible to illustrate the ways in which music therapy has developed since the early days of working towards a professional profile, through the growth of the profile of the profession in a variety of ways, including the long period of work towards national registration. There is consideration of the changes in the topics and nature of publications and research, undertaken in response to the changing environments in which therapist work. It is anticipated that current practising music therapists will find this review of interest in a number of ways: as a historic record of the growth of the profession seen through the eyes of an active teacher, author and researcher; a resource of great current and future value in terms of the ideas and publications presented across the spread of the UK profession; a springboard from which to view the future.

International Interview Series

For this editions interview and bearing in mind the forthcoming World Music Therapy Congress in Brisbane, well-known Australian music therapists Denise Grocke and Sue Coull offer a perspective of developments in music therapy in their country. This is balanced with comments from Kay Sobey, who along with Sarah Hoskyns is leaving her post during the next months. It seems fitting to both mark their influence and include their insights into the profession in this and a forthcoming edition of the journal.

The invisible handshake: A context for improvisation in music therapy

Improvisation is a fundamental aspect of music therapy practice but until recently was much neglected by researchers. This article outlines hitherto unpublished findings from doctorate research completed in 2001, at a time when few investigations were being undertaken. The findings stand the test of time and are detailed in the article as well as updated within the current literature context. The strength of the research is in consideration of underlying temporal, relational aspects of improvisation, which show how improvisations in music and in everyday conversation have both similarities and differences at deeper, structural levels. This research is of interest to current researchers, improvisers and Music Therapists.

Issues in the Training of Music Therapists — Two Views from the Past

Relating to the leading article in this edition of the journal, we reprint two short contributions published between 1988 and 1993, focusing on different issues about music therapy training. While these articles originally stood alone, they can be seen as perspectives from the past that also resonate with the present, and the current issue of the journal. They also draw together some general and specific ideas about the development of music therapy and the place of training programmes within this, a topic that is embedded in the Interviews from this issue. Taken as a whole, while very much of their time, these views from the past enable us to both look back and forwards, and provide another perspective from which to view this edition of the journal.

European Perspective Interview Series 2 The Finnish Perspective

This second set of interviews follows on from the previous issue. It focuses on further exploring some aspects of music therapy in the UK and in other countries that were raised in the last interview. In this case, we are concentrating on Finland, the host country for the 2004 European Congress. Two Finnish music therapists are interviewed: Jaakko Erkkilä and Esa Ala-Ruona. Jaakko runs the music therapy masters training course at the University of Jyväskylä and he is Vice President of the European Confederation of Music Therapy. Esa trains music therapists and also works within the area of psychiatry as a clinician, supervisor and researcher. He is the chairperson of the Finnish Society for Music Therapy. The UK perspective is given by Judith Nockolds, the Chair of the Association of Professional Music Therapists. Judith works as a clinician with children, young people and adults with a wide range of needs. She is also involved in training and has a private supervision practice.

Introducing the New Interview Series: The UK and a European Perspective

Readers of the BJMT will be aware that a series of interviews with UK-based music therapists (the Historical Perspectives Series) has now come to an end. It was fitting that the final two interviews marked the contributions of two administrators. Both Denize Christophers for the BSMT and Diana Asbridge for the APMT gave a strong impression of the huge development of UK music therapy over the years. Looking to the future, this development looks set to continue worldwide. In the UK, we are concerned in particular with the administration of our professional bodies and working within the framework of State Registration and Continuing Professional Development. Following on from the first set of interviews, the new series will add a broader perspective, incorporating contributions from both inside and outside the UK. This will offer us an opportunity to view UK music therapy within another framework – one that is grounded in our history, while also acknowledging changes within the profession, and looking towards future developments. It is a conscious move from the past to the future, and will contribute to the ongoing dialogue between the UK and the rest of Europe at a time of significant change. The following set of three interviews incorporates the thoughts of therapists who are directly involved with developments in music therapy in different areas of Europe. Tony Wigram will need no introduction, and here he writes in his capacity as a colleague who has considerable experience of work in the UK and in Europe (in particular, his involvement with the Masters and PhD courses in Aalborg, Denmark). Nigel Hartley who, as Chairperson of the APMT, represents the UK profession at an exciting and challenging point in its history, is also informed by his experience of working in other European countries. Jos De Backer, the head of the Leuven Music Therapy Masters in Belgium, and a well known presenter and teacher in many European countries, is also the current President of the European Music Therapy Confederation (EMTC). For the interview, each of these experienced therapists was asked a series of questions, which fell into four categories: general perspectives of the state of the profession employment and clinical practice research and training the UK perspective Questions and answers are printed below. The broad range of opinion and experience documented offers a unique view of the profession as a whole, and of how developments in the UK fit within a European perspective. In forthcoming editions of the Journal, a series of further interviews will develop the themes identified by Hartley, Wigram and De Backer. It is apt that the interviews end with De Backers acknowledgement of the fact that whereas the many differences between countries cause challenges, these differences also ultimately add to a richness and breadth of knowledge and experience which must, at all costs, be respected. At times of change it is essential to bear this sentiment in mind.