Newsletter - Manfred and Penny Conrad Institute for Music Therapy ...

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A Message of Introduction22Another winter sped by as we all prepared for a busy spring and (hopefully)relaxing summer time. Since the first Soundeffects and our first Annual SpringSymposium I have found it very interesting to hear about the research interestsof the LCMTR members all around the world. I have been especiallyimpressed with the high level of enthusiasm displayed. It has also been mostenjoyable to develop and start several Canadian interdisciplinary music therapyresearch projects.With this second issue of Soundeffects I hope to extend not only our readership,but also our topics, concerns and lines of communication. As a musictherapy researcher I often feel frustrated when applying for health care relatedfunding in Canada, and as a result find out that the reason I did not receiveanything was because “music therapy is not a recognized health care profession”or, because “there are not enough previous research available.” As aresponse for that, I personally have two options to choose: either become traumatized,paralyzed, depressive and stop trying, or start doing something veryconcrete... Since I obviously chose the latter of those options my passion stillremains in music therapy. My mission is to strengthen the relationshipbetween clinical practice and research, and my vision is to advance the statusof the music therapy discipline and profession. Doing something concretetogether will ultimately make some difference. To being with, we in the mentalhealth/medical/rehabilitation communities are living in an age of accountability!The global problem all over the world is that governmental money is beingslashed. Crucial questions we are facing are “Does music therapy work?” and“How can you prove that music therapy is working?” Concerns about theanswers to these questions have given rise to the LCMTR.It is not enough if we have this personal passion for music therapy. We oughtto do something in order to encourage government, private industry, insurancecompanies, mental health professionals, and consumer groups to understandand support music therapy as a viable health care profession. It is anodd paradox that music therapy has been recognized by the modern world foralmost seventy years and we music therapy researchers are still consideredpioneers of the field! In order not to behave like storks (those birds who hidetheir heads on the ground), we need to do something concrete. Building theLCMTR together could be one of those activities.One major objective I have is to promote a closer relationship between us(management board people and research cluster co-ordinators) and membership.I really believe there is no effective leadership without effective participatorymembers. We all need to be working together on the same page, topursue a shared set of destinations that stimulate a greater sense of mutualownership and responsibility for LCMTR. This will depend upon increasingcommunication between membership and administration. We need to continueto build an open, courteous contributory culture. I want you to feel thatyour voice is being heard, and that your voice can make a difference. I hopeto capture and make powerful use of the resources of our members in orderto continue to expand. That’s why I want to learn about the members’research needs, dreams and passions. I urge you to take your part in theLCMTR. The availability of this Soundeffects newsletter, our brand newwebsite, our chatting-rooms under each research cluster that will soon be upand running, memberships, e-mail correspondence, along with the more traditionalforms of mail and fax, all make it possible to keep closer communication,exchanging ideas, and collaborating.By completing research projects together at the LCMTR, we will endorse evidence-basedand practise-based approaches, maintaining the understandingthat research should represent the bedrock of clinical music therapy practise.As a music therapy research community we need to address how to definesuccess in music therapy treatment, and what constitutes satisfactory evidence.Our music therapy techniques, our understanding and our fields ofoperation are constantly expanding. LCMTR would like to be part of thisprocess.The following are the research clusters that we already have:>a “music psychotherapy cluster” accommodates research topics interested indifferent music psychotherapy and music group psychotherapy issues;>a “neuropsychological music therapy cluster” concentrates on music therapywith clients with neuropsychological challenges, such as dementia,Alzheimer’s and Autism;>a “communication accentuated music therapy cluster” includes early-infantinteraction research and music based communication research adapted tomusic therapy;>a “clinical recording of popular music as a music therapy tool cluster,”>a “using voice as a music therapy tool cluster,”>a “using voice as a music therapy tool cluster;”>a “music therapy and child birth cluster” researches the use of music therapyin the birthing process and in the development of mother-child relationships;>a “vibro-physioacoustic music therapy cluster” accommodates studies involvingvibroacoustic or physioacoustic research;>a “clinical improvisation and clinical listening cluster” includes studies thatare interested in analysing improvisation and clinical listening;>an “aesthetic music therapy cluster” welcomes a variety of musicological andethno musicological studies, Please, investigate our web-site and join theresearch cluster of your interest.Dr. Heidi Ahonen EerikainenDirector LCMTR
Over the next three years, as my morning walks got longer and longer and I took inmore of my community’s landscape and nuances, the proposal for the research centrealso got longer, more complex, and indeed more interesting.D r. Charles MorrisonTheCanadianCornerbyLaurel Young (LCMTR)1. For the readers of our newsletter who may not know who you are,how would you describe yourself and your role in the development of music therapyin Canada?This year I am celebrating my 50th year as an advocate for the music therapy profession.As a past President of the Canadian Association for Music Therapy (CAMT),author and editor of several publications, fundraiser and clinician, my efforts havealways been directed toward raising the profile of music therapy in Canada. In 1995 Ibecame the Chair of the Canadian Music Therapy Trust Fund (CMTTF) and with thehelp of the Canadian Music Industry we have financially supported over 290 projectsfrom coast to coast. These range from hospice for those in need of palliative care, centrefor the elderly, schools/treatment centre for children with special needs as well aswork with street kids, women in prison and persons who have experienced trauma.The CMMTF is celebrating its 10th Anniversary this year with several special initiativesand events, which will further raise the profile of the profession and increase publicawareness in terms of how music therapy can make a difference.2. In what ways do you feel that music therapy research is important tothe development of the profession in Canada?From my first years in the field until now I have seen many changes -- from workingin isolation to seeing a profession, which numbers over 400 persons -- 5 (soon to be 6)undergraduate courses for music therapy - A Masters Program, a music therapy centre,a centre for research and a trust fund which raises monies to support various musictherapy endeavors throughout this country. High quality research is one way in whichwe can keep our momentum moving forward as well as demonstrate the value of thework.3. Do you think that Canadian music therapy researchers can contributeto the profession on an international level? If so, how?As local chair for the first North American Joint Conference in Toronto in 1993 andperson responsible for creating the tapestries for the succeeding 1996 Joint Conferencein the USA, I strove to project our Canadian identity as a creative, energetic force, ableto take our place within the international community. I believe that music therapyresearchers who conduct academic and practical inquires that also reflect our uniqueCanadian identity and values will make the most important contributions.In this issue, apart from news, view and events, there are also articleswritten by Dr. Kimmo Lehtonen, Dr. Colin Andrew Lee, and Dr.Carolyn Arnason. The Soundeffects welcomes articles by any LCMTRmember. The newsletter is a place to share your research passion oryour research journey. Preparing an article for Soundeffects can be ahelpful step towards developing a longer, more academic journal submission.If you have an idea or a potential article please contact meat hahonen@wlu.ca. In the future we want to increase our effectiveness,our influence, and publish more statements and elaborations ofthe work we are all doing. So we need your help in this endeavor,and look forward to receiving contributions connected with music therapyresearch in its many aspects and applications from all over theworld. Also, if you have not already done so, we invite you to joinLCMTR and announcement lists, details of which can be found on theLCMTR website.Dr. Heidi Ahonen-Eerikainen,MTA, Psychotherapist, Group AnalystAssociate Professor of Music TherapyDirector of Laurier Centre for Music Therapy Research (LCMTR)t4. What kinds of research do you think are most importantand/or will have the most impact on the profession?In promoting music therapy to other professionals, I have had to justify ourexistence time and again. Research projects that are relevant to frontlinemusic therapy practice are very important. One of the best ways to “prove”that music therapy is effective is by doing strong clinical work and researchthat supports this idea is a worthwhile endeavor.5. You have been a pioneer in the development of several successfulmusic therapy professional initiatives over the years. Do youhave any “words of wisdom” for the LCMTR?In 2001, the Canadian Music Therapy Trust Fund opened The MusicTherapy Centre, the first freestanding clinic/office of its kind in Canada. TheLCMTR has a similar opportunity to make unique and important contributionsto the field. It will be essential to create a centre that demonstrates a clearlydefined vision supported by partnerships that reflect both Canadian andInternational perspectives.ic therapy community are welcome.Contact managing board members by e-mail or call(519) 884-1970 ext. 2658/ext. 2431.Editor:Heidi Ahonen-Eerik inenAssistant Editor: Sunil KuruvillaLayout:Dawn www.wlu.caWharnsby33
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