Baselines in Music Therapy

My interview as a guest on SurroundSounds. Listen to SurroundSounds on...Apple Podcasts:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/surroundsounds/id1705938397Or YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@APlaceToBe/videos

Today I speak with two UK-based music therapists about their journeys to Neurologic Music Therapy Services Of Arizona.Emma Bailey is a UK-based Music Therapist and music therapy Supervisor. Originally trained at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, Emma has studied infant mental health and child development at the Tavistock Clinic and the School of Infant Mental Health in London, and she completed the additional NMT training in 2019. As a Music Therapist in a National Health Child Development Service, as well as in private practice, Emma specialises in short-term interventions with children with significant developmental needs, and their parents or caregivers. Emma has been published in the British Journal of Music Therapy and has presented her work at the European Music Therapy Conference (EMTC2022). In addition to her music therapy practice, Emma also runs developmental music groups for pre-school children and their families in her local community. Mary-Clare Fearn is an experienced clinician, trainer, and consultant within music therapy.  She qualified from Roehampton UK in 1990 and since then, her clinical experience has been varied, including work with young people and adults with learning and physical disabilities, autism, brain injuries and children that are looked after or adopted and their families.  Mary-Clare is an affiliate of the Academy of Neurologic Music Therapy and has expertise in blending approaches and supporting diverse groups of staff to develop their understanding and working practice, she is also a music therapy supervisor.  She plays and sings in local amateur musical ensembles. Mary-Clare writes about her work and has presented at national and international conferences.  Some notable publications are ‘Attachment theory and attachment difficulties: supporting autistic children and young people in residential school settings’ in Good Autism Practice, Volume 22, Number 2 (2021),‘Music and Attuned Movement Therapy’ in Collaboration and Assistance in Music Therapy Practice, London; Jessica Kingsley Publishers (2017), ‘Collaborative working at the Cheyne Day Centre, London’ in Integrated Team Working: Music Therapy as Part of Transdisciplinary and Collaborative Approaches, London; Jessica Kingsley Publishers (2008)You can contact Emma at emmamusictherapist@protonmail.com or find her on X as @emmalisabailey You can contact Mary-Clare at maryclaremusictherapist@aol.com  References for show notes:Fournier et al (2010) “Motor Coordination in Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Synthesis and Meta-Analysis” Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders 40:1227–1240 DOI 10.1007/s10803-010-0981-3 Donellan et al (2013) “Rethinking autism: implications of sensory and movement differences for understanding and support” Frontiers in Integrative Neuroscience  Vol. 6. Article 124 doi: 10.3389/fnint.2012.00124 Jansen & Thaut (2018) “Rethinking the role of music in the neurodevelopment of ASD” Music and Science Vol. 1 1-18. DOI: 10.1177/2059204318769639

Ingrid Gruett completed her Bachelor of Music degree from the Wheaton College Conservatory of Music, her Music Therapy Equivalency from St. Mary-of-the-Woods College, and her Master of Music Degree from Alverno College.  Ingrid is a board-certified music therapist, a Wisconsin Music Therapist-Registered and a Certified Dementia Practitioner who specializes in providing evidenced-based services and 1:1 support to persons with dementia and to their caregivers. Ingrid is the owner and director of Middleton Music Therapy Services, LLC.  Her master’s thesis is a philosophical inquiry entitled, “Music Therapy Techniques for Dysregulation in Autistics Applied to Agitation with Late-Onset Alzheimer’s: A Case Study" which is the topic of our discussion today.

Joe Thompson is a Neurologic Music Therapist currently working at Spring Forward Family Centre in Penrith, NSW. He specialises in using the properties of music, especially rhythm, to support Autistic people to navigate their sensory and movement challenges. Much of his approach is informed by experiences he gained while working overseas at Neurologic Music Therapy Services Of Arizona in Phoenix, USA. As well as a clinician, Joe has served as past chair of the AMTA NSW branch, and creator and host of this podcast.

Suzanne Oliver is the founder and executive director of Neurologic Music Therapy Services Of Arizona - an NMT clinic based in Phoenix, AZ that has been serving the community there for over 40 years. Over the years, she has employed up to as many as 21 therapists at one time, and currently has 6 NMTs working in their clinical setting serving a variety of children and adults with neurologic impairments. Additionally, from 2007 thru 2019, NMTSA  had a school for non-speaking students with autism, providing them with grade level curriculum and communication and behavioral support at a 1:1 level.  Suzanne is also the chair of the NMT Academy Advisory Council, and is Academy assistant faculty for the NMT International training institutes. She is considered one of the world’s leading clinicians in the field of NMT with developmental disabilities, and in particular Autism.  Throughout her career she has impacted the lives of countless clients, families, NMTs, interns, mentees and other allied health clinicians.  

Today’s guest on baselines is Samantha Schoeler Jones. This episode continues with our international theme, but allows for a hiatus from the people I met on my America trip, as we follow Sam’s own extraordinary journey which took her to the other side of the northern hemisphere. There are few people who can claim to have a more colourful answer to ‘how did you become a music therapist’ than Sam Samantha completed a Bachelor of Music in Performance in flute at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts with the late Richard Gill as the Dean in 1991. After graduating, she commenced her performance career, which included performing casually with the West Australian Symphony Orchestra. Passionate about teaching flute, Samantha taught extensively across Perth, including having a teaching position at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts. In 1995, she was accepted into the Franz Liszt Hochschule für Musik in Weimar, Germany, to complete further studies with Professor Robert Winn, former Principal Flautist of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, London. In 1997, Samantha moved to Berlin to complete a degree in Music Therapy at The Institute fuer Musiktherapie. On returning to Australia in 2004, she decided to combine her experience as a music therapist and educator completing a Diploma in Secondary Education at The University of New England. Between 2007 and 2017, she worked as a classroom music specialist with the Department of Education, teaching and conducting recorder ensembles, choirs and school band programs across several schools in the Blue Mountains.  As a Registered Music Therapist, Samantha has worked with Sing&Grow since 2012 first as a contractor before becoming a clinical specialist in 2017 and Community Partner with Mission Australia in their Communities for Children program, providing early intervention music therapy services to families and children 0-5 in South West Sydney.  

Cheryl Butterworth is the Operations manager at Neurologic Music Therapy Services Of Arizona. She is also the mother of a long-term client of the clinic, Colin, who has Autism. In this episode, Cheryl shares the joys and challenges, as well as some funnier moments from their journey.

Leanna is the clinical training director at the Neurologic Music Therapy Services of Arizona. Leanna attended Appalachian State University for her undergraduate degree, and completed her Master's Degree through Colorado State University. Having been exposed to a lot of GIM-style music therapy in her undergrad, she was excited to eventually learn about Neurologic music therapy and how it can be implemented. She worked at a company called Life in Harmony Music Therapy, LLC from 2016-2019, and then started working for NMTSA at the end of 2019. In her spare time she provides a few private piano lessons, guitar lessons, adaptive lessons, and private client sessions through her side gig: Moore Than Music. Leanna feels blessed to be married to her best friend and high school sweetheart Billy. Together they have two dogs and a cat, and their first baby was born a few weeks after recording this interview! Outside of music she loves to run, hike, travel, eat, read, and spend time with family and  friends.

Jessi Teich is a PhD candidate in Music and Health Sciences at the University of Toronto. In 2007, she received a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from Berklee College of Music. After graduating Magna Cum Laude, Jessi taught lessons while pursuing a music career during which she won over a dozen international songwriting awards and recorded several albums, including two in Paris. In 2017, after a decade-long career, she decided to restructure the role that music played in her life. Subsequently, in 2020, she completed a Master of Music in Music Therapy at Arizona State University. This included fulfilling her internship, completing her neurologic music therapy (NMT) training, and eventually working as a part time clinician under the tutelage of Suzanne Oliver at Neurologic Music Therapy Services of Arizona. Her experience working with various neurodivergent populations in a clinical setting led her to become curious regarding the many facets of NMT. Jessi’s current research interests include the application of NMT regarding motor learning, sensory processing, and self-regulation in children with autism.   

Erin Skinner is a Registered Music Therapist, with a broad range of experience working with groups and individuals across the life span. She is currently working with children and families in mental health, and in disability. She has a passion for working alongside children and families to support healthy relationships, emotional wellbeing, resilience and creative self-expression through strengths-based approaches.Today we chatted about approaches, the role of music, transcendence and how personality impacts therapy 

Tegan is a Registered Music Therapist, Neurologic Music Therapist, and Music Tutor currently practicing in regional NSW. She has run a private music therapy practice for four years and has recently opened a music school to better serve the local community. She acts as the regional representative for the AMTA NSW branch and is passionate about closing the gap of services available in regional and metro areas.I invited her on so that we could discuss a topic that has always been of interest to me – what its like being a music therapist outside of the big cities

Ann Lehmann-Kuit is an experienced Nordoff Robbins music therapist, lecturer, guitar teacher, performer and community event organiser. She is passionate about giving people of all ages opportunities to ignite their expressive confidence.  Ann lectures at Western Sydney University in the MCMT program and lectures in the undergraduate music degree at UOW.  Ann is senior music therapist at the Wollongong Conservatorium of Music where she also teaches Classical Guitar. Ann coordinates Jam n Bread, an intergenerational series of free musical community gatherings featuring musicians from different cultural backgrounds, runs Folk School at the Illawarra Folk Festival and is artistic director of KidsFest Shellharbour, a free weeklong festival for children, their families and carers. She is currently completing an arts-based Master of Research exploring neurodiversity, song creation, expressive confidence and mental health – which is the topic of our conversation today.

Pete McDonald graduated with a Bachelor of Music majoring in Jazz piano performance, receiving the Student of the Year award, and spent a long time practicing, gigging, teaching, recording, composing, and other music related activities aiming to pay off a mortgage and get two kids through school.  After returning to study and completing his Masters of Music Therapy, as well as training in Neurologic Music Therapy, he now focuses on clinical work (along with the occasional gig with The Groove Therapists). This includes working with children with special needs, adults with disability and clients with dementia. One of Pete's many strengths is his ability to connect with clients in a fun and engaging way to help them achieve their goals.  His Music Therapy work with older adults has included weekly visits to facilities owned by Anglicare Retirement Villages, Hammondcare, Catholic Healthcare and Heritage Care. He was part of the initial launch of Hammondcare's "Arts on Prescription" project, funded by the Australian Government with research performed by the University of NSW. He also featured on the ABC Catalyst TV episode "Healthy Ageing", which looked into research on how socialisation can impact the brain.  His work with children with special needs has included providing music therapy services for Sound Expression, Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy Australia, KU Children's Services, Hebersham Public School (Autism unit), Giant Steps, The Ponds School, and Tallowood School.  Pete is also a guest lecturer for the Masters of Creative Music Therapy at Western Sydney University.Grace holds a Masters of Creative Music Therapy from Western Sydney University and a Bachelor of Arts in Media from Macquarie University majoring in music production and performance.  Grace’s music therapy experience includes working in education and health facilities with children and adolescents with a range of disabilities.  She specialises in designing and facilitating music therapy programs for early intervention and is skilled in delivering capacity-building strategies using music to support children and adults with a hearing impairment.   Within a music therapy context, Grace draws on her improvisation, aural and rhythmic skills to connect and build positive therapeutic relationships with clients to support the achievement of their non-musical goals.  As well as her career as a Music Therapist, Grace is an experienced vocalist, pianist, guitarist and drummer and performs as part of a band called The Groove Therapists.In this episode, Grace and Pete talk with Joe their new album: New Songs for Music Therapy Volume I.           

Adam van Eyk is an RMT currently working for Noro Music Therapy as the new graduate RMT manager and supervisor. Previously Adam has filled roles within Noro of Aged Care & Adult Disability Practice Lead, Assets Manager and member of the clinic operations team. Outside of music therapy, Adam is an avid performer in different tribute shows all over Sydney playing both saxophone and guitar. 

Tanya is a Registered Music Therapist based in Sydney, Australia. In 2019, Tanya was invited to speak about her PhD research at the inaugural TEDxNewtown event. More recently, Tanya was named the inaugural recipient of the 2020-2021 Australian Music Therapist of the Year award for her contribution to the field of music therapy. Over the years, Tanya has presented internationally and nationally on her research and clinical work. Her research can be found in journals such International Journal of Stroke, Nordic Journal of Music Therapy, Australian Journal of Music Therapy, amongst others. Over the years, Tanya has established multiple ongoing music therapy programs in Australia and India. Identifying as an Australian of Indian origin, Tanya continues to work hard to advocate for the importance of visibility and representation in music therapy.Image Description (of headshot): Tanya, a woman of Indian origin, can be found smiling in the centre of this photo. Tanya has mid-length straight black hair and brown skin. She is wearing a white top with sparse black feather-like patterns. 

Geena Cheung is a Registered Music Therapist with a passion for aged care. Since graduating from Western Sydney University in 2018, she has had the privilege to work with a diverse range of clinical populations at Schools for Specific Purposes (SSPs), a women's refuge, multiple aged care homes, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, and in private practice. She also has strong interests in research and has been involved in projects as Co-Researcher and Research Assistant. Outside of music therapy, Geena is a Leading Aged Services Australia (LASA) Young Ambassador and a hobbyist of too many (or just enough) things.

Ali is a Registered Music Therapist, an Academic and a Music Tutor. She currently works part-time for Sing&Grow Australia, working to promote secure attachment with vulnerable families with young children 0-5 years old. She also works casually at Both Worlds School of Music teaching clarinet, piano and musicianship, casually as an academic for the Music Therapy Course at Western Sydney University, and casually as a professional development workshop facilitator. After completing a Bachelors in Music Education and Masters in Creative Music Therapy, she continued on to further research. In 2014, she completed a PhD in how the experience of mother-infant singing interaction contributes to attachment. In 2017, she completed a Masters in Special Education (deaf and hard of hearing) and since becoming a mother, she has also completed courses to facilitate The Circle of Security Parenting Program and Bringing Up Great Kids program.She is passionate about empowering others to reach their full potential, whether this is facilitating positive parent-child interactions and building parenting skills, helping students to develop a system for building an essay argument or finally mastering a tricky note on the clarinet.In the episode, Ali and Joe discuss connection and attunement - between parents and children, clients and therapists and introspectively within oneself.

Tom is a Hobart-based freelance composer and pianist, with a bachelors of music from the university of Tasmania and a masters of composition from the university of Melbourne. Tom has composed pieces for some of Australia’s most notable musical ensembles, including the Australian Chamber Orchestra, Australian Youth Orchestra, Ensemble Offspring, the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and the Tasmania Symphony Orchestra.I approached Tom to be interviewed because of a commission he received in 2018 to compose a piece for the Hush Foundation. Tom and I chat about his commission, the Hush foundation, and the parallels between music therapy and music in medicine.

Matthew Breaden is a Registered Music Therapist and has worked with children and adults of all ages in allied health centres, private practice, school, and home settings. Matthew focuses on strengths-based approaches to intervention and has a particular interest in ecological appoaches to therapeutic work, including the involvement of families. His PhD investigated the applicability of using Figurenotes in music therapy by children with autism and their families. Matthew also works as a Research Officer and Casual Academic at Western Sydney University and believes strongly in the need for integration of practice and research.Matthew and Joe discuss the content of Matthew's PhD research and its implications, as well as what to expect next in the field of music therapy research.

Al has been a Registered Music Therapist for over 25 years, focusing onchildren and family-centred practice with children on the autism spectrum,children experiencing hearing loss, families from diverse cultural backgroundsand families with complex needs. She is a Neurologic Music Therapist (NMT),with advanced training in this approach and a fellow of the Academy ofNeurologic Music Therapy. Her present roles are as Lecturer, teaching intothe Masters of Creative Music Therapy at Western Sydney University, andDirector of MusicConnect, a music therapy service provider for families withcomplex needs. Al is a current PhD candidate at Western Sydney Universitywhere she is completing her doctorate in the use of visual supports withinmusic therapy practice across face-to-face and telehealth platforms. Inaddition, Al is the invited guest editor for the upcoming special edition of theAustralian Journal of Music Therapy titled: “This is Australia… Music TherapyDown Under During & Beyond Covid19”.In this episode, Joe and Al discuss what changes Al has witnessed over her years of practice, and how she brings this to her teaching role. They also cover Al's extensive contribution to telehealth practice.