What's New Archive 2002

• 'Sing and Grow' launch
• The Musical Brain
• The Oxford Experience
• Community-based "Sic" launched
• Sydney music therapists to feature on Compass in September
• Australia off to the World Congress
• New lecturers in two courses
• Congratulations to Dr Clare O'Callaghan and Dr Katrina Skewes
• Melbourne University honours Ruth Bright
• Opening of the Golden Stave Music Therapy Centre
• RMT's work featured on the ABC's Compass

'Sing & Grow' launched by Federal Minister for Children & Youth Affairs.

On Monday 25th November, 2002, Minister Larry Anthony took to a podium in the centre of the city of Brisbane to launch the CD produced by the innovative Sing & Grow team from Playgroup Queensland. Naturally there was singing, but Minister Anthony re-assured the audience that they wouldn't be subjected to his singing! Instead, the Music Therapist who directs the program, Vicky Abad, delighted the audience with a selection of songs from the CD.

Sing & Grow is a 2 year music therapy program funded by the Commonwealth Department of Family and Community Services. It is a new initiative project of Playgroup Queensland presented in partnership with the University of Queensland. While the CD has taken many months of production, the face-to-face Sing & Grow programs have been providing opportunities for families to access a weekly series of ten early intervention sessions in communities across South-East Queensland where families might experience difficulties accessing such services. Community programs are conducted by Registered Music Therapists from that area, with the aim of informing parents of ways music can facilitate play and interaction with their children that may lead to a closer bond in families and opportunities for child development.

The Musical Brain

In July, the Royal Institute in London hosted a one day seminar to explore music and the brain. In her introduction, Baroness Professor Susan Greenfield, Director of the Royal Institute explains that the beauty of the Institute's program is that it draws together people who may not normally be in contact with each other.

The innovative aspect of this site is that the programme is available via Macromedia Flash 6 audiostreaming (a very easily downloaded, free software for viewing multimedia on the web). You can listen and follow the slides for all the presentations at http://www.rigb.org/musicalbrain/index.html or for quick reference, you can view the abstracts at http://www.rigb.org/musicalbrain/abstracts/index.html

The Oxford experience

In July 2002, the world of music therapy converged on the classic city of Oxford for the World Congress in Music Therapy. Australia was well represented with some 10% of Australian RMTs being present. There views on the event will be included here over the coming weeks.
The very real outcome of this event is that Australia will host the next World Congress in Brisbane in July, 2005. At last, affordable airfares!

Denise Grocke RMT:
"In many respects the Oxford Congress for me was the highlight of my professional life. It was a great honour to serve the profession as President of the World Federation of Music Therapy, and I was glad that the Congress at the end of my term was in Oxford. Much of the "Oxford Experience" was dear to my heart, particularly Evensong in the Keble Chapel, where 500 music therapists sang beautiful hymns together. Other highlights were Evelyn Glennie's sensational performance at the opening, an outstanding Great Debate of "Music Therapy will not survive the 21st century", and a truly inspiring and deeply touching Keynote address from the Very Reverend Michael Maine, whose final words to us were "human beings are not a problem to be solved, but a mystery to be loved".

Dianne Alison RMT:
"The Oxford congress was awesome, exciting, challenging and enlivening. Awesome because: colleges and buildings are many hundreds of years old and tower majestically over the Oxford lanes and streets; flowering baskets hang from olde English lamp-posts; libraries are filled with incredibly old works by the famous and infamous; and an air of pomp truly pervades the city. Exciting because of: delicious dining in Harry Potteresque grandeur; basket lunches of seared tuna, salmon, vegetables, cheeses and fruits; venturing into the country-side; great coffees at Nero's; meeting new faces and matching familiar names to unfamiliar faces; Argentinean guitars playing under a perfect English summer evening sky whilst drinking a French red; and singing. Challenging because of: decisions about which of the 15 concurrent papers to attend; diverse practices and philosophies; methodological divergence; and presenting a scientifically-oriented research paper in a generally non-scientifically research oriented group. Enlivening because experiences such as this help to define and re-define aspects of clinical practice and research of both the individual and the profession, whatever the orientation. It was absolutely worth the time, effort and money to attend the 10th World Federation Congress in Oxford. Roll on Brisbane!"

Katrina Skewes RMT:
For me, it was walking around the streets of Oxford surrounded by music therapists - an amazing experience which made me feel both proud and excited. Then the opportunity to hear presentations made by people for whom English is not their first language. This material was fascinating and full of perspectives I had not considered and sources I did not know, but I was also full of sheer admiration for their courage and abilities in another language. And finally, discussion of improvisation was everywhere and I wallowed in it along with my European colleagues, searching for answers, techniques and inspiration.

Kate MacDonald RMT:
For me, the World Congress was a great opportunity to rejoice with like-minded people on the art of music as therapy, and music in therapy. A wide variety of presentations opened my eyes to new ways of working and thinking, and made me proud to be an Australian RMT - by all accounts, we do good work, write well, lead well, and speak well. And........what a great chance to network with (aka drink with) those big-name international music therapists who were consistently quoted in my own (and many others) student clinic reports and assignments around the country! If only I'd taken all of my text books to be signed by the authors!

Vicky Abad RMT:
Attending was an amazing experience, especially meeting so many music therapists from different countries who are all passionate about helping people via the medium of music therapy. The networking in itself was worth the trip.
Presenting - well, nerve-wracking comes to mind, but also incredibly exciting and challenging, especially knowing that some overseas music therapists practice in ways different to us and my initial concern that they might not agree with what I was doing, but the immense sense of pride and satisfaction when people from around the world praise your work, challenge you with different perspectives but respect the way in which you practice.

Felicity Baker RMT
Attending the World Congress, my first one, was an experience I'll never forget. Talking with and presenting to some of the World's most well known music therapy authors/researchers/clinicians, was important to me as I was able to establish new music therapy contacts and rekindle old ones. A highlight for me was resisting the temptation to hear Australian music therapist's present - something I can do back home - and listen to speakers from foreign countries. I greatly admire not only the work they do, but their ability to communicate this in English, something I take for granted at times.

Community-based "Sic" launched

In May, Austmta announced the forthcoming launch of 'Sic'. This took place on August 6th, and music therapist/producer Vivienne Colegrove reports on the night:

The launch of 'SIC' (resources for young people in families where someone has a mental illness) went ahead on a wild, wintery night at Lilydale High School on August 6. The launch was well attended by workers from mental health, family and youth services in the Eastern region. The kids involved
in creating the CD for young people were all there with their families and friends.

Everyone enjoyed a moving performance of the songs written by the young people involved with the CD, performed by Sally Dastey (formerly of Tiddas) and her new band, the Sally Dastey trio. The songs, and the spoken story of a young person living with a Mum with bipolar disorder, brought tears to the eyes of all present. Speakers highlighted that the resources are particularly powerful because they have expressed the experiences of the young people in their own words/music (sic!!!), as well as providing information useful to young people and to professionals working with this group.

The CD and booklet are now available free to families, schools and interested workers in the eastern region of Melbourne. Others can buy them from Villa Maria Carer Services at $3 per CD and $5 per workers' booklet. Call Vivienne Colegrove on (03) 9854 5122 if you would like more information.

Oh that's just "Sic"

Vivienne Colegrove in her job as Community Development Worker - Mental Health for the Carer Respite Centre in the Eastern region - Villamaria Carer Service has just produced a CD with adolescents of parent(s) with mental illness. The project is great: the CD, titled "Sic" includes songs written and performed by the kids with Sally Dastey (professional performer) & Co. Vivienne is also co-ordinating the production of a resource book (to go with the CD) all intended to access the children of parents with a mental illness who perform a caring role. The launch is on August 6th, 5pm at Lilydale High School and will include performance and the presence of the head of Vic Health - Dr Rob Moodie. Vivienne and the kids/project were featured in the most recent edition of the Melbourne Times - a great article.
For more information, please contact:
Vivienne Colegrove
Mental health worker
Villa Maria Carer Services
03 9854 5122

Sydney music therapists to feature on Compass in September

The ABC will feature several music therapists on their television program Compass. The show is scheduled to air September 22nd, 2002. Check local guides closer to the time. Contact State Chaiperson Alison Short [link akshort@triode.net.au ] for more information.

RMT's work featured on the ABC's Compass

Australia off to the World Congress

It will be difficult to avoid Australians at the Music Therapy World Congress to be held in Oxford in July 2002. Associate Professor Denise Grocke (University of Melbourne) leads our presence as President of the World Federation of Music Therapy (one of the hosting organisations). The Annual General Meeting of the WFMT held at this event, will mark the conclusion of her three years in that office.
AMTA Inc. will be represented by National President Sue Coull, who is also a member of the WFMT Government Relations Commission. More than a few Australian RMTs will also present at the Music Therapy World Congress. In the last edition of the Bulletin, Sue Coull asked RMTs to send her the title of their presentation/s. These are included below. Please let us know if we have not included you (ambulletin@optusnet.com.au) :

Lucy Forrest, Mercy Western Palliative Care, Melbourne (3 papers)
A question of theory and practice: applying ethnomusicological theory to music therapy practice.
Using music therapy in the symptom management of patients with motor neurone disease.
"Help me find my voice again": using music therapy in bereavement care.

Dr. Katrina Skewes, Very Special Kids/Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne
Articulating the dynamics of music therapy group improvisations: A phenomenological narrative.

Susan Coull, Royal Victorian Institute for the Blind, Melbourne
All in together: A music therapy programme for sighted and vision-impaired students.

Bridgit Hogan, Bethlehem Hospital, Melbourne
Music Therapy experiences during the dying process: A language of its own?

Felicity Baker, University of Queensland, Brisbane
The Uninflected Voice: Putting the Music Back into Speech

Vicky O'Shea Abad, Sing and Grow, Play Group Association of Queensland, Brisbane (2 papers)
Adolescence: A time of turmoil - the role of music therapy in assisting the transition from childhood to adulthood in paediatric oncology.
Sing & Grow - a new music therapy initiative to meet family needs in community settings (to be co-presented with Jane Edwards, University of Limerick, Ireland).

Ruth Bright
Termination in music therapy: Results of an Australian research project

Alison Short
Clinical and music texts in counterpoint: researching the basis of GIM with cardiac patients

Verena Clemencic Jones (paper, poster& workshop)
"Moving and Grooving Along": Collaborative Music Therapy and Physiotherapy Interventions for Paediatric Cancer Patients Undergoing Rehabilitation".
"What Happens When Music Making Equals Pain"?: Music Therapy Work Related Injuries. (Poster)
"Hospital Kids Rock"!: Therapeutic Applications of Music Technology in a Paediatric Setting (workshop)

Emma O’Brien (paper & workshop)
Song writing and the musical self: Methodological parallels illustrated in case study material.
Vocal maintenance and diversity: The nuts and bolts of sound and vocal improvisation as a model for discovering the true voice and subtle vocal nuances be utilised in practice. (workshop)

Jeanette Kennelly & Karen Brien-Elliott
Creative Transitions in the 21st Century - the role of music therapy in pediatric rehabilitation

Dianne Allison
Fear and Reality of Motherhood in the Second Trimester: Is Music Useful?

Kate MacDonald (poster)
Musical Activities for the Stages of Group Development: Students with Special Needs Write 'About Us'

Opening of the Golden Stave Music Therapy Centre

On November 1st 2001 the Golden Stave Music Therapy Centre was officially opened by the Governor of New South Wales, Dr Marie Bashir. Based on the campus of the University of Western Sydney, the Centre provides teaching facilities for the UWS Graduate Diploma of Creative Music Therapy as well as a clinic for people seeking music therapy.

In 2002, 6 part time registered music therapists have been employed at the Centre with over 50 clients coming for music therapy each week. Plans for expanding services and opening hours are already underway.

This exciting venture is the result of funding from the Golden Stave Foundation, the charitable arm of the music industry in New SouthWales and the Foundation has guaranteed funding to the Centre for 3 years.

As a unique community resource in an area generally lacking resources the Centre is linked with local families, schools, disability programs and government agencies thus ensuring a diverse and relevant therapy program.

The Centre is proud to be hosting the AMTA Professional Development Seminar in October.
www.nordoff-robbins.com.au

Melbourne University honours Ruth Bright On the 16th March, 2002, the University of Melbourne conferred an honorary doctorate upon Ruth Bright. This honour recognises Ruth Bright's bountiful contribution to the profession and literature base of Australian music therapy. The Faculty of Music hosted a dinner in her honour the preceding evening at which Ormond Professor Warren Bebbington spoke warmly about the few who have received this honour before Ruth Bright. Associate Professor Denise Grocke described Ruth's contribution to the Australian profession with warmth and humour, and visiting Professor Tony Wigram (Aalborg University, Denmark), past President of the World Federation of Music Therapy, spoke graciously of Ruth's role on the international stage of music therapy. Dr Bright was further honoured by the university with an invitation to give the Occasional Address at the Conferring Ceremony. The Australian Music Therapy Association congratulates Dr Ruth Bright on this momentous occasion. Congratulations to Dr Clare O'Callaghan and Dr Katrina Skewes On the 16th March, 2002, Clare O'Callaghan was awarded her PhD at the University of Melbourne for her thesis titled "Interpretations about the Relevance of a Music Therapy Program in a Cancer Hospital." This substantial research was based at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Institute in Melbourne. In the same conferring ceremony, Katrina McFerran -Skewes was also awarded her PhD for the research entitled "The Experience of Group Music Therapy for Younger, Bereaved Adolescents". AMTA congratulates Drs Callaghan and Skewes.
		Clockwise from top, Dr Katrina Skewes, Dr Ruth Bright with her Honorary Degree, Dr Denise Grocke and Dr Clare O'Callaghan.
		Photo courtesy of UniNews, Melbourne University. Click here to read the accompanying newspaper article.

New lecturers in two courses

The University of Queensland music therapy program has a new course co-ordinator, Ms Felicity Baker. Felicity will be known to many members as a past-President of AMTA Inc. (1999-2000) and has recently returned from a lecturing position in music therapy in Norway.

Congratulations to the University of Technology Sydney which has appointed an RMT to the position of Program Co-ordinator. Dr Rosemary Faire previously taught and co-ordinated clinical placements for the UTS Graduate Diploma course. She says "The willingness of the UTS Education Faculty to create this new position is a healthy sign and a positive move for the program. as it is the first part-time position for a Lecturer in Music Therapy in the eight year history of the course."

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