On Developing Policies and Practices in Music Therapy: Personal Reflections from the Experience of Nordoff Robbins in London – Pauline Etkin interviewed by Giorgos Tsiris

Volume 2 (1) 2010 – Interview

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On Developing Policies and Practices in Music Therapy: Personal Reflections from the Experience of Nordoff Robbins in London

Pauline Etkin
Interviewed by Giorgos Tsiris

 

Note from the interviewer:
It is my pleasure to initiate the interview section of Approaches: Music Therapy & Special Music Education, by presenting here my interview with Pauline Etkin which was given at the Nordoff Robbins Centre in London, UK on the 5th of January 2009.

Based on Etkin’s experience of being the Chief Executive Officer of Nordoff Robbins, in addition to her rich diverse experience in the field of music therapy on a practical and policy level; this interview focuses on the development of policies and practices in music therapy – an issue that will hopefully be of interest especially for countries, such as Greece, where music therapy is in its initial stage.

The interview was recorded, transcribed verbatim and then edited. Some footnotes have also been added to the original text in order to provide some useful additional information and suggest some sources through which the reader can find further information with regards to the issues discussed in the interview.

I would like to warmly thank Professor Helen Odell-Miller who, based on her personal major contribution to the development of music therapy in the UK, offered her support in the editing process of this interview.

This interview will hopefully encourage further constructive dialogue and reflections on related topics, and inspire the conduction of interviews with other significant figures in music therapy both on national and international level.

 

Biographies

Pauline Etkin is the Chief Executive Officer of Nordoff Robbins music therapy Charity. Trained as a music therapist in the UK (Nordoff Robbins programme) and has worked for 25 years with children and adults. Previously worked as teacher and Senior Lecturer at a teacher training college in South Africa; Partner for Health Professions Council (HPC); Advisory Council Member of the Association of Professional Music Therapists (APMT); Head of Training at Nordoff Robbins (1993-2003) and expanded the course into a two-year Masters Degree programme.

Email: petkin@nordoff-robbins.org.uk

 

Giorgos Tsiris is a music therapist, qualified at Nordoff Robbins, London. He currently works as music therapist at St. Christopher’s hospice and research assistant at the Research Department of Nordoff Robbins, London. Giorgos is also a graduate of the Department of Special Education, University of Thessaly (Greece) and he has worked as a special educator in primary schools in Greece. He is the founding Editor-in-Chief of the online peer-reviewed journal Approaches: Music Therapy & Special Music Education, http://approaches.primarymusic.gr (supported by GAPMET), as well as a joint coordinator (together with Dr. Julie Sutton) of the Research Network of APMT.

Email: giorgos.tsiris@gmail.com