Ειδικό Τεύχος 7 (1) 2015, “Music Therapy in Europe: Paths of Professional Development” – Article
Development of the music therapy profession in Latvia
Mirdza Paipare
Abstract
Music therapy is a new profession in healthcare in Latvia. There have been some initial difficulties in the establishment of the profession in this country. The author has been actively involved since the beginning of the development of the Latvian Music Therapy Foundation. She has studied and taught on the Music Therapy programme in Latvia. She has also established and managed the Music Therapy Foundation and the Latvian Music Therapy Association. The author’s personal experience, therefore, successfully portrays the academic and clinical development of music therapy in a European country where it is acknowledged as a medical profession according to the Medical Law of the Republic of Latvia.
Keywords
music therapy; profession standard; healthcare
Biography
Mirdza Paipare, graduate of Vitola Latvian Music Academy in Riga, has obtained MA in Music, MA in Healthcare, completed studies in music therapy, doctoral studies in musicology and joint supervisor of the training programme at Riga Stradins University and Queen’s University Belfast. Currently Assistant Professor and Director of the music therapy programme at Liepaja University and Riga Stradins University. President of Latvian Association of Music Therapy and representative of the European Music Therapy Confederation (2006-2013). Research interests: music education, music therapy and strong experiences in music.
Email: mirdzap@hotmail.com