From Historic to Contemporary: Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy in Collaborative Interdisciplinary Rehabilitation

A recent collaborative project between Nordoff-Robbins Center for Music Therapy at New York University (NYU) and Rusk Institute for Rehabilitation Medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center piloted an intervention entitled Music Therapy/ Upper Limb Therapy - Integrated (MULT-I), which was designed address simultaneously physical, psychological, and social dimensions of well-being chronic post-stroke period. The MULT-I therapy team consisted of two Nordoff- Robbins therapists and an occupational therapist from Motor Recovery Research Laboratory at Rusk Institute. The project was inspired by and modeled upon Carol and Clive Robbins'1 collaboration with physical therapists treating chil- dren with multiple disabilities at Inala School Sydney, Australia (Robbins & Robbins, 1989). We briefly present excerpts of their video-recorded sessions and their written clinical obser- vations as a context for exploring unique contributions that Nordoff-Robbins therapy can bring interdisciplinary rehabilitation. Following this historical presentation, we will discuss stroke rehabilitation project. Although quantitative measures were also employed project (Guerrero, Geller, Turry, Aluru, & Raghavan, 2013; Raghavan et al., forthcoming), purpose of this article is characterize MULT-I interven- tion through qualitative data analysis.BackgroundDuring academic year 1988-1989, Carol and Clive Robbins collaborated with physical therapists at Inala School (Australia) treatment of nine children with physi- cal disabilities, ages 4 8 years. Six were nonambulatory, two could walk with assistance, and one was just beginning walk unaided. The improvisational flexibility of Nordoff- Robbins approach allowed therapists support physical therapists' work toward individual goals for each child a small-group context, and respond sensitively developments children's functioning within and across sessions. Sessions combined two basic elements: musically supported physical exercises, and movement within musical activity. The use of improvisation was necessary in order marry structure, pace, and purpose of exer- cises, and reflect and enhance the expressive character of movements exercises (Robbins & Robbins, 1989, p. 2). Carol and Clive Robbins envisioned that within this collaborative treatment, music therapy would contribute its main aims of activating children by mobilizing, stimulat- ing, and supporting them. Music could provide enjoyment and motivation, appeal mind and memory, and generate a sense of well-being and an aroused state of expectation (p. 2). Through detailed examination of video recordings of sessions over course of therapy, they found that chil- dren developed greater physical and musical engagement, freedom of both movement and expression, and motivation participate actively rehabilitation. Below, we present three video excerpts of this work. We recommend first viewing video excerpts and then reading associated narrative.Video 1: https://www.dropbox.com/s/zlf77t15zska87b/ Carol%26CliveRobbinsMTPT_1.aviThis excerpt illustrates musically supported physical exer- cise with two boys, 5 and 6 years of age, with quadriplegia. The physical therapists rotate boys rhythmically on floor, flexing their right legs as they are rolled left, and vice versa. This exercise is designed to flex and extend each leg alternately while bringing movement entire and provide tactile contact with floor over a large area of body, and a repeating wide arc of visual stimulation (p. 3). At piano, Carol Robbins sings, Roll, roll from side side, using the warm, middle register of her vocal range, making song supportively mobilizing (p. 3). The ¾ meter and moderately slow tempo of her are paced move- ment of children, and they begin anticipate her phrases. …