Norway

1960: Nordic Association of Music Therapy (Nordisk Forbund for musikkterapi)
1970-ies: Nordoff and Robbins held music therapy workshops in Norway
1972: Norwegian Association for Music Therapy with the journal “Musikkterapi”
1978: The first two-years post-baccalaureate full time training program in music therapy started in Oslo at Norwegian State Academy of Oslo (former Østlandet’s Music Conservatory)
1988: Two-years post-baccalaureate full time training program at The Faculty of Higher Education at Sandane
1991: First Nordic Conference in Music Therapy, Sandane
1991: Nordic Journal of Music Therapy
1992: The Programs fully approved by the Government
1993: MA Program (hovedfag) at the Norwegian State Academy of Oslo
1997: First Norwegian Conference in Music Therapy, Oslo
1999: Ph.D. Program at the Norwegian State Academy of Oslo
2000: MA Program (hovedfag) at Sandane (in co-operation with Oslo)
2001: “Voices”. A World Forum for Music Therapy
2003: One-year baccalaureate training program in Music and Health in Oslo at Norwegian State Academy of Music, and at The Faculty of Higher Education at Sandane.
2004: Two.years MA-training program in Music therapy in Oslo at Norwegian State Academy of Music, and at The Faculty of Higher Education at Sandane.

Eclectic philosophy based on humanistic psychology, (special) educational music therapy, “psychotherapeutic” music therapy and music as Cultural Engagement. Improvisation has always been a central part of the repertoire in the programs, due to the influences by Nordoff and Robbins. No commonly definition of Music Therapy. The definitions vary from (Even Ruud 1990): “Music therapy is the use of music to increase possibilities of actions”, to Kenneth Bruscia’s definition (in Defining Music Therapy, 1998 2nd edition).

The Norwegian approach to music therapy in the training programs includes:

1. Theory and methods: E.g. Theory of music therapy, Improvisation, Composition, Clinical music therapy, Projects, Drama
2. Pedagogical and psychological skills: E.g. Neuropsychology,, Psychology, Special education theory
3. Musical- and personal development: E.g. Different musical courses, Self-experience, Functional piano, GIM level I, Supervised clinical work (1 day a week)

Approx. 250 trained music therapists in Norway. Fully approved by the Government in 1992. Granted a code, which secures the rights of music therapists having an approved diploma from the Academy (or it’s equivalent)

Norwegian Academy of Music:
Contactperson/ coordinator
Rita Strand Frisk, Music Therapist
E-mail: Rita.S.Frisk@nmh.no
Address: Norges Musikkhøgskole, P.b 5190 Majorstuen, 0302 Oslo
Telephone: +47 23 36 72 55
Fax: +47 23 36 72 01
website: www.nmh.no

1. One-year baccalaureate full time training program in Music and Health.
2. Two-years full time training program, MA, in Music therapy.
3. Doctoral Program (Ph.D).

The Grieg Academy – music department, University of Bergen
Contactperson/ coordinator
Brynjulf Stige, Professor
E-mail: brynjulf.stige@grieg.uib.no /gamut@uni.no
Address: Lars Hilles gate 3, 5015 Bergen
Telephone: +47 55 58 69 61/ +47 971 19 246
Fax: +47 55 58 69 60
website: http://www.uib.no/grieg or http://helse.uni.no/Default.aspx?site=4&lg=1

1. One-year baccalaureate full time training program in Music and Health.
2. Two-years full time training program, MA, in Music therapy. 3. Five-years intergrated Master program, MA, in Music therapy.
3. Doctoral Program (Ph.D).

Journals:
Nordic Journal of Music Therapy
Editor-in-chief: Brynjulf Stige,
E-mail: brynjulf.stige@sts.hisf.no,
Website: www.hisf.no/njmt

Musikkterapi
E-mail: info@musikkterapi.no,
Website: www.musikkterapi.no

“Voices”
A World Forum for Music Therapy, Editors-in-chief: Carolyn Kenny (USA/Canada) and Brynjulf Stige (Norway)
E-mail: brynjulf.stige@sts.hisf.no,
Website: www.voices.no