New York Times Highlights Life of Music Therapist Clive Robbins

The Daily Muse     


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Clive Robbins, Developer of a Method of Music Therapy, 

dies at 84.

The "paper of record", The New York Times, had a very nice piece honoring Clive Robbins who passed away this week.  Paul Nordoff and Mr. Robbins collaborated in the 1970s to develop their philosophy of music therapy.  Many therapists still use the improvisational techniques espoused by Nordoff and Robbins to help clients with autism, mental retardation and Alzheimer's disease. 


I am sure that the Nordoff-Robbins method will continue to be used in the future since there are several centers for music therapy that teach that method.  Music therapists who are interested in the Nordoff-Robbins method must be excellent pianists and comfortable with improvisation.  They must also be committed to the philosophy since it is not a method that is generally practiced in conjunction with other ideas.  


Whether you like the Nordoff-Robbins method or not, Mr. Robbins will be remembered and lauded for his great contribution to the field.  He spent much of his lifetime working to help people with special needs.  Thank you Clive Robbins!