SYMBOLIC PLAY IN MUSIC THERAPY: WORKING IN MUSIC & METAPHOR
These seminar-workshops have been developed by me for qualified music therapists (and other arts and play therapists) to discuss the many forms of symbolic play that arise in music therapy and to explore the use of metaphor in music and play as a safe and transformative means of working with children and adults.
PLAY WORKSHOP 1: WORKING IN MUSIC AND METAPHOR
We will explore ways in which symbolic play arises in music therapy; and how we can offer a creative, expressive space for the child's imagination and internal world within music therapy practice. We will think about practicalities of facilitating safe play while understanding developmental and psychodynamic concepts of music therapy play processes, such as the the emotional regulatory function of music. Different modalities and developmental levels of children's play in music therapy will be illustrated with AV clips (for which formal consent has been granted). Working in metaphors of play includes musical, verbal and non-verbal communications, transference and counter-transference phenomena, as well as the use of other expressive arts in the music therapy process.
PLAY WORKSHOP 2: WORKING IN MUSIC AND METAPHOR
We continue to explore how we work with children's symbolic play, including the use of music and other art forms within music therapy. This will be illustrated by case material. We consider aesthetic sensitivity, intuition, common sense, when working at metaphorical levels of play, informed by psychodynamic and developmental thinking - an interplay that is useful and effective in this kind of work. We also think about defensiveness in play, such as rejection of music and musical instruments: how we think about and work with the different kinds of silence in play.
PLAY WORKSHOP 3: KEYBOARD IMPROVISATION IN PLAY; USING VOICE AND SIMPLE PERCUSSION
We explore some simple but effective keyboard improvisational techniques in accompanying play, involving other instruments. We consider how to provide creative musical accompaniment and frameworks for play that support and develop the child's feelings, narratives, and play themes.
OTHER MUSIC THERAPY SEMINAR-WORKSHOPS INCLUDE:
1. SENSORY INTEGRATION & SYMBOLIC PLAY IN MUSIC THERAPY WITH CHILDREN WITH AUTISM
2. TRAUMA-INFORMED MUSIC THERAPY
3. ATTACHMENT & MUSIC THERAPY: PERSPECTIVES FROM ATTACHMENT THEORY AND PSYCHOANALYSIS
4. CONTAINMENT & TRANSFORMATION IN IMPROVISATIONAL MUSIC THERAPY:THE PLAY OF THE TRANSFERENCE
5. SIMPLE STEPS IN KEYBOARD IMPROVISATION FOR MUSIC THERAPY
6. IMPROVISING SONGS AND ACCOMPANYING FOR MUSIC THERAPY
7. REFRESHING YOUR KEYBOARD IMPROVISATION TECHNIQUES
8. EXPLORING MUSIC THERAPY PRACTICES - THE USE OF INTUITION, MUSICIANSHIP, AND THEORY
These seminar-workshops have been developed by me for qualified music therapists (and other arts and play therapists) to discuss the many forms of symbolic play that arise in music therapy and to explore the use of metaphor in music and play as a safe and transformative means of working with children and adults.
PLAY WORKSHOP 1: WORKING IN MUSIC AND METAPHOR
We will explore ways in which symbolic play arises in music therapy; and how we can offer a creative, expressive space for the child's imagination and internal world within music therapy practice. We will think about practicalities of facilitating safe play while understanding developmental and psychodynamic concepts of music therapy play processes, such as the the emotional regulatory function of music. Different modalities and developmental levels of children's play in music therapy will be illustrated with AV clips (for which formal consent has been granted). Working in metaphors of play includes musical, verbal and non-verbal communications, transference and counter-transference phenomena, as well as the use of other expressive arts in the music therapy process.
PLAY WORKSHOP 2: WORKING IN MUSIC AND METAPHOR
We continue to explore how we work with children's symbolic play, including the use of music and other art forms within music therapy. This will be illustrated by case material. We consider aesthetic sensitivity, intuition, common sense, when working at metaphorical levels of play, informed by psychodynamic and developmental thinking - an interplay that is useful and effective in this kind of work. We also think about defensiveness in play, such as rejection of music and musical instruments: how we think about and work with the different kinds of silence in play.
PLAY WORKSHOP 3: KEYBOARD IMPROVISATION IN PLAY; USING VOICE AND SIMPLE PERCUSSION
We explore some simple but effective keyboard improvisational techniques in accompanying play, involving other instruments. We consider how to provide creative musical accompaniment and frameworks for play that support and develop the child's feelings, narratives, and play themes.
OTHER MUSIC THERAPY SEMINAR-WORKSHOPS INCLUDE:
1. SENSORY INTEGRATION & SYMBOLIC PLAY IN MUSIC THERAPY WITH CHILDREN WITH AUTISM
2. TRAUMA-INFORMED MUSIC THERAPY
3. ATTACHMENT & MUSIC THERAPY: PERSPECTIVES FROM ATTACHMENT THEORY AND PSYCHOANALYSIS
4. CONTAINMENT & TRANSFORMATION IN IMPROVISATIONAL MUSIC THERAPY:THE PLAY OF THE TRANSFERENCE
5. SIMPLE STEPS IN KEYBOARD IMPROVISATION FOR MUSIC THERAPY
6. IMPROVISING SONGS AND ACCOMPANYING FOR MUSIC THERAPY
7. REFRESHING YOUR KEYBOARD IMPROVISATION TECHNIQUES
8. EXPLORING MUSIC THERAPY PRACTICES - THE USE OF INTUITION, MUSICIANSHIP, AND THEORY
Jackie Robarts has worked in NHS child & adolescent mental health, child development services, and special needs and mainstream nurseries and primary schools, and with adults with mental health problems. Former Senior Therapist and Clinical Tutor on the Nordoff Robbins Music Therapy Program and visiting lecturer at Guildhall School of Music & Drama Music Therapy program, Jackie has developed an integrated musical, psychodynamic and developmental approach for those with attachment problems, including early trauma, selective mutism, adoption, eating disorders, and autistic spectrum conditions, and has published on her work in most of these areas. She has a private practice in London for professional development and supervision of music therapists. She teaches, supervises, and gives presentations and workshops on music, music therapy and play in the UK and abroad.
She is editor of 'Symbolic Play & Creative Arts in Music Therapy with Children and Families' to be published early 2023 by Jessica Kingsley.
She is editor of 'Symbolic Play & Creative Arts in Music Therapy with Children and Families' to be published early 2023 by Jessica Kingsley.
