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Music Therapy in Israel

by voices | Mon, 11/01/2004 - 00:00

|Introduction| |Training Programs| |The Israeli Association of Creative & Expressive Therapies| |Research| |Journal| |Clinical Practice| |Links| |Acknowledgements|

Introduction

Music therapy in Israel is a vibrant, growing, and developing community. Below follows a summary of information gathered from the directors and teachers at the three training programs in Israel: Bar Ilan University, David Yellin College and Levinsky College. But first let us state how music therapy is defined. The Israeli Association of Creative and Expressive Therapies (I.E.C.T.) defines:

Music Therapy is the beneficial use of a client-therapist's interaction through music, in order to preserve healthy qualities, to promote development and change, and to achieve a better quality of life. The term music, includes both its basic components (frequency, duration, intensity and timbre), and music as a complex art form. The music therapy studies integrate theory, personal development and supervised practice. The theoretical studies are the basis of therapeutic thinking, consideration and assessment. The dynamic workshops promote self-development and emotional maturity, and the supervised work in clinical settings encourages the integration of professional skills.

And further:

The music therapist is a professional who employs skills and an integrated knowledge derived from specific interdisciplinary training, combining a thorough knowledge of music and of therapeutic theories and methods.


Training Programs

There are now 3 institutions offering post graduate programs in Israel: Bar Ilan University, David Yellin College and Levinsky College. The 3 Post Graduate Programs are accredited and supervised by I.C.E.T., the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Education and/or the Committee of Higher Education.

Since 1988 the regulation of the I.C.E.T and the Ministry of Health demanded an entry requirement of a bachelor degree for all programs (see variations below). Since 2000, the ministry added an academic year of courses in Introduction to Psychology, Developmental Psychology, Psychopathology, and Theories of Personality.

All 3 programs accentuate the Being Process as well as the Doing Process; Music as Therapy and/or Music in Therapy, depending on the therapeutic situation. Clinical improvisation is considered to be a central therapeutic tool.

The professional bibliography used in the programs is composed of contemporary books and articles in Hebrew and in English, as well as historical material ranging from ancient times to the present.

David Yellin College

Music Therapy, The David Yellin College of Education, Institute of Art Therapies (founded in 1980/1 by Dr. Chava Sekeles).

Director: Dr. Chava Sekeles (1980-2002), Dr. Cochavit Elefant (since 2002),.

Degree: Professional diploma + M.A. in cooperation with The Hebrew University in Jerusalem. In process: Independent M.A .

Approach: Eclectic, developmental-integrative model in music therapy/psycho-dynamic orientation.

Accentuation and integration of: Complementary studies in music; psychology; medicine; special education; ethno-cultural aspects of music and medicine; research methods; integrative studies in music therapy (theory, workshops, internship, supervision); dance-movement & visual arts for self development; 2 written projects; final exams (total hours: 2430).

Entry requirements:

  • B.A. in music and/or musicology (600-900 hours of music, grade average 85%) + an academic year of courses in Developmental Psychology, Introduction to Psychology, Theories of Personality and Psychopathology.
  • In some cases: B.A. in a therapeutic profession + thorough knowledge of music
  • Personal interview
  • A written examination
  • A dynamic oral examination (vocal & instrumental, individual and group)
  • Appropriate personality.

The Bar Ilan University

Music Therapy, The Bar Ilan University (founded in 1982 by Dr. Dorit Amir).

Degree: M.A.

Director: Dr. Dorit Amir (1982-2004).

Approach: Humanistic (Eclectic).

Accentuation and integration of: Music therapy; psychology; movement therapy; psychology of music; vocal improvisations; internship; supervision; 3 written projects; final examination (total hours: 1800).

Entry requirements

  • B.A. in music and psychology (grade average 76%)
  • or B.Mus. and completion of studies in psychology
  • or B.A. in special education and completion of studies in musicology & psychology
  • Personal interview & audition
  • Piano skills (at least 5 years)
  • An additional instrument (at least 3 years).

The Levinsky College

Music & Movement Therapy, Academy of Music at The Levinsky College of Education (founded in 1982 by Mrs. Dalia Razin).

Degree: Professional diploma.

Director: Mrs. Nehama Yehuda (Ph.D. candidate), (2000-2004).

Approach: Eclectic, Combined music & movement therapy/Psycho-dynamic orientation.

Accentuation and integration of: Music; movement; psychology; medical subjects; internship; supervision; drumming & Indian music-dance-philosophy; 2 written projects (1 case analysis; 1 research) (total hours: 1750).

Entry requirements:

  • B.A. in music / musicology
  • or B.A. in psychology + at least 600 hours of music
  • Verbal interview
  • Movement interview
  • Music audition.


The Israeli Association of Creative & Expressive Therapies (I.C.E.T.)

I.C.E.T. includes 1300 therapists from the fields of Dance-Movement, Music, Visual Arts, Drama, Biblio-therapy and Psychodrama.

I.C.E.T. helps new professional immigrants in their assimilation in the new country and the programs encourage new immigrants-students to integrate and overcome difficulties.

I.C.E.T. is a non-profit and non-political association which believes in peace, in an ethical attitude towards each human being, and in the positive influence of the therapeutic arts on life and on well being.

From a modest beginning of 10 people in 1971, the entire association counts 1300 professionals out of which 260 are music therapists. Since 1988, the association has been officially recognized by the Ministry of Health as a professional representative and members are obligated to follow the rules and the code of ethics decided on by the association. The profession continues to expand into new areas of the very varied Israeli population, as exemplified by the growing number of Israeli Arab and Jewish Ultra-Orthodox music therapists. There are also a few ongoing private projects such as a self-directed improvisation group held for the last 15 years. An additional group of mixed therapeutic professions has been working on team integration for the past 7 years, etc.

I.C.E.T. Music Therapy Branch

The association offers three kinds of membership: Colleague (graduate member), Registered member, Registered supervisor.

Projects from 2002-2005

Study days and conferences are held both for all sections of I.C.E.T. as well as for each specific branch. Here are some activities related to music therapy from the years 2002-2005:

  • 2002- The Music Therapy branch organized 2 study days in which members gave their presentations from Naples (European conference) and Oxford (World federation) in Hebrew.
  • April 8-9, 2003 - I.C.E.T. Conference: "The power of artistic creation in coping with life under terror", included 74 parallel lectures and workshops, 7 exhibitions, students' projects, a peace ritual at the opening assembly and a closing concert.
  • 2004: 2 separate study days and 1 intensive seminar of 3 days for the music therapists.
  • April 17-19, 2005: "The desert as a source of energy and creativity", a general conference.


Research

Music Therapy research in Israel is gradually growing by programs and individuals cooperating nationally as well as internationally. Areas of research include: music in medicine, community music therapy, the ancient roots of music therapy, therapeutic music analysis and more.


Journal

Therapy through the Arts is a professional journal published by the I.C.E.T. The journal publishes their articles in Hebrew accompanied with abstracts in English.


Clinical Practice

There are two music therapy clinics attached to two of the training programs, one attached to the Bar-Ilan program and one, Lord Taylor Music Therapy Clinic, that is open to the public and held at the David Yellin College. In addition, there are several clinics initiated and run by music therapists all over the country.

The music therapists are trained for working with a various population:

  • Children in special education or in institutional settings
  • Psychiatric patients (clinics, hospitals)
  • Varied patients in general hospitals
  • Patients in day care or day hospitalization
  • The elderly in geriatric and psycho-geriatric facilities
  • Prisoners
  • People in hostels and "Homes for Life"
  • Patients in child developmental centers
  • Patients in neurological rehabilitation centers

In addition, music therapists work with normal-neurotics and others who choose to experience therapy, overcome crisis and improve the quality of life.


Links

The Israeli Association of Creative & Expressive Therapies (www.yahat.org/email: kamerin@bezeqint.net)

Bar Ilan University (www.biu.ac.il/HU/mu/)

David Yellin College (www.dyellin.ac.il)

Levinsky College (www.levinsky.ac.il)


Acknowledgements

The information summarized above is gathered from Ayala Gerber, Dr. Chava Sekeles, Dr. Cochavit Elefant, David Shwartz, Dr. Dorit Amir, Miri Sarig, Nehama Yehuda.

How to cite this page

Sekeles, Chava (2004). Music Therapy in Israel. Voices Resources. Retrieved January 09, 2015, from http://testvoices.uib.no/community/?q=country/monthisrael_november2004