Music Therapy Models

Developmental Music Health

Developmental Music Health® (DMH), pioneered by Dr. John A. Carpente, is a form of DIR®/Floortime-based music therapy that involves the implementation of interactive music therapy techniques within the DIR®/Floortime™ framework. The DIR®/Floortime™ Model, developed by Dr. Stanley Greenspan and Dr. Serena Weider, is a comprehensive developmental framework used to conceptualize and identify each child's unique profile in terms of their individual differences and Functional Emotional Developmental Levels (FEDL).

Musical-play experiences are guided by the child's DIR® and Musical-Emotional profiles in order to facilitate the development and enhancement of the child's ability to mobilize affect through a continuous flow of reciprocal musical interactions. Thus, musical interventions are focused on supporting the development of affect, as it is believed that by harnessing the power of affect a child can reach his/her highest developmental potential.

Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy

Nordoff-Robbins music therapists are credentialed and are highly skilled in the application of clinically-directed improvised music to reach and help children develop their developmental potentials. Defined by Drs. Paul Nordoff and Clive Robbins, the approach is based upon the belief that there is an inborn musicality residing in every human being that can be activated in the service of personal growth and development.

This self-actualizing potential is most effectively awakened through the use of improvisational music in which the child's innate creativity is used to overcome emotional, physical, and cognitive difficulties. In this form of co-creative endeavor, children take an active role in creating music together with their therapists on a variety of standard and specialized instruments. Music and musical experience are the primary areas in which the therapist intervenes and in which the child's development takes place.