Research and resources
Why research?
Pioneering research has been part of the Nordoff Robbins heritage from the beginning. It was established by our founders Paul Nordoff and Clive Robbins over fifty years ago as an integral aspect of their work.
Research is still a key part of our work today and is interwoven with the work of our music services. It helps us understand the how of music therapy. It continues to be directed by and to feed back into our daily work with the people who benefit from music.
We need research activity and evidence in order to:
- maintain the high quality of the services we provide
- provide demonstrable evidence of the benefits of our work for individuals, organisations, funders and employers
- help us train the practitioners of the future
- develop disciplinary knowledge and innovative professional practices
Our Research Department is an enthusiastic and vibrant hub led by Mercédès Pavlicevic.
What do we do?
- We provide research resources. Practitioners can tap into the latest international research. Researchers, funding bodies and individuals all use our knowledge to find the answers to their questions.
- Visit our Learning Resources Centre
- Follow our Links to some of the best information sources about music therapy, music and health and other resources
- We study and evaluate our practice through a range of Research Projects. We involve our music therapists and music and health practitioners, and collaborate with scholars across disciplines and institutions pushing the boundaries of knowledge about music, health and society.
- We provide the UK’s first MPhil / PhD programmes in Music Therapy and Music, Health, Society in collaboration with our education department.
- We evaluate our short courses and workshops for music therapists, music and health practitioners, potential students, social care, education and health professionals.
- We host research seminars and symposia with researchers in a range of music-based disciplines closely linked with music therapy. See our education calendar for forthcoming events. View past seminars.
Quality assurance is provided through our two Research Governance committees.
