Valgerdur Jonsdottir
Valgerdur Jonsdottir
Home address:
Valgerður Jónsdóttir
Ásgarður 33
108 Reykjavík
Iceland
Phone +354 5885088
+354 8622040
tonsvj@mmedia.is
Work address:
Tónstofa Valgerðar
Hátúni 12
105 Reykjavík
Iceland
Phone +354 5612288
+354 8622040
tonsvj@mmedia.is
www.tonstofan.is
Thesis
Valgerdur Jonsdottir (2011): Music-caring within the framework of early intervention. The lived experience of a group of mothers of young children with special needs, participating in a music therapy group
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Download thesis (pdf)
Education
January 2005
Ph.D. student Aalborg University. Institute for Communication. International Ph.D. Research Program in Music Therapy. Half-time studies.
2000-2004
Sogn og Fjordane University College, The Norwegian State Academy of Music.
A four year half-time study.
Candidata Musicae/MA
June 1987
Professional registration status RMT awarded by the NAMT (AMTA) Registration Committee, Washington, D.C., USA.
June 1987 The University of Kansas, Lawrence, USA.
BM Music Education Music Therapy.
April- October 1986
The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, USA.
Six months music therapy internship.
Work with inpatients and outpatients from infancy through c.a. of 16 years within a pediatric rehabilitation center (Pediatric Rehabilitation Services), Shriners Burns Institute and the Child Health Center.
January 1984- May 1985
Independent studies and clinical practice in Iceland.
Supervised by Alicia Clair Gibbons, Ph.D., RMT director of music therapy at The University of Kansas, Lawrence, USA.
Fall 1983
The University of Kansas, Lawrence, USA.
Music therapy studies.
1982-1983
The University of Iceland, Reykjavík.
Department of Social Science. Courses in child psychology, mental retardation and child developmental delays.
Transfer credits towards a degree in music therapy from The University of Kansas.
1980-1982
The University of Kansas, Lawrence, USA.
Music therapy studies in the Department of Music Education and Music Therapy.
1978-1980
Reykjavík College of Music, Iceland.
Piano teacher's diploma.
1975-1978
Hamrahlíð liberal arts college, Reykjavík, Iceland.
Matriculation exam (152 Credits/units). Emphasis on music,
biological sciences and languages.
Work
1986-present Tónstofa Valgerðar a private music therapy practice and a music school for individuals with special-needs.
Director, supervisor, music therapist, special music teacher.
1986-2009 The State Child Psychiatric Hospital, Reykjavík, Iceland.
Music therapist in an interdisciplinary team.
Doctoral study
The title of the research project
The lived experience of a group of mothers having infants with special-needs participating in a music therapy program defined as music-caring within the framework of early intervention.
The research questions
The main research questions are:
" What is the experience of mothers of special-needs infants participating in a music therapy program defined as music-caring?
" How does the mothers' experience define music-caring?
The research method
The focus on the lived experience of the mothers anchors it within a phenomenological interpretive frame (hermeneutic phenomenology). Song writing was used as a process and a central method for providing music-caring. In this context song writing is defined as: "The process of creating, notating and/or recording lyrics and music by the client or clients and therapist within a therapeutic relationship to address psychosocial, emotional, cognitive and communication needs of the client." (Baker and Wigram 2005:16) Song writing has been described as 'one of the most powerful methods in music therapy' capable of developing group cohesiveness, encouraging social interaction, providing group support, affording opportunities for one to experience joy, and facilitating development of therapeutic relationships (ibid:11). "It seems like the song gives the client a new context, a freedom and strength to bypass his or her own vulnerability. The song form not only affords a range of possibilities for self-expression, but it equally allows one to touch on and warm to themes and relationships which have been deeply-frozen for a long time. Song writing provides an aesthetic context inviting clients to explore, within a new play-frame, their own life, their possibilities, their losses and their aspirations." (Ruud in Baker and Wigram, 2005:10).
Music-caring has been defined preliminary as an empathetic and emotionally supportive relationship that an act of musicking brings into existence.
The research period
The research period was divided into three phases: The initial preparatory phase launched in the spring of 2006 with a lecture, distribution of information leaflets, and 'advertisements' on several websites. The central music-caring phase began the 23rd of September 2006 and consisted of ten one and a half to two hour consecutive weekly sessions. A reflection phase (coda) consisted of one group follow-up session scheduled two weeks after the completion of the central music-caring phase and one individual meeting/session with each participant scheduled by an appointment within one month from the group follow-up session. The reflection phase was completed January 4th. 2007. The researcher was a participant observer. Seven mothers participated in the research.
Empirical material
The following empirical material is available for interpretation/analysis: A questionnaire providing general information about the participants answered in writing by each mother in her first visit to the research site. A questionnaire answered in writing by each mother prior to the first group session. Diaries entries. Transcriptions of sessions one to ten. Transcription of an open group interview in the eleventh session (narrative text). Transcriptions of semi-structured interviews with each mother in an individual session numbered as session twelve. The participants' song texts and instrumental improvisations. The researcher's research diary and memos.
Baker, F., & Wigram, T. (Eds.). (2005). Songwriting: Methods, Techniques and Clinical Applications for Music Therapy Clinicians, Educators and Students. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
Publications/presentations related to the research
August 2007
The 7th European Music Therapy Congress.
"Music caring for mothers having infants with special-needs." A paper presentation introducing a theoretical and a methodological framework which provides a basis for a research study in progress.
May 2007
Ph.D. seminar Aalborg University.
"Implementation of music-caring." A report on what became of the storm and the current status of the research. A portrait of the participants was given and the development of the song writing method was presented.
May 2006
Ph.D. seminar Aalborg University.
"The calm before the storm." Approaching the research participants, data collection and analysis/interpretation.
March 2006
Presentation at Sjónarhóll.
"Tónræn umönnun." Introduction of the research study.
October 2005
Ph.D. seminar Aalborg University.
"The How of the What and the Why." The research design and session format was presented.
April 2005
Ph.D. seminar Aalborg University.
"The lived experience of a group of mothers having infants with special-needs, participating in a music therapy program defined as music-caring within the framework of early intervention." The
research was introduced and contextualized.
Publications/articles
Jónsdóttir, Valgerður (2003) 'Choosing a Research Method.' Musikkterapi, nr 2- 2003, 30-46.
Jonsdottir, Valgerður (2002). Musicking in Early Intervention. [Online] Voices: A World Forum for Music Therapy. http://www.voices.no/mainissues/Voices2(2)jonsdottir.html
Jónsdóttir, Valgerður (1997) 'Hvað er músíkþerapía?' Þroskahjálp, 19(4), 1997, 18- 21.
Jónsdóttir, Valgerður (1997) 'Músíkþerapía og einhverfir.' ('Music therapy and autism.') Umsjón. (An issue published in celebration of the 20th anniversary of Umsjónarfélag einhverfra.) 1997, 19(4), 38-40.
Jónsdóttir, Valgerður (1993). Music Therapy in Iceland, in Maranto, Cheryl D. (eds.) Music Therapy International Perspectives. Pennsylvania: Jeffrey Books.
Membership
The American Music Therapy Association (AMTA)
The Icelandic Association for Special Teachers
The European Piano Teachers Association (EPTA)
The Association for Music Therapists in Iceland (Físmús)
Representative for Iceland in the EMTC
Selected scholarships, honors and grants
2005
Tuition scholarship from Aalborg University for 6 years half-time study.
1980-1982
Full tuition scholarship, The University of Kansas, Lawrence, USA.
1978
Study grant from the French government, Maison des jeunes et de la culture de Lezignan-Corbieres.
1999
Múrbrjóturinn
Landssamtökin Þroskahjálp (an umbrella association for various associations serving the handicapped and the sick) awarded Tónstofan Múrbrjótinn. This honor was given for a pioneering work in the music education of challenged individuals. This was the first time Múrbrjóturinn (a yearly award) was given.
From 1986- to present.
Various grants from different organisations and municipals to support Valgerður Jónsdóttir and the work carried out in Tónstofa Valgerðar:
Kvennadeild Styrktarfélags lamaðra og fatlaðra
Styrktarfélag lamaðra og fatlaðra
Grímur Guðmundsson, forstjóri Íspan
Reykjavíkurborg
Seltjarnarnesbær
Sumargjöf
Barnamenningarsjóður
Stjórn Námssjóðs Sigríðar Jónsdóttur
Stjórn Sjóðs Kristínar Björnsdóttur
Styrktarfélag vangefinna
Þroskahjálp
Sjálfsbjörg landssamband fatlaðra
Viðskiptanetið
Landsbankinn
Menningarsjóður VISA
Minningarsjóði Margrétar Björgólfsdóttur
Eitt n og Auglýsingar og prentun
Susanne Ernst
Velferðarsjóður barna
Baugur Group