Switzerland Friederike Haslbeck MT-DMtG University of Witten/Herdecke, Germany Sandra Lutz Hochreutener Ph.D., SFMT, SPV/VOPT Department of Clinical Music Therapy Zurich University of the Arts, Switzerland Das Gras wächst nicht schneller, wenn man daran zieht. [The grass does not grow faster if you pull on it.] Snapshot –Remo Largo Area well as to support music therapy in 41,285 square kilometers; situated in Demographics education, practice, and research. For Central Western Europe Encompassing the central Alps, more information please visit Switzerland is a beautiful small www.musictherapy.ch. Population country in Central Western Europe, which consistently ranks high on 7,639,961 million people (Spring, State recognition of music therapy as a quality of life indices. According to 2011 est.) health profession is still a challenge in statistics released by the federal Switzerland. However, over the past 20 government in 2008, life expectancy years music therapy has gained more Official Language stands at 82.1 years for populace recognition and acceptance and German, French, Italian, and Rhaeto- and almost all Swiss are literate. developed into a more autonomous Romansh Politically, there are 26 cantons that profession. make up Switzerland, each canton Ethnic Groups with its own constitution, legislature, Since 1980, five music therapy training government and courts. The German 65%, French 18%, Italian programs have been established in education system is decentralized 10%, Romansh 1% and other 6% Switzerland. One of them was the and includes four languages. There “Berufsbegleitende Ausbildung are currently about 240 members of Musiktherapie bam,” which is now Median Age the Swiss Music Therapy Association integrated in the Master of Advanced 41.7 (2011 est.) (SMTA), of whom about 75 are Studies in Clinical Music Therapy at the professionally trained and accredited Zurich University of the Arts. The four Children under 5 music therapists. additional training programs operate on a private basis. 366.000 (2009 estimate) Background Information Swiss music therapists work with infants, Due to the diversity of training and young children, adolescents and their clinical practice, SMTA plays an Sources families in various settings including important role and functions as an http://en.wikipedia.org neonatal intensive care units, children’s overarching organization. Founded https://www.cia.gov/library/ hospitals, psychiatric hospitals, in 1981, the association aims to link publications/the-world-factbook/ rehabilitation clinics, early intervention www.unicef.org/info the diverse training programs and and special education settings, schools, www.emtc-eu.com promotes music therapy to be music schools, hospices as well as in www.musictherapy.ch recognized as a health profession in private practice. As in Switzerland, Switzerland. Other goals are to “therapeutic pedagogy” plays an guarantee high and consistent important role in the education system, professional standards of Swiss music many Swiss music therapists work in therapists through accreditation as therapeutic pedagogy settings. imagine 2(1), 2011 72 Several supplementary health insurances About the Authors cover a good portion of the costs of music therapy in private practice. In outpatient settings, physicians, counselors, and (school) psychologists refer clients to music therapists, and parents can register their children for music therapy, too. This is one reason why, compared to other European countries, a large number of music therapy private practices exist and the salaries of Swiss music therapists are generally higher, although part-time positions are still most common. Friederike Haslbeck, MT-DMtG, Master of music education, Master of music Common Approaches therapy, and special training in NICU In Switzerland, active as well as receptive music therapy, has worked as music music therapy is provided in individual therapist with children, including infants and group music therapy settings. Applied in NICU in Germany since 2001. music therapy as well as the training Currently she is a Ph.D. candidate at programs work by involving several the University of Wittne/Herdecke in directions to link different philosophies Germany and lives with her family in and approaches. Music therapists in Zürich, Switzerland. Switzerland apply instrumental and vocal improvisations, song creations, role-play, Contact: [email protected] body-centered music games, and guided imagery methods. Swiss music therapy with children is based on the theoretical framework of developmental psychologists such as Daniel Stern, the Papouseks, John Bowlby, Colwyn Trevarthen, the Swiss child psychiatrist Heinz-Stefan Herzka and the Swiss pediatrician Remo Largo. Prominent Publications Gindl, B. (2002). Anklang. Die Resonanz der Seele [Sound. The response of the soul]. Paderborn: Junfermann. Lutz Hochreutener, S. (2009). Spiel- Dr. Sandra Lutz Hochreutener, SFMT, Musik-Therapie. Methoden der SPV/VOPT, Ph.D. in music therapy, Musiktherapie mit Kindern und Master of pedagogic, is a Jugendlichen [Play-Music-Therapy. psychotherapist who has long-standing Methods of music therapy with experiences in pediatric psychiatry. She children and adolescents]. Göttingen, has also worked with children (and Germany: Hogrefe Verlag. adults) in private practice for 25 years Maurer-Joss, S. (2011). Dem Leben eine in the greater St. Gallen area in Stimme geben. Zur Bedeutung der Switzerland. Dr. Lutz Hochreutener is Stimme in der Musiktherapie mit the founder and co-director of the behinderten und krebskranken Department of Clinical Music Therapy Kindern [Giving life a voice. The at the Zurich University of the Arts. meaning of voice in music therapy for children with disabilities and cancer]. Contact: [email protected] Wiesbaden: Reichert Verlag. imagine 2(1), 2011 73.