Simpson, F. (2007). Every note counts: The story of NordoffRobbins music therapy. London: James and James. 119 pages. ISBN 978-1-903942-79-6. Every Note Counts: The Story of Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy by Fraser Simpson may be music therapy profession's first coffee table book. That's what occurred to me as I began to skim through it although I wasn't sure if it could actually be considered the first. But as I shortly learned, Dr. Even Ruud, in his review of book in Nordic Journal, also referred to Every Note Counts as music therapy's first coffee table book. So perhaps it is. makes Every Note Counts a coffee table book? For one thing, there are lavish color photographs on almost every page, some double-paged. There are plenty of rock star supporters of Nordoff-Robbins including Paul McCartney, Ozzy Osborne, Bono, and Phil Collins among others. We see freeze-frame glimpses of children and therapists caught in rapturous moment of musicing. There are also many photos of key figures in Nordoff-Robbins history, including, of course, stars of book, Paul Nordoff and Clive Robbins. The book has numerous quick-read sidebar essays that highlight different dimensions of story such as important moments in Nordoff-Robbins history, key figure bio's, essential Nordoff-Robbins foundations such as Anthroposophy, and Meeting child where he [or she] is, as well as an abundance of compact case studies. This is a fun book that is attractive, colorful and easy to read. One can leaf through it and still come away with something of substance. For every music therapist who has earnestly attempted to respond to well-intentioned question of friends, family, and professionals who ask with more or less casual interest, What exactly is music therapy, a half hour or so with this book will give them a working idea of answer to this question as it is practiced in music-centered tradition as pioneered by Nordoff and Robbins. Every Note Counts is not an academic book. It will not provide much theory or technique that cannot be found in greater depth in other books by Nordoff and Robbins or their practitioners. But for those interested in Nordoff-Robbins history who want to delve more deeply into book, Fraser Simpson has done a comprehensive job of documenting 50 year journey of Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy including formative years and growth in Great Britain, development of training programs, continuation after Nordoff's death, and eventual establishment of training programs and centers worldwide. Every Note Counts is also story of people behind scenes that came together to become Nordoff-Robbins Charity in UK. As a certified N-R practitioner with a decent knowledge of Nordoff-Robbins history, I still found new and fascinating information. I had not heard of formidable role played by Sybil Beresford-Peirse, a distinguished music education department head who left her post to take up cause of practicing and promoting seminal Nordoff-Robbins music therapy in Great Britain with a passionate zeal. It seems that Beresford-Peirse is not as well known, at least in United States, as some other key players, but it was her drive and commitment that first established Nordoff-Robbins Charity in UK. Pauline Etkin, current Managing Director of Nordoff-Robbins in UK, wrote in book's Foreword that motivation for commissioning this book followed death of Sybil Beresford-Peirse in 2002. It seemed vital that early history and development of charity be documented and preserved before it was lost to future generations. The eclectic and aristocratic group of supporters that became Nordoff-Robbins Charity began to form both through Beresford-Peirse's organizing talents and through their own attraction via various paths of introduction in early 70's. …
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Aug 13, 2015
Jessica A Field 
Open Access