Timeline of Music Therapy Development in Singapore

 

Timeline of Music Therapy Development in Singapore

Should the reader be interested in local music therapy training course, please fill up this survey.

year * name of Music Therapist (country of origin): country of training; employer/scope of practice

 

1980s *the late Louisa Cheng (S’porean): private practice

1990-1991 * Judith Senway (New Zealander): AESN

1991-2007 * Audrey Ruyters (S’porean): trained in the U.K.; Rainbow Centre – Margaret Drive Special School

1992-2001 * Eudora Chiu (Hong Konger): trained in Melbourne; AESN, Rainbow Centre –  Balestier Special School, private practice

c. 1993-1996 Anne Greenhall: trained in Australia; AESN

1999- 2004 * May Goh (S’porean): trained in the U.K.; Rainbow Centre – Margaret Drive Special School

2001-2002 * Angela Mee Lee (Australian): Asian Women’s Welfare Association School (AWWA)

2001-2004 * Daphne Phua (S’porean): trained in the U.K.; Rainbow Centre Balestier Special School

2005 is when it starts to get more happening…

* Chen Hsueh-Lien (S’porean): trained in the U.S.; Asian Women’s Welfare Association School

* Patsy Tan (S’porean): trained in the U.S.; SGH “Music to the Ears” (MT program specially designed for hearing impaired individuals esp. those with Cochlear Implants)

* Ng Wang Feng (S’porean): trained in the U.S.; Beyond Social Services for At-risk youth

*2005-2007 * Ng Wang Feng at Rainbow Centre – Balestier Special School

* Clara Chong (S’porean): trained in the U.K.; St. Andrew’s Autism Center

2006~

* Ng Wang Feng started (Introduction to) Music Therapy elective module at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA)

2007~

* Loi Wei Ming (S’porean): trained in the U.K.; Rainbow Centre – Margaret Drive School

* Pamela Fisher (Australian): trained in Australia; St. Clare Special School and Gleneagles Hospital

* Melanie Kwan (S’porean): trained in the U.S.; Dover Park Hospice, KKH, Alexandra Hospital-KTPH; conducted Introduction to Music Therapy at Lasalle-SIA’s Professional Development Programme and at NIE (external programming). Runs a privately-owned company Sound Connexiones Music Therapy Services.

* Ng Wang Feng: National Cancer Centre (Cancer support group)

* Patsy Tan: National Heart Centre (heart failure support group; heart & lung transplant support group), Burns patients

* Association for Music Therapy (Singapore) AMTS founded with 11 pioneering members in September

2008~

* Ng Wang Feng started to conduct music programmes in conjunction with Health Promotion Board for the well-elderly

* Jenny Lee (New Zealander-Taiwanese): trained in New Zealand; Rainbow Centre – Balestier School, now called Yishun Park School

* Charissa Tan (S’porean): trained in the U.S.

* Gurpreet Kalsi (Malaysian): trained in the U.K., joins AMTS. Based in Sabah, Malaysia.

* AMTS has 10 locally-based active professionals, total membership at 14.

 * AMTS organized 2 public talks:      Singapore Art Cafe@Esplanade (English by Wang Feng), Teochew Association (Mandarin by Patsy)

2009

* MT talks at MOE Arts and Music Teachers’ Conference (English by Wei Ming)

* MT presentation to Singhealth Allied Health administrators (by Patsy, Melanie & Wang Feng)

* David Khlentzos (Australian): trained in Australia; Thye Hua Kwan Moral Early Intervention Programme for Infants and Children (EIPIC)

* AMTS organized 2 public talks:  Radin Mas CC (Malay by Gurpreet), Bukit Merah CC (Mandarin by Wang Feng)

* Charissa Tan joins Leukaemia & Lymphoma Foundation

* Publication of Music Therapy Times, 1st issue of AMTS Newsletter in December

* AMTS joins World Federation of Music Therapy

* AMTS has 11 locally-based active professionals, total membership at 15.

2010

* Music Therapy Day April 11, 2010 with Dr. Clive Robbins as distinguished speaker

* Publication of Music Therapy Times, 2nd issue of AMTS Newsletter in June, 3rd issue in December.

* Charissa joins SGH.

* Ashley Spears (American): trained in US. Joins KKH.

* Wang Feng starts serving Muscular Dystrophy Association (Singapore)

* AMTS has 15 locally-based active professionals, total membership at 20.

2011

* AMTS submits bid to host World Congress of Music Therapy in 2014/2017.

* Publication of Music Therapy Times, 4th issue of AMTS Newsletter in June, 5th issue in December.

* Germaine Yong (S’porean): trained in Australia; Singapore Association for Mental Health.

* Ashley Spears (American): trained in US; KKH.

* AMTS’ 2nd Music Therapy Day 10 April at Lib@Esplanade

* Singapore’s 1st Music Therapy Healthcare Symposium

* Jacqueline Chow (Hong Konger): trained in Australia; Thye Hua Kwan Moral Early Intervention Programme for Infants and Children (EIPIC)

* AMTS has 10 locally-based active professionals, total membership at 27.

 2012

* AMTS’ 3rd Music Therapy Day 15 April at Lib@Esplanade

2013 – 2014

To be updated!

To cite: Association for Music Therapy (Singapore) (2012)

One thought on “Timeline of Music Therapy Development in Singapore”

  1. Hello Lim,
    Thanks for your interest in music therapy. We’ve had many enquiries about local training in the past 2 years. Unfortunately until now, there are still no confirmed plans of local training. But there are plans to introduce a training programme in the near future..
    The prospective MT student should be one who really enjoys working with people, helping to promote their health. S/he should also be resilient, creative, ethical, and have solid music background (at the very least). To the best of my present knowledge, requirements will include at least Grade 6 in practical and theory, as well as other academic requirements. When we have more details, we will announce. Please check back with us again in a few more months’ time. Thank you for your patience!

    peace,
    Ng Wang Feng, MMT, MT-BC
    on behalf of AMTS

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