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David Aldridge a Wanderer Between Worlds
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On March 6, 2020, our dear 72-year-old colleague Dr. David Aldridge passed away following a short illness.
David Aldridge greatly influenced and impacted the devolvement of music therapy worldwide through his scientific contributions, and the knowledge he imparted to his many graduate students and doctoral candidates. As a wanderer between the worlds of psychology, medicine and music therapy, he saw himself as a translator and bridge builder. As a wanderer between the German and English languages, he translated the German word “Wissenschaft” (science) into “creating knowledge” and “Forschung” (research) into “searching again.” His Institute for Qualitative Research in Medicine at the University of Witten/Herdecke developed the first music therapy data base and online magazine Music Therapy Today; he significantly shaped the understanding of science and its open access. His firmly expressed views were sometimes quite polarizing; yet he was considered to be tremendously generous.
Graduating from the arts, he studied social work, psychology, research methodology, and earned his doctorate in England. Before his work became dedicated to music therapy, he had already created a name for himself in the field of alternative medicine. In 1987, a collaboration with the English music therapist Rachel Verney brought him to Herdecke where he was promoted to full professor at the institute for music therapy. As an educator, David Aldridge impacted a whole generation of music therapists, and as a scientist he advised numerous doctoral candidates who are currently professors at music therapy institutes worldwide.
One of his biggest achievements was the collaboration between European institutes. For example, in conjunction with his colleagues, he developed the Ph.D. program at the University of Alborg in Denmark and also supported the development of the music therapy program in Krems, Austria. Additionally, he served on various scientific committees for music therapy conferences and beyond.
After closure of the music therapy institute and his Institute at the University Witten/Herdecke, he co-founded the Nordoff/Robbins Center Witten where he continued his work. Until the end of last year, he continued to advise colleagues working on scientific projects, mentored students on their Bachelor’s and Master’s theses and supported the development of the field through literature reviews, advocacy, and publications. During the merger of German music therapy associations, he accepted the invitation to serve on the scientific board of the German Music Therapy Society, DMtG. The recipient of numerous awards, he was a renowned international speaker on topics related to music therapy, spirituality, and scientific foundation of creative art therapies.
With Dr. David Aldridge’s passing, the relatively small field of music therapy will experience a very large void. Moreover, he will be missed as a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, true companion and dear friend. In your memories, accounts and stories, many of you will remember David as a humorous and sociable person who accepted the highs and lows of life (such as his unemployment in England, loss of his institute, and last but not least his rapid decline) with equanimity and humility.
He surely would be pleased if all his friends and companions would take a moment, get a beer (preferably Guinness or IPA) and join in a final toast to him.
Farewell and Cheers, Dr. David Aldridge!
Lutz Neugebauer
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