testimonials

“Dr. Turry developed highly applicable assignments that were a reflection of the class’s need for cultural inclusivity, interconnectedness, and self-care, and he imbued the building of confidence and creativity. He prioritized accessing each student’s potential, considering their unique needs and styles of learning, leaving them feeling seen and heard. Students have walked away in awe, with more knowledge, musical skill, and awareness of themselves.”

- Veronica Manges, MA, MT-BC

“I met Dr. Alan Turry attending the Blended Learning that was an excellent

opportunity to acquire the Nordoff Robbins Approach Certification. His teaching was a combination of musical competence, music therapy experience and passion; it was even more thanks to his empathic skills and his ability to listen, value, encourage and support.”

- Lucia Corno, Music Terapist and Director, Scuola di Musica Biassono Amerigo Monguzzi

Biassono, Italy

“Alan offered us challenges, as well as grace in understanding our different abilities, valuing each of our individual strengths, while also helping us to recognize and improve on our weaknesses. He provided us with the tools to trust our ears in addition to unique ways to actively listen and become in tune with one another so that we have a strong foundation of supportive therapeutic techniques.”

- Liz Ast, Music Therapist at Concordia Conservatory

“I forgot to save the recording after videotaping. I was so scared. In my cultural background, it was a big mistake. You didn’t make it a big deal. You warmly showed me how to record again. For me, this experience taught me how to forgive myself when I made a mistake, how to be brave and honest to share and communicate with other students and staff members when I made a mistake or had a disagreement, and also how to forgive others.”

- Yutong Pan 

Music Therapist, Music Academy for Special Learners

“Alan has been fundamental in allowing me to learn how to best support adult clients’ expressive skills. He creates an environment that demonstrates how much he cares for his clients and students.Through guided role playing and improvisation activities, students were eager to participate, creating a sense of community. My questions were embraced with thoughtful feedback and sensitivity. The final project turned out to be one of the most important songs for my own growth.”

- Cherie Hannouche, NYU

“Alan is a wealth of knowledge, support, and kindness. As my teacher, he was always sensitive and attentive to my musical goals, existing abilities, and current disposition."

- David Sandman MT-BC

“Coming in the class with the enthusiasm of a curious child he would explain and focus on the musical modes and improvise with each one of us with respect and appreciation to our different cultural and musical backgrounds. He encouraged us to share our musical heritage of our country with the rest of the class so we can all learn from each other. I'm very grateful and honored that I got the chance in my life to be taught and work next to him.”

- Margarita Chatzinasiou, MA-NRMT

UOM, Greece

“Alan is a gem of a human being and the most talented yet humble Music Therapist I have ever met!  I cannot say enough good things and praises about Alan as a person, and as a teacher. His classes were always well received, looked forward to, incredibly engaging, and safe.”

- Kelli Miyahira, MA, MT-BC 

Mele for Life Music Therapy, Oahu, Hawaii

Graduate student, USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work

“I have been lucky enough to have met Alan during my student years where he was my great mentor and teacher; helping me to grow into my potential as well as guiding me on my path towards NRMT. As a teacher he is always willing to give generously, not giving up any chance to help a student that is seeking to learn; instilling the spirit of NR into all who are lucky enough to work with him, and inspiring all who meet him.”

- Min-Min Cheung, MA, MT-BC

Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapist

“I approached Alan 4 years ago, seeking clinical advice as well as ongoing Nordoff-Robbins training. His professional advice is always helpful and culture sensitive. With his

extensive knowledge and experience, I'm always inspired and motivated.”

- Hok-tsun (Edmund) Ma

MCMT (UWS), MPhil. (HKU), BSc. (HKU)

Registered Music Therapist (Australia)

Project Manager, Heartstrings Music Therapy Project

ELCHK, Ma On Shan District Elderly Community

“Dr. Alan Turry is a supportive supervisor and dedicated professor whose energy and dedication was key in my masters program. His technical ability and knowledge can only reflect a lifetime dedication to the mission of helping people through music. I am very grateful for the opportunity of having Alan as a mentor and I hope he continues inspiring students and professionals all over the world.” 

- Gabriela Pelosi, MT-BC 

Avenues The World School (Shenzhen, China)

“Alan was my supervisor for two years as I completed my masters program in music therapy and my Nordoff-Robbins certification. He instilled key concepts both through thoughtful discussion as well as modeling and application in the clinical setting. He was generous with his deep well of knowledge and experience, while remaining perpetually open to suggestion and new ideas. It was truly one of the great pleasures and honors of my career to learn from and work with him.” 

- Andrew Krahn, MA, MT-BC

“I really enjoyed his supervision style. Whenever I struggled with my sessions, he always helped me find answers on my own rather than giving me an answer he might think would be right. He challenged me with kindness and patience and encouraged me with trust and respect.”

- Junnie Ahn, MA, KCMT(Korean Certified Music Therapist), Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapist,

Music Therapist, Pusan National University Hospital

Adjunct Instructor, Department of Music Therapy, Dongeui University

“He has the unique ability to encourage the best in people, to provide meaningful support at challenging situations and to give essential advice in my clinical work from a musical as well as a therapeutic point of view.”

- Emmanouil Basis, MT

University of Macedonia, Greece

“I had the good fortune to have Dr Turry as my supervisor. I was very excited because he is known for his musical skills and his deep knowledge of the creative music therapy model. I felt very comfortable with his kindness and support when I had some language and

cultural doubts and questions. With all his understanding, he always demanded me giving my best to walk through the academic process, challenging my musical and therapy skills, and pointing my strengths and fields to improve.”

- J. Duarte

“He has an exceptional ability to address issues ranging from music-centered clinical work in a variety of settings to professional development. His wealth of knowledge is grounded in experiences from an extensive and diversified career. Alan’s warm demeanor and remarkable passion for music therapy are ideal for establishing a comfortable, productive, and inspiring supervision relationship.” 

- Ethan Meyer, MT-BC 

Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapist

Professor at MSU

Founder of Meyer Music Services

“He showed me what it really means to be the music therapist that I wanted to be and became.” 

- Rick Soshensky, MA, LCAT, MT-BC 

Director/Founder of the Music Therapy studio, 

Adjunct Professor in Music Therapy Dept., SUNY New Paltz, Molloy College

“Dr. Turry has astounding skills in teaching and he is profoundly sensitive to different cultures, very perceptive and respectful to cultural diversities and each person’s uniqueness, as well as he is highly effective in successfully dealing with non-native English speaking students, supervisees, trainees, and clients.”

- Dora Psaltopoulou-Kamini, PhD, MA-CMT

Assistant Professor of Music Therapy 

Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece

“We co-taught Clinical Musicianship at Lesley University from 2011-2014. Our students had a wide range of skill levels, some with entry-level musicianship. Alan has a way of meeting students where they are and empowering them to use music with intention. He was an excellent teaching partner. He has many more years of experience, education, and advanced music proficiency, yet he was humble and inclusive and recognized my strengths; we made a good team.”

- Davis Wimberly, EdM

“He taught me how to connect with myself, my clients, and my music in transformative, attuned, and sensitive ways. He is an expert on current technologies, but whatever technology does to change how a music therapist would work, cultivating sensitivity in being present and musical attunement for students will always be relevant.” 

- Yasmine A. Iliya, PhD, LCAT, MT-BC

Licensed Creative Arts Therapist

Adjunct Faculty, NYU

Adjunct Faculty, SMWC

“Truly inspirational lecture from Dr. Alan Turry, sharing with international community of NordoffRobbins #musictherapists from around the globe on meaning of #musicalengagement. Such richness of experience, warmth, courage&musical presence.”

- O.ZharinovaSanderson

@Oksana_music

Musician, music therapist, supervisor and educator. Ukrainian and European. Director of Music Services @nordoffrobbins following where people and music lead.

Manchester, England

“Dr. Turry is not only a master clinician; he is a gifted presenter, one who engaged our students, faculty, administration and alumni from the first moment to the last. What became clear through the various video presentations was the spiritual place that music, and music therapy, filled. ” 

- Cantor Michael Kasper, MSW, Dean of Cantorial Studies and Director of Student Life and Placement, Academy for Jewish Religion

“It's always an honor and joy working with Alan. He can express and compose memorable music with ease and freedom getting to the heart of the sentiment. I've seen how personally his music can move and inspire people - from the youngest child with learning differences, to helping my mother recover in the hospital from heart surgery. His music is incredibly powerful and healing and loved by the ballet community for having a beautiful danceable quality.”

- Elizabeth Flores Co-Founder, Director, NAYB

“Alan and I collaborated on a research project which combined music and occupational therapy for upper limb recovery for chronic stroke individuals. Alan was a joy to work with and the program was a huge success. He was dedicated to this research project which was apparent through his commitment to all aspects of the research study, the development, implementation, and the dissemination of the results.”

- Daniel Geller EdD, MPH, OTR/L

“As his co-therapist, I have witnessed his treatment and his energized, positive regard for individuals who had lost their language and speech skills due to aphasia. Working with these folks demands a dynamic ability to match genre to the purpose, encourage exploration of instruments and the voice, improvise musically, and find lyrics and phrasing that are accessible to the individual. He is an excellent therapist, supervisor, and co-clinician.”

- Darlene Monda, MS, CCC-SLP

“He is not caught up in his own understanding of what music is. He knows that different people like making music differently. This is what makes him a great music therapist. He meets everyone where they want to meet him.” 

- Ethan Jones, Nordoff-Robbins community member

“I quickly saw that he meant what he said—I couldn’t make a mistake in this process. What a liberating experience!” 

- Maria Logis, former client

“Through my work with Dr. Turry, I have developed greater confidence in myself as a musician, songwriter and performer. NRMT has helped me learn to honor and appreciate myself, and my personal music making process. I have started to recover the joy of making music that I so earnestly sought over the years! In fact, my husband (who is a professional musician) has said since I started music therapy, I am definitely 'easier to play with.' And I find he is easier to play with, too!” 

- Paule

“In my 18 years of being connected to Nordoff-Robbins, I’ve had the true pleasure to work with wonderful therapists and make music with peers.” 

- Lev Garfein, Nordoff-Robbins community member