Like many kids, it's commonplace for 9-year-old Jonathan Lin to break into a big smile while drumming. But Lin is autistic, which makes that smile all that much more rewarding for his mother, Christine Lin.

"It's a real highlight for him," she said of her son.

Jonathan travels from East Brunswick each Saturday to take part in a new Music Therapy program offered by the Hoboken School of Music, in partnership with the Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy Center at New York University.

Clive Robbins, who is one of the world's leaders in Music Therapy and the co-founder of the Nordoff-Robbins Center, said Tuesday that his approach to creative music therapy is based upon the belief that there is an inborn musicality residing in everyone, which can be activated for personal growth and development.

"We work with children that are cut off from life, and help sharpen their awareness to the world around them," Robbins said.

Music Therapy is an often misunderstood treatment that can be effective for all kinds of medical problems ranging from autism to Down Syndrome to stroke to severe mental retardation, he said. "Music is the most basic way to reach handicapped children," Robbins said. "It's something that transcends all human emotion and feeling."

He said that children can become better at communicating, better in their relationships with their families, and create a positive self image.

A lot like playing jazz

The history of the Nordoff-Robbins technique begins in 1958, when a Paul Nordoff, a gifted composer, concert pianist and Juilliard graduate, experienced the musical responses of disabled children. Nordoff was so moved by the power of music as therapy that he gave up his academic career.

Nordoff teamed up with Robbins, a special education teacher from England who was particularly interested in music as a medium of therapy.

"Instead of writing another symphony, he thought he could so something more," said Robbins of his long-time research partner.

Robbins and Nordoff became pioneers in what was a new field, Music Therapy.

The Nordoff-Robbins technique is built on the concept that that there can be an expression of music between the therapist and the child, no matter how handicapped the child might be.

Nordoff, who passed away in 1977, would play different styles and rhythms on the piano in order to elicit participation or a response from the patients. For each session, Robbins was always by his side, guiding children to use musical instruments or find their own voice.

"It's all based on improvisation," Robbins said. "We find a style of music, idiom, or rhythm that engages that child. We find something that lives in the character of the child."

He added that it's a lot like a jazz performance, because they never knew which direction the therapy might go.

"It's exciting because each child is different, so you never know where you are going or where you will end up," Robbins said.

The children take an active role in creating music together with their therapists on a variety of standard and specialized instruments. No prior experience or training in music is required of clients.

Lin's favorite instrument is the drums, but some days he likes to try the piano.

Each session is videotaped and the reviewed by the therapist. They look at which sounds, rhythms, and melodies inspire a response.

Then they look at what the child's responses are. Does the child start singing? Is the child now playing the drum with his left hand, where he didn't before? Is the child smiling?

Robbins said the student is allowed to express anger, sadness, disappointment, happiness and excitement without fear of rejection.

Jonathan's progress

Lin has been in the program for four months, and his mother has already seen advances. "I believe the music therapy has helped improve his language skills, social skills and emotional control," she said Wednesday. "The music therapy is really helping these kids," she said.

She added that autistic individuals typically have problems processing auditory information. One auditory processing problem occurs when a person hears speech sounds but they do not perceive the meaning of the sounds.

She added that the music helps Jonathan process sounds, which has positive trickle-down effect into other aspects of his life. She said that his attention span has improved, he's more able to communicate, both of which have lead to a happier child.

"He really looks forward every week to going to class," said Christine Lin.

Robbins that that music can be an effective tool for not only therapists, but also for parents in the home. "Sing to your child," he said. "Sing about daily activities, make up little songs about putting your shoes on. Young children may not understand what you are saying, but they are immediately sensitive to rhythm and pitch and to the quality of your vocalizations."

See for yourself

Music Therapy is just one of the programs offered at the Hoboken School of Music. The school also provides individual and group instructions in all orchestral instruments and musicianship classes such as ear training, theory and music appreciation.

The classes are taught in the school's studio at the Monroe Center for the Arts, at 720 Monroe St.

The Hoboken School of Music and the Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy Center will present an improvisation demonstration using the Nordoff-Robbins technique at the Hoboken Library is on Wednesday Aug. 17 and Aug. 24 at 10:30 am. It is open to any child ages 3-6.