Dr. Kenneth Aigen

Biography

Kenneth Aigen is a professor and Vice Chair of Faculty Affairs in the Music and Performing Arts Professions at NYU Steinhardt. His expertise is in music therapy, with clinical specialties in working with children and adolescents facing emotional and developmental delays, as well as adults with mental health issues. His research incorporates musicological analyses to explore connections between elements of music and common cognitive, emotional, and physical goals of music therapy. Aigen's current work studies the role of music in the everyday lives of autistic adults. He has lectured internationally and authored numerous publications on Nordoff-Robbins music therapy, popular music in music therapy, and qualitative research methodologies. Aigen's significant works include 'Paths of Development in Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy', 'Music-Centered Music Therapy', and 'The Study of Music Therapy: Current Issues and Concepts', which have been translated into Chinese, Japanese, and Korean. He previously served as the research director and co-director of the Nordoff-Robbins Center for Music Therapy at NYU, having returned to Steinhardt after serving as an associate professor of music therapy at Temple University, where he received the Lindback Award for Distinguished Teaching. Aigen's accolades include the NYU Steinhardt School Teaching Excellence Award and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Music Therapy Association.

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