An overview of music therapy clinical practice in the 21st century, structured around the ways music therapists engage clients in music experiences - re-creating, composing, improvising and active listening. The text includes forty-eight case illustrations from twenty-nine clinicians practicing with diverse client populations. These cases demonstrate how the music therapist adapts the method to meet the unique needs and interests of clients. The benefits of these methods are outlined, and representative research is provided to support clinical applications.

Presents an overview of the music therapy profession, introducing the basic concepts of music therapy, investigating the clinical populations most often served by music therapists, and providing information about accountability, research, and future trends.

Music therapy is growing internationally to be one of the leading evidence-based psychosocial allied health professions to meet needs across the lifespan.The Oxford Handbook of Music Therapy is the most comprehensive text on this topic in its history. It presents exhaustive coverage of the topic from international leaders in the field.

This book is written for entering students in music therapy programs. It presents the major approaches to music therapy used at this point in time. The process of reviewing these systems of therapy will likely renew the reader's admiration for the versatility of music, and prompt appreciation for the diversity of approaches that comprise the profession of music therapy. The procedures for most of approaches are quite distinct; nevertheless there remain important commonalities among all of the approaches. The intent of each approach is to stimulate positive changes in the client through music, although some approaches emphasize changes in a specific area of human functioning: cognitive, physical, psychological or social. All of the approaches depend on the appeal and influence of music to bring about changes in the client, all of the approaches provide valid avenues for therapeutic work, and all of the approaches require training to be used effectively. The differences in approaches are well suited to the diversity of practicing clinicians and the clients they serve. The book is organized into three major sections with similar organization of chapters, which begin with an overview of a specific approach to music therapy. Also included in each chapter is the history or background of the approach, description of the approach--including philosophical orientation, clinical applications of the approach, related research, summary or conclusions, and suggestions for further reading.

Music therapists, as in medical and paramedical professions, have a rich diversity of approaches and methods, often developed with specific relevance to meet the needs of a certain client population. This book reflects the many components of such diversity, and is a thoroughly comprehensive guide to accessing and understanding the ideas, theory, research results and clinical outcomes that are the foundations of this field. Providing a detailed insight into the field of music therapy from an international perspective, this book enables the reader to see the complete picture of the multifaceted and fascinating world that is music therapy.