This rich collection of 32 original songs assists you in supporting the development of positive educational and therapeutic outcomes. Born of clinical work by music therapists at The Center for Discovery, areas addressed through the songs include fine and gross motor skills; cognitive and academic skills; social skills and emotional skills. Covering both practical applications and clinical context, the wide range of songs in this book empower you as a therapist or music educator to compose your own songs and adapt the songs in this collection for use in everyday practice. Each song is available to download for easy use in practice settings. Included in the collection are: greetings songs, songs for building self-awareness and emotional expression; songs for special occasions and rhythmic chants to inspire creative movement and social connectedness.

Farming, famous chefs and a team of nutritionists come together in Feeding the Heart, the inspiring story of The Center for Discovery, a special community in the Catskill Mountains that is re-inventing care for people with complex disabilities. Here is a place where amazing food starts in the fields and finishes with delicious mouthfuls that nurture and heal. Everyone who eats should eat like this. Learn how with top chefs like April Bloomfield, Cesare Casella, Mark Ladner, Maria Loi and Bill Telepan who share recipes, tips and techniques for cooking that really matters.

Many musicians, music students, and general music lovers are curious about the field of music therapy the who, what, where, and how. This book provides a general overview of the profession, and it includes 26 audition essays, written by former students, confirming their motivation to "do good in the world through music." A career in music therapy combines their love of music with the desire to be of service to others. This book offers both the pragmatic reasons and "feel good" aspects that inspire people to enter this fulfilling profession.

Creative Arts Therapy Careers is a collection of essays written by and interviews with registered drama therapists, dance/movement therapists, music therapists, art therapists, poetry therapists, and expressive arts therapists. The book sheds light on the fascinating yet little-known field of the creative arts therapies – psychotherapy approaches which allow clients to use creativity and artistic expression to explore their lives, solve their problems, make meaning, and heal from their traumas. Featuring stories of educators in each of the six fields and at different stages of their career, it outlines the steps one needs to take in order to find training in one of the creative arts therapies and explores the healing aspects of the arts, where creative arts therapists work, who they work with, and how they use the arts in therapy. Contributors to this book provide a wealth of practical information, including ways to find opportunities to work with at-risk populations in order to gain experience with the arts as healing tools; choosing the right graduate school for further study; the difference between registration, certification, and licensure; and the differences between a career in a medical, mental health, educational, correctional, or service institution. This book illuminates creative arts therapy career possibilities for undergraduate and graduate students studying acting, directing, playwriting, creative writing, visual arts, theatre design, dance, and music. It is also an excellent resource for instructors offering a course to prepare arts students of all kinds for the professional world.

Music therapy is an established profession that is recognized around the world. As a catalyst to promote health and wellbeing music therapy is both objective and explorative. The Oxford Handbook of Queer and Trans Music Therapy (QTMT) is a celebration of queer, trans, bisexual and gender nonconforming identities and the spontaneous creativity that is at the heart of queer music-making. As an emerging approach in the 21st century QTMT challenges perspectives and narratives from ethnocentric and cisheteronormative traditions, that have dominated the field. Raising the essential question of what it means to create queer and trans spaces in music therapy, this book presents an open discourse on the need for change and new beginnings. The therapists, musicians and artists included in this book collectively embody and represent a range of theory, research and practice that are central to the essence and core values of QTMT. This book does not shy away from the sociopolitical issues that challenge music therapy as a dominantly white, heteronormative, and cisgendered profession. Music as a therapeutic force has the potential to transform us in unique and extraordinary ways. In this book music and words are presented as innovative equals in describing and evaluating QTMT as a newly defined approach.

Music has been a part of human culture since the dawn of time. Its rhythms, melodies, and harmonies have not only served as a form of artistic expression but have also played a vital role in rituals, ceremonies, and healing practices across different cultures. This chapter provides an overview of music therapy as a clinical and evidence-based practice, exploring its origins, fundamental principles, and the diverse ways in which it benefits individuals in both physical and mental health settings. Music therapy's roots can be traced back to ancient civilizations, where music was used as a tool for healing and communication. In Greek and Roman cultures, philosophers like Pythagoras and Plato discussed the healing power of music and its influence on emotions and the body. Indigenous cultures worldwide have long used music, drumming, and chanting as part of their spiritual and healing traditions, recognizing its ability to alter states of consciousness and promote well-being. The modern field of music therapy emerged in the mid-20th century, following World War II. During this time, musicians began to visit hospitals to play for soldiers suffering from physical and emotional trauma. Observing the profound effects that music had on the soldiers’ recovery, doctors and nurses started to incorporate music into their treatment plans. The positive impact on patients led to the formalization of music therapy as a profession, with the first academic programs and certification processes being established in the 1950s and 1960s.

The author presents an empowering approach to music therapy with adolescents that places the therapist in a collaborative relationship with the individual or group. A range of strategies are explored, including song sharing and improvisation.