Abstract

Music therapists from around the world working in conventional and unconventional settings have offered their contributions to this exciting new book, presenting spirited discussion and practical examples of the ways music therapy can reflect and encourage social change. From working with traumatized refugees in Berlin, care-workers and HIV/AIDS orphans in South Africa, to adults with neurological disabilities in south-east England and children in paediatric hospitals in Norway, the contributors present their global perspectives on finding new ways forward in music therapy.

Reflecting on traditional approaches in addition to these newer practices, the writers offer fresh perceptions on their identity and role as music therapists, their assumptions and attitudes about how music, people and context interact, the sites and boundaries to their work, and the new possibilities for music therapy in the 21st century. As the first book on the emerging area of Community Music Therapy, this book should be an essential and exciting read for music therapists, specialists and community musicians.

This is a book which challenges traditional boundaries and definitions of music therapy. It takes seriously how culture informs our ways of perceiving therapeutic needs, and seeks to develop new perspectives, role identities and ways of doing music therapy. It is essential reading for the socially engaged music therapist.
from the Foreword by Even Ruud

Mercédès Pavlicevic was Director of Research at Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy, and Director of the PhD programme. She was also Visiting Professor at the University of Pretoria, and research consultant for the Music Therapy Community Clinic in Cape Town.

Gary Ansdell is Director of Education at Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy, and Co-Director of the MA in Music Therapy (Community Music Therapy / Nordoff-Robbins) Programme. He is also Honorary Research Fellow in Community Music Therapy at the University of Sheffield, and continues to work as a music therapist in the area of adult psychiatry.

This text has consolidated the debate and further articulated the discourse. I believe it is an important contribution to the development of music therapy.
Nordic Journal of Music Therapy