Culture Centered Music Therapy

An in-depth exploration of taking culture-inclusive perspectives for practice, theory, and research in music therapy. Part One outlines premises for the argument, examining basic concepts such as culture, humankind, meaning, "musicking," and the nature-nurture debate. Part Two highlights how culture-centered music therapy may be practiced. In Part Three, implications for describing and understanding music therapy are discussed, including a chapter on how to define music therapy as practice, discipline, and profession. A culture-inclusive model of the music therapy process is also proposed. Part Four suggests approaches to music therapy research within a culture-centered context.

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.

Music therapy is recognised as being applicable to a wide range of healthcare and social contexts. Since the first edition of Music Therapy: An art beyond words, it has extended into areas of general medicine, mainstream education and community practice. This new edition revises the historical and theoretical perspectives and recognises the growing evidence and research base in contemporary music therapy. Leslie Bunt and Brynjulf Stige document the historical evolution of music therapy and place the practice within seven current perspectives: medical, behavioural, psychoanalytical, humanistic, transpersonal, culture-centred and music-centred. No single perspective, individual or group approach is privileged, although the focus on the use of sounds and music within therapeutic relationships remains central. Four chapters relate to areas of contemporary practice across different stages of the lifespan: child health, adolescent health, adult health and older adult health. All include case narratives and detailed examples underpinned by selected theoretical and research perspectives. The final two chapters of the book reflect on the evolution of the profession as a community resource and the emergence of music therapy as an academic discipline in its own right. A concise introduction to the current practice of music therapy around the world, Music Therapy: An art beyond words is an invaluable resource for professionals in music therapy and music education, those working in the psychological therapies, social work and other caring professions, and students at all levels.

An ambitious and long-awaited text that sets out the basic practices and principles of approaches to music therapy that place music and music experience in a central role. The text provides a philosophical and practical rationale for music experience as a legitimate goal of clinical music therapy. An historical account is given of music-centered thinking in music therapy and the manifestation of this way of thinking in various contemporary music therapy models. The latter part of the book develops the specifics of a particular music-centered theory that is meant to be applicable across different domains of treatment. This book is essential for readers interested in the development of theory in music therapy, for music-centered practitioners who have been searching for a vocabulary and conceptual framework in which to articulate their clinical approach, and for anyone interested in the intrinsic value of music experience for human development.

Music therapy professionals work with diverse population groups, and this book provides therapists, and those in training, with the tools to integrate understanding of different cultural and social identities into their practice. Topics addressed include heritage, age, location, identity and health beliefs, and how to understand the dynamics of the variety of different cultures which music therapists will encounter in the course of their practice. Each chapter is written by an expert on a topic of personal interest in music therapy, explored through a multicultural lens. The chapters include anecdotes, case studies, and practical activities to try, while encouraging the reader to reflect on their own identity as a music therapist. This book is essential reading for all music therapy professionals wanting to practice in a culturally-informed manner, and respect the needs, contributions and strengths of every client.

This is the first comprehensive textbook on multicultural dimensions of music therapy. The editors pass the literary microphone to the contributing authors - all music therapists who have found belonging and identity in diverse cultures. The authors examine how music therapy is relevant within an individual's cultural context through personal and scholarly explorations. The chapters are separated into three sections: 1) understanding oppression and bias; 2) minority cultures within North America; and 3) inclusive music therapy practice and education. This focused examination prompts the reader to listen to myriad voices and engage in cultural dialogues.

'Community Music Therapy' presents a new way of considering music therapy in more culturally, socially and politically sensitive ways. It suggests new practices and new thinking for music therapy in the 21st century, and offers a critique of some older methods.

Toward a Sociology of Music Therapy: Musicking as a Cultural Immunogen addresses how music therapy may expand its theoretical foundation toward sociology in order to meet some of the major health challenges in contemporary societies. Building upon post-structural and posthumanist thinking, this book advocates a new understanding of the discipline of music therapy, as well as outlines major areas of practice that can extend music therapy services into public health.The concept of "music as a cultural immunogen" is illustrated through research interviews, field work, and cases taken from the media, demonstrating how various forms of "health musicking" help regulate emotions, build sustainable musical communities, and install meaning, hope, and a sense of existential "resonance" in life.Also discussed are issues from the sociology of profession as related to the identity of the music therapist. Other topics are ontologies of music, conceptions of health, holism and disability, as well as different ideological stances among leading pioneering music therapists in the previous century, like Christoph Schwabe, E. Th. Gaston, and Nordoff and Robbins.