Music Therapy: An art beyond words - Softcover

"Leslie Bunt and Brynjulf Stige have crafted an exceptional 'coming of age' book that thoroughly documents the developmental, cultural, and historical field of Music Therapy. Their book offers the first truly comprehensive treatment of a profession that spans the diversity of human conditions and cultures. It is a practical and a scholarly offering that also embraces the mysteries of Music Therapy as 'An Art beyond Words.'" - Carolyn Kenny, Ph.D., MT-BC, MTA

"The writing is clear, direct, and appealing throughout, drawing the reader into multiple facets and considerations. The book has a global perspective, both literally in terms of drawing examples and literature from a very broad geographic representation, and metaphorically in dealing with the full range of issues concerning music therapy, including treatment, training, research, and the evolving social role of the music therapist. The book is insightful, intellectually broad and pluralistic, contemporary, and poetic. [...] Like good guides who use representative stories to help tourists grasp the significance and context of what they see, Bunt and Stige provide the narratives and broad contexts that will serve as a fine introduction to the vast contemporary landscape of music therapy." – Kenneth Aigen, New York University

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.