This book explores the use of music therapy in order to enhance the development of independent leisure skills with a variety of special populations. Suggestions are provided for alternative avenues through musical experiences enabling individuals to achieve their greatest potential for independence and a high quality of life.

A collection of 100 group music activities that provides an insight to music therapists who are new to working with client group, and inspiration to those familiar with working with adults but in need of fresh ideas.

This book is designed to teach music to people with special needs. Many of the activities and suggestions in this book could as easily come under the heading of recreational music, that is, the use of music for sheer enjoyment. For people with special needs, recreational music is tremendously important and can provide a safe place for the development of social skills, the release of emotions, and the satisfaction that comes from making music with others. Chapters cover dealing with specific disabilities and include activities that will facilitate the teaching of students who have these problems, "Books, Records, and Tapes" gives suggestions for further sources of information, and a section of addresses of various organizations provides places to obtain materials.

In 1976, Donald Michel first published the classic text. Music Therapy, which became the standard textbook at many universities. Music Therapy in Principle and Practice followed in 2005 with coauthor Joseph Pinson and the authors offer here an important updated and expanded new edition. The book combines valuable information from research as a basis for principles along with the realities of hands-on experience as a basis for practice. The text approaches therapy from the position of assessing developmental skills in individuals served. While it includes a significant amount of information regarding diagnosis, the authors also focus on treatment that is based on the needs for habitation and/or rehabilitation that are apparent at the time of assessment. Major topics include philosophical concepts and historical perspectives, professional guidelines, motor skills, protocol planning, communication skills, cognitive skills, social-emotional skills, and an introduction to research. The chapters on managing and coping with anxiety-associated life situations as well as the various types of lifetime developmental skills have been expanded with regard to different populations served and the various strategies that have been found to be effective. The chapter on professional ethics has been expanded and a section on new trends in music therapy complements this new edition. Links to over 300 helpful websites are included. The text will have great appeal to music educators, rehabilitation professionals, practicing and student music therapists, including medical and mental health professionals.

The author describes how, in practice, music therapists work at child day care centres, adult day care centres and in other institutions. The first chapters cover the history and theory of working with music with people with developmental disabilities. The main body of the book covers discussion of the various methods, including individual and group work. Each method is described in terms of the clinical indications, the objectives set and the choice of techniques and musical instruments, and is illustrated through the use of case study. The final chapter draws conclusions for both theory and practice.

This is a best-selling introductory book, intended for all students in parks, recreation, and leisure studies, regardless of specialty. It provides an essential, basic knowledge level of people with disabilities. Common themes are presented by the authors in a manner allowing readers to develop their own personal views of therapeutic recreation, and this approach keeps the focus of service on the customer.