This book synthesizes knowledge about the myriad ways music can support the physical and psychosocial needs of people living with neurological diagnoses. It may be a useful tool for those working or training as music therapists, as well as clinicians and patients interested in the use of music and rhythm to address individualized healthcare goals.
The editors of this book advocate for a collaborative, holistic approach to the implementation of music-based interventions, acknowledging that different (and at times, conflicting) approaches do exist – and that different patients may require exploration of different approaches to have their needs and desires met in ways most meaningful to them. The book’s many contributors embody this desire to hold space for wide-ranging views on clinical practice through the ways they share their own perspectives as music therapists, neurologists, nurses, speech and language pathologists, and neuroscience researchers from across the globe.
Each chapter is centered around clinical work in context with a specific patient community – be that a diagnosis (e.g., movement disorders), shared culture (e.g., autistic culture), disease stage (e.g., end of life), or targeted clinical need (e.g., psychosocial support and/or functional performance) – and features a summary of available research with case examples and clinical descriptions to highlight different conceptualizations of the role of music in the care of patients with neurologic diagnoses.