“The Music Therapy Handbook could serve a number of different functions: (1) as a textbook used in a number of different courses in an undergraduate music therapy training program; (2) as a resource for clinical music therapists who are seeking more current, cutting-edge material on a particular topic or clinical approach; (3) as a supplementary text for music therapy academicians in order to add meaningful content to music therapy lectures; and (4) as a pertinent resource for music therapy researchers to provide scholarly information and additional salient references….One unique characteristic of this book is that most of the chapters in Sections II and III contain case examples that are based on music therapy practice with real clients. In addition, the content of each chapter follows a similar organizational outline, to provide for easier reading across chapters….With the publication of the Music Therapy Handbook, the music therapy profession may be moving away from introductory-level textbooks and into more comprehensive texts that can serve a multiplicity of purposes in music therapy training and practice….This reviewer highly recommends the incorporation of the Music Therapy Handbook into current music therapy education, and predicts that it will become one of the foundational texts in music therapy training in the near future.”

—Journal of Music Therapy


“This book is, without a doubt, a must for any library as it is a vital resource for anyone interested in music therapy. Barbara Wheeler has, yet again, provided a book full of key issues that are currently occupying the field of music therapy. It is a thorough and very methodically constructed handbook….I would like to thank Barbara Wheeler for providing the music therapy community with a fine handbook. While there are many new books on music therapy, I think this comprehensive guide gathers an excellent variety of ideas and approaches in one volume and fits very well alongside the growing music therapy literature….A rich and well-constructed book.”

—British Journal of Music Therapy


“The structure of the book, as it ranges from basic, broad information to specific clinical practice settings, lends itself well to use by students and professional music therapists, as well as non-music therapists with whom clinicians and researchers collaborate. Physicians, nurses, social workers, child life specialists, OTs and PTs, and other allied healthcare professionals may find the text particularly helpful. All of the chapters on specific clinical applications would make excellent resources for clinicians, educators, students, and researchers, and they could also be helpful information sources for non-music therapist stakeholders, including potential reimbursement agencies. I highly recommend this book for current students, individuals studying for the board certification exam, professional clinicians, and clinical and academic researchers needing a resource to share with non-music therapists.”

—Music and Medicine


“The central highlight of this book is its applicability to a wide audience of readers….The book is equally compelling to music therapists through its contributions from international experts in their field and the discussion of contemporary issues confronting their profession….Wheeler’s inclusion of both traditional and contemporary perspective of music therapy adds to the book’s wide appeal….Wheeler’s Music Therapy Handbookis a dynamic, easy to read, comprehensive resource of contemporary music therapy theory and practice that offers an enormous contribution to music therapy. Its simplicity and applicability makes it an essential ready reference for students, health care workers, educators, and experienced music therapists alike.”

—Australian Journal of Music Therapy


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