Meadows, A. (Ed.) (2011). Developments in music therapy practice: Case study perspectives. Gilsum: NH. Barcelona, 594 pages. P-ISBN 13: 978-1-891278-75-4 ($58). E-ISBN: 978-1-891278-76-1 $58.00

Abstract

Meadows, A. (Ed.) (201 1). Developments in music therapy practice: Case study perspectives. Gilsum: NH. Barcelona, 594 pages. P-ISBN 13: 978-1-891278-754 ($58). E-ISBN: 978-1-891278-76-1 $58.00.Developments in Music Therapy Practice: Case Study Perspectives is the first case study text in more than a decade. The case study authors are internationally renowned music therapy clinicians and researchers who practice unique music therapy techniques from part of the world. In fact, over 60% of the cases are from outside of the United States.The text is divided into four parts by client life stage: children, adolescents, adults, older adults and end-of-life care. The introduction gives the reader a bird's-eye view of each case study and includes helpful tables that are organized by author, client(s), music therapy approach, music therapy experiences, and theoretical foundation(s). Meadows chooses to close the introduction with Wilber's (1995, 2000) Four-Quadrant View to further conceptualize the music therapy approach of the therapist and the supporting theory. The Four Quadrants are described as subjective-individual (I), objective-individual (It), subjective-collective (We), and objective-collective (They).Part I provides two case studies with premature infants (Chapters 1 & 2) and eight case studies that focus on music therapy with children with varied clinical diagnoses (chapters 3-10). Within the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), case studies focus on auditive stimulation (Nocker-Ribaupierre) and a family-centered approach (Hillmer, Swedberg, & Standley) that emphasizes the establishment of the mother-infant bond. The case studies with children focus on using music to aid in the progression of the child's developmental stages, communication, and behavior. The variety of clinical diagnoses presented in these case studies are as follows; developmental^ delayed (Schwartz), Rett Syndrome (Elefant), depression (Oldfield), speech delay, Attention Deficit Disorder, autism (Crowe), Pervasive Developmental Disorder (Carpente), burns (Edwards & Kennel Iy), Down Syndrome (LaGasse), and aggressive behavior (Uhlig). Several models and approaches are described such as music therapy within a developmental framework, musical conversations, Interactive Music Therapy, Sensory Integration Model, Developmental Individual-Difference, Relationship-Based Floortime Model, Nordoff-Robbins Model, Neurologic Music Therapy, and Vocal Music Therapy. Case studies discuss how the child participates and how the child interacts in the music making as well as the child's interaction with the therapist. Family members are an instrumental component of a child's development; therefore, all case studies in Part I focus on the family member's role in the music making.Part Il (Chapters 11-15) includes courses of music therapy with both individuals and groups and most chapters include the therapists' reflections. Music therapists also shared their viewpoints on the pros and cons of treating both in-patient psychiatric clients and community-based groups. Case studies in Part Il are dedicated to music therapy treatment with adolescents with social and emotional difficulties. Music therapy addresses realistic issues that this age group faces such as depression (Erkkila), gang violence (Fouche & Torrance), grief (Kraut), drug addiction (McFerran), and at-risk youth (Pavlicevic). In these case studies, music therapy treatment addresses the client's needs through musical instrument instruction, drumming, song writing, and musical performance.Part III (Chapters 16-30) is the largest section in this text; therefore, it is further divided into subgroups of medical settings, addictions, psychiatry, healthy lifestyle, and older adults. The health needs of the clients in medical settings (Chapters 1 6-1 8) include multiple medical issues, severe head injury, depression, and spinal cord injury. Melodic Intonation Therapy was modified to focus on improving expressive communication skills with a head-injured aphasie client (Baker). …