Music Therapy Handbook

“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.”

—Journal of Music Therapy (on the first edition)


“This book is, without a doubt, a 'must' for any library as it is a vital resource for anyone interested in music therapy ….A rich and well-constructed book.”

—British Journal of Music Therapy (on the first edition)


“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….I highly recommend this book.”

—Music and Medicine (on the first edition)


“An excellent source for students and practitioners. Recommended. Upper-level undergraduates through researchers/faculty; professionals/practitioners.”

—Choice Reviews (on the first edition)


“This second edition is a radical update that celebrates an expanded collective of authors, critical perspectives, and new ways of understanding what it means to be a music therapist. The insights and care offered by the editors and contributors sincerely convey their passion for the profession, while challenging music therapists to critically reflect on their practices and research. I look forward to sharing this handbook with my graduate students and personally engaging with the many prompts for discussion throughout the chapters.”

—Grace Thompson, PhD, Music Therapy Program, University of Melbourne, Australia


“The second edition of this gem of a handbook will be treasured by music therapists, instructors, and internship supervisors who want to take a deep dive into current topics and approaches in music therapy. The diversity of contributors, chapter topics, and settings and populations discussed is a highlight. The second edition emphasizes themes of diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility, and cultural humility that often have been lacking in creative arts therapy resources. This handbook will be invaluable for entry-level music therapists looking to orient and root themselves culturally in fieldwork; it also contains unique insights for more advanced therapists.”

—Joanne Loewy, DA, LCAT, MT-BC, Professor, Icahn School of Medicine; Director, The Louis Armstrong Center for Music and Medicine, Mount Sinai Health System, New York City