The Oxford Handbook of Improvisation in Music Therapy

Abstract Improvisation is used in many music therapy approaches, theories, and models. As a technique and an intervention, it is taught on music therapy training courses and incorporated in most practice traditions worldwide. Improvisation in music therapy as an evolving area of study has not only inspired the development and conduct of research explicitly focused on achieving academic rigour and the validation of reproducible outcomes, but has also stimulated the passion of music therapists for the intense and emotional characteristics that are at the heart of improvised music-making. The Oxford Handbook of Improvisation in Music Therapy is a composite and vital resource on relevant theory, evidence-based research, contemporary practice, applied musicology, and music-centred discourse. It includes a wide range of theoretical, philosophical, empirical, humanistic, and autoethnographic chapters. The handbook honours the voices of various contributors from across the globe and highlights the culturally diverse and intrinsically universal qualities of improvisation in music therapy. It also celebrates the important connections between music therapy and other cognate disciplines. Furthermore, the handbook includes audio and video examples, as well as music notation. Central to the handbook are specially commissioned improvisations from music therapists who also identify as performers and composers. The handbook is structured into eight parts: Approaches and Models; Theory, Philosophy, and Musicology; Populations and Contexts; Case Studies; Education and Assessment; Research; Musical Components; and New Visions and Horizons.