Music and People with Developmental Disabilities

Dr Frans Schalkwijk studied psychology at the Vrije Universiteit of Amsterdam. He continued for a number of years in studying the organ at the Sweelinck Conservatorium of Amsterdam. He is a freelance psychotherapist and a researcher into Music Therapy at the Nijmegen Hoogeschool.He became a doctor at the Katholiek Universiteit of Leuven with the doctoral thesis, Muziektherapie met geestelijk gehandicapten. Besides various articles, he has published Grondslagen van Muziektherapie and was a joint-editor of the anthology Methoden van Muziektherapie.

• Preface. 1. A description of the research methods and a review of developments in the use of music in caring for people with a developmental disability. 2. General characteristics and specific forms of therapy through the medium of music making. Therapy is a consciously planned activity. What do we mean by musical activities? What do we mean by remedial music making? What do we mean by music therapy? Concluding remark. 3. Individual treatment. When should individual treatment be offered? Individual music therapy. Individual remedial music making. Concluding remark. 4. Group treatment. When should group treatment be offered? Remedial music making as a means of developing social skills. Remedial music making and the stimulation of motor and cognitive skills. 5. In conclusion. What theoretical conclusions can be drawn from this study? To qualify what has been said thus far. An overview. Bibliography.

Dutch translation rights sold'...succeeds in conveying a picture of music therapy which is both clear and very moving in its sensitivity to the clients and therapists he describes. This book should become essential reading for people with an interest in adults and children with developmental difficulties, and for music therapists, particularly students and those at the start of their career. It addresses the fundamental but crucial issues of making an informed and careful choice about the form of treatment most likely to be helpful to the client.'