Music Therapy in Schools

Amelia Oldfield is a well-known and prestigious music therapist with over 25 years' experience in the field. She works at the Croft Unit for Child and Family Psychiatry and at the Child Development Centre, Addenbrookes. She also lectures at Anglia Polytechnic University, where she co-initiated the MA Music Therapy Training. Amelia has completed four research investigations and a PhD. She has also produced six music therapy training videos. She is married with four children and plays clarinet in local chamber music groups in Cambridge, UK. Jo Tomlinson has been working as a music therapist in schools in Cambridgeshire, UK, for over 15 years. She was involved in setting up the music therapy service for Cambridgeshire Music in 1995, and was head music therapist from 2001 – 2005. Philippa Derrington has been working as a music therapist with young people in mainstream and special school settings in Cambridgeshire for the past 10 years. She is currently involved in a major research investigation evaluating the effects of music therapy for children at risk of exclusion.

• Foreword by Frankie Williams, General Inspector for Music and Culture, Cambridgeshire County Council, UK. Acknowledgements. Introduction by Amelia Oldfield, Music Therapist, Croft Unit for Child and Family Psychiatry and Senior Lecturer, Anglia Ruskin University, UK. 1. Setting Up and Developing Music Therapy at a Children's Centre, for Pre-school Children and their Parents and Carers. Clare Rosscornes and Emma Davies. 2. Open Doors, Open Minds, Open Music! The Development of Music Therapy Provision in an Assessment Nursery. Nicolette O'Neill. 3. Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy in a Nursery Setting: Supporting Music Therapy Students on Placement. Chris Achenbach. 4. Multiple Views of Music Therapy. Ann Bruce and Suzie High, Teacher of Special Needs Children, Cumbria, UK. 5. The School Challenge: Combining the Roles of Music Therapist and Music Teacher. Jan Hall. 6. Music Therapy and the Expression of Anger and Aggression; Working with Aggressive Behaviour in Children aged 5-9 who Risk Mainstream School Exclusion. Jane Brackley. 7. Music Therapy in a Special School; Investigating the Role of Imitation and Reflection in the Interaction between Music Therapist and Child. Jo Tomlinson, Music Therapist, Cambridgeshire, UK. 8. 'Music, my Voice' Projects for Children; The Development of one Aspect of a Community Based Music Therapy Service in York and North Yorkshire. Angela Harrison. 9. Music Therapy in Interface Schools in Belfast - A Creative Response to Cumulative Trauma. Karen Diamond, Head Music Therapist, Northern Ireland Music Therapy Trust, UK. 10. Music Therapy in a Special School for Children with Autistic Spectrum Disorders, Focusing Particularly on the Use of the Double Bass. Ian McTier, Association of Professional Music Therapists and Scottish Arts Therapy Forum, UK. 11. 'How Can I Consider Letting my Child Go to School when I Spend all my Time Trying to Keep him Alive?' Links between Music Therapy Services in Schools and a Children's Hospice; Supporting Healthy Attachment and Separation and Helping Facilitate Integration of the Sick and Well Child. Órla Casey. 12. Psychodynamically Informed Music Therapy Groups for Teenagers with Severe Special Needs in a College Setting; Working Jointly with Teaching Assistants. John Strange. 13. 'Yeah I'll Do Music!' Working with Secondary-Aged Students who have Complex Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties. Philippa Derrington., Music Therapist, Cambridgeshire, UK. Appendix 1. Looking Back on the Development of a Service; Personal Reflections of Three Heads of Service of Cambridgeshire Music. Appendix 2. Questionnaire for Parent: Feedback for Community Music Group. Appendix 3. Interview Questions for Teachers. Appendix 4. Assessment and Qualifications Alliance Unit Awards. References. The Contributors.

This book explains the procedures, challenges and benefits of using music therapy in an educational setting. It is well written and full of practical applications from multiple contributors from specialist and mainstream school... it would be an invaluable resource both for someone aspiring to be a music therapist and for someone already in the profession.