4 - Sing a New Song! Therapeutic Interventions with Music

Summary

We continue our discussion of how music may provide therapeutic benefit. This chapter broadens our discussion of music as a therapy and describes the beneficial use of music in the areas of depression, recovery from stroke, and other neurological impairments such as Alzheimer’s disease.In accord with our humanistic tack, we embrace caregiving concerns and emphasize the whole-person approach as we consider neurological impairments and the promise of music therapy to facilitate cognitive-behavioral function and to cope with disability. Therefore, we describe pathological changes in neurocognitive performance, and how music may afford opportunities for regaining behavioral function, self-expression, and enhanced quality of life.