Clinical Improvisation Techniques in Music Therapy

Book excerpt: Clinical Improvisation Techniques in Music Therapy: A Guide for Students, Clinicians and Educators provides a clear and systematic approach to understanding and applying improvisational techniques. It is inspired by the taxonomy of clinical improvisation techniques as described by Kenneth Bruscia in his book, Improvisational Models of Music Therapy. Based on years of their own experimenting with the teaching of improvisation, the authors have evolved a particular developmental sequence for introducing basic techniques of improvising and applying them through role-play exercises that have been sensitively designed to bring out one's innate musicality and one's empathic regard. Part One provides an introduction to the techniques. Part Two focuses on how to apply the techniques with clinical intent in order to meet the diverse needs of a client, individually or in the context of a group. This section also addresses the need to enrich one's own musicianship by providing musical resources, relevant references and guidelines for working with client's playing. This "hands-on" guide fulfills the need for a clear process-oriented approach to mastering clinical improvisation techniques, and in a style that can be understood not only by music therapy students, clinicians and educators but also by health care administrators and providers alike.