Introduction

This introductory chapter first sets out the purpose of the book, which is to present the ways in which music therapists have come to understand their unique role in promoting healthy relating between the infant and their primary caregiver with the goal of successful attachment in mind. An established body of international research indicates that these experiences of communication and relating in the early years of life are crucial to successful developmental outcomes in later childhood through to adulthood. An overview of the book's structure and background to the text is also presented.