Methods and Techniques

This chapter provides a brief overview of methods and techniques in music therapy. Methods and techniques in music therapy are primarily music based and are descriptors of the ways in which the therapist and service user or client engage in musical experiences. Bruscia (1998) identified four main music therapy methods: Receptive, Recreative, Creative, and Improvisation. These are based on improvisational, compositional, and music listening opportunities that music therapists engage with clients. Music therapists can use music-based techniques with any combination of acoustic, electric, or electronic instrumentation, and opportunities to sing and vocalize are also offered.