An instruction course in the use and practice of musical therapy: The first handbook of music therapy clinical practice

Journal/Book: J Music Therapy. 1996; 33: 505 11TH St Se, Washington, DC 20003. Natl Assn Music Ther Inc. 34-46.

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to analyze the content of the first American introduction to music therapy text, An Instruction Course in the Use and Practice of Musical Therapy. Written and published in 1944 by music therapy pioneer Harriet Ayer Seymour, the book was comprised of her ideas about the appropriate applications of music with a variety of clinical populations. Only brief consideration was given to specific technique. Essentially, her therapeutic strategy was the same for all clients, consisting ofa variety of light classical music selections and folk songs performed by a small group of musicians under the guidance of a lead therapist. According to Seymour, a successful therapeutic experience was achieved through a combination of the music and positive thought, or musical meditation. Because the book was crude in its appearance, organized in a confusing manner and printed with some errors in the typesetting and spelling, it was unlikely that the book received wide distribution or use. Despite those shortcomings, Seymour may have used the text to help train some of the 500 music therapy students that she claimed to have worked with between the years 1941 and 1944.

Note: Article WB Davis, Colorado State Univ, FT Collins, CO 80523 USA

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