Music Therapy in Special Education

JOURNAL OF EDUCATIONAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL CONSULTATION, 11(3&4), 379–391 Copyright © 2000, Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc.

THE CONSULTANT’S CORNER

Music Therapy in the Special Education Setting

John Pellitteri

Queens College City University of New York

The utility of music therapy as a related service modality in special education is far reaching, yet many professionals in the fields of education and psychology know little about this specialty. Music therapy is a creative art therapy that crosses multiple areas of treatment and can be effective in facilitating development in numerous areas of children’s functioning. Music therapists both as clinicians and consultants can augment other related services as well as make unique contributions to the special education classroom. This article describes the benefits of music therapy and how music therapy be can integrated into various aspects of special education services. The first part describes music therapy and the rationale for its effectiveness. The next section illustrates the broad application of music therapy with other related services and asserts the importance of including music

NOTE: Kathleen C. Harris of Arizona State University West is column editor for THE CONSULTANT’S CORNER. Correspondence should be addressed to John Pellitteri, Department of Educational and Community Programs, Queens College, CUNY, Flushing, NY 11367. E-mail: jpellitt@qc1.qc.edu

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therapy in individual educational plans (IEPs). Finally, the contributions of music therapists as consultants are discussed.

WHAT IS MUSIC THERAPY? Definition Bruscia (1989) defined music therapy as “a systematic process of intervention wherein the therapist helps the client to achieve health, using musical experiences and the relationships that develop through them as dynamic forces of change” (p. 47). Musical experiences can include singing or vocalizing, playing various percussion and melodic instruments, and...