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The present investigation was undertaken in response to music therapists working in school settings for information relating to the availability of music therapy assessments and the feasibility of standardizing an assessment instrument for music therapists to use in school settings. Five research questions were identified, and the music therapy literature was surveyed to compile responses to those questions. Three different online data bases (ERIC, PsycINFO, and Article 1st) were used, covering articles published between 1980 and 1997. Individual hand searches were done of the Arts in Psychotherapy, Journal of Music Therapy, Journal of Research in Music Education, Journal of the International Association of Music for the Handicapped, Music Therapy and Music Therapy Perspectives. The questions and responses were as follows: 1. Which music-based assessment tools are being used with children with disabilities? Little commonality in assessment tools being used by music therapists and researchers was discovered. Of the total 41 studies, 20 (49%) reported using a "named" or "titled" assessment tool, and in the remaining 51% of studies, the authors reported using an untitled, and usually experimenter-designed, original assessment tool. 2. Have certain assessments been used in more than one study? Very limited replication of existing assessments was found. Of the 16 "named" assessments, only 3 were found to be used in more than one research study. 3. Are the actual assessments published along with the articles describing their use? Only 3 of the 20 studies using named assessments were published along with the journal article. Of the remaining 21 studies using original, experimenter-designed assessment tools, only 6 (28%) had the assessment instrument published with the article. 4. What is the primary purpose for using the assessment? Six primary purposes emerged from the review of the literature: to compare with data obtained from other assessment measures or from other populations (39%), as a baseline or pretest measure (29%), to determine eligibility for services or the receipt of treatment (12%), to determine the psychometric properties of the assessment (7%), suitability of the instrument for the given population (7%), and the identification of musical preferences (5%). 5. What are the musical or nonmusic elements being assessed? Musical elements were: music perception (37%), musical aptitude (29%), musical preferences (12%), and attention to/enjoyment of music (2%). Nonmusical behaviors/responses were: self-expression (10%), motor responses (10%), behavioral responses (7%), cognitive development (2%), and acts of communication (2%). 6. What subject populations are being assessed? Subject populations were: children with developmental disabilities/mental retardation (44%), children with autism (10%), children with hearing impairments (17%), "psychiatric" clients or emotionally disturbed (22%), individuals described as "handicapped" (5%), individuals with physical disabilities (2%), and a student with a speech impairment (2%). Nondisabled individuals were also included in 12 of the aforementioned studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a case study of a 14-year-old electively mute male adolescent who was brought to the Institute Therapy to undergo behavior modification programs and music therapy sessions. The patient presented with lack of verbal response to people other than immediate family members and was treated to regular and music therapy sessions in classroom settings. It details the results of the study wherein the institute noted changes in the subject's classroom behavior.

The article presents a note from the editor announcing his retirement from the journal.

This study explores the practices of Canadian and American music therapists who work with high-risk youth, providing a preliminary picture of music therapy services for this population. High-risk youth are defined in this study as those likely to experience a decline in their global level of functioning due to one or more issues related to social, economic, or cultural disadvantages that include mental health issues, substance misuse, correctional system involvement, street involvement, or unstable home environments. Using an online survey, the authors explored the demographics, clinical practices, education, and information-seeking behaviour of 60 credentialed music therapists. Demographic data indicated that music therapists working with high-risk youth are typically younger than the average music therapist and that their work with this population is a small part of their overall practice. Mental health was most frequently identified as a primary area of need, and typical treatment goals focused on self-expression, self-esteem, coping skills, and identity. Frequently used interventions were songwriting, drumming, lyric analysis, and improvisation. Several new areas of music therapy practice were identified, including using music therapy to address needs related to sexual health, sexual orientation, and gender identity. The authors recommend further investigation into these topics as well as the assessment methods, education, and information-seeking behaviour of music therapists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]