Therapeutic Songwriting: Developments in Theory, Methods, and Practice [Hardcover]

Therapeutic Songwriting provides a comprehensive examination of contemporary methods and models of songwriting as used for therapeutic purposes. It describes the environmental, sociocultural, individual, and group factors shaping practice, and how songwriting is understood and practiced within different psychological and wellbeing orientations.PART I: INTRODUCTION 1. Introduction, Research Focus and Method 2. Songwriting - A Coming of Age PART II: FACTORS INFLUENCING THE SONGWRITING PROCESS 3. Environmental Factors 4. Sociocultural Factors 5. Individual Factors 6. Group Factors 7. Role of Music and Music Technology PART III: SONGWRITING METHODS 8. Introducing Songwriting Methods 9. Songwriting Methods that Emphasize Lyric Creation 10. Songwriting Methods that Emphasize Both Lyric and Music Creation 11. Songwriting Methods that Emphasize Music Creation PART IV: ORIENTATION 12. Outcome-Oriented Models of Songwriting 13. Experience-Oriented Models of Songwriting 14. Context-Oriented Models of Songwriting 15. Songwriting as an Integral Practice

The approach Baker has taken to song-writing showcases its great potential within therapeutic work and helps us see its applicability to a range of fields, whilst also moving music therapy towards a more professional, measured interventionist perspective. The text will certainly become a definitive guide to the topic, and I would recommend it as an accessible, appealing read to music therapists, students, and those engaged in arts and health research. (Kate Gee, The Journal of Critical Psychology, Counselling and Psychotherapy, Vol. 18 (1), March, 2018)

The inclusion of a range of easy-to-reference tables is also a very helpful addition, and it enables the reader to put some shape and meaning to various orientations of songwriting models. & the author has managed to draw together a huge amount of detail and thinking and to present the findings ilc"