ABSTRACT
Our focus now moves from simple features of sound and early stages of therapy described in Chapter 11 to a series of practical exercises that concentrate on more complex elements of melody, harmony, rhythm and form. The intention here is to attend to the needs of a range of musicians (singers, guitarists, single-line instrumentalists, first- and second-study pianists) providing shapes and inspiration for practice and useful structures to assist improvisation in music therapy. The exercises are obviously relevant at any stage in the therapeutic process but we give most attention in this chapter to ideas that help to sustain interaction or move the process forward. In the main, the musical ideas in this chapter are framed to enable readers without much experience of improvising with patients to have a try at developing their ideas and skills; but we also hope more experienced music therapists might find something new to do.
