ABSTRACT
Stress can play both a positive and a negative role in people's lives. Currently, music therapy is recognised for use in the treatment of specific conditions where stress is experienced, e.g. autism, mental handicap, psychiatric illness and ageing. This chapter will concentrate on the role of music therapy in an entirely new area of application - namely, preventive work; providing a means of diffusing stress and tension during the sessions themselves, but most importantly, enabling people to learn the tools and methods necessary to control and manage their own stress and tension; to recognise the signs and to respond accordingly.
