ABSTRACT
Interest in the early perception and use of sounds and music has been emerging from many fields over recent decades, including contributions from psychologists, musicians and musicologists, educationalists, sociologists, neurologists and neuroscientists. Developmental, cognitive, evolutionary and cultural profiles of music have been explored, and together these create a rich foundational resource for music therapists working with both children and adults. Some themes from these different fields are introduced here, with reviews of the literature provided as guides for further exploration.
