Beat, Rhythm and Melody: The Therapeutic Use of Musical Elements

This book, which was written by Bernard Lievegoed as a thesis for his medical doctorate at the University of Leiden in 1939 in the Netherlands, describes the basic elements of music and how they can be used therapeutically with children with learning disabilities and autistic spectrum disorder. The thesis is based on Schiller's 'Letters on the Aesthetic Education of Man' in which he described the three 'drives' or 'impulses'. The first part of the book may be of interest to any therapist or teacher working with children with or without learning disabilities. In the second part, two different groups of children are described in relation to their musical skills as well as to how they could be helped with the method Lievegoed had developed in his practice in a residential home for children with special needs in Holland. Although written 80 years ago, the ideas described by Lievegoed are still very valid today. It is hoped that this translation from the Dutch into English will make these ideas known to a new generation of therapeutic music practitioners, and that they will be used fruitfully.