Early Intervention: The Implications for Music Therapy

The purpose of this paper is to examine trends in early intervention preschool programs and specific uses for music therapy therein. Emphases in part and present early childhood educational practices, legislation affecting early intervention, and early childhood programming are investigated. In addition, research addressing varrous aspects of the successful use of music therapy as it applies to intervention in such domains as cognitive development, motor development, communication, and social integration is reviewed. Implications for utilizing music therapy in the early intervention setting are discussed in an attempt to facilitate understanding of its legitimate inclusion as a unique part of an interdisciplinary approach.