How Music Helps is not just a book about music therapy. It has the more ambitious aim to promote (from a music therapist's perspective) a better understanding of 'music and change' in our personal and social life.

Music's Help; I: Musical Worlds; 1: Musical Ecologies; 2: Musical Lifeworlds; II: Musical Experience; 3: The Music of Experience; 4: Aspects of Musical Experience; 5: Helpful Musical Experiences; III: Musical Personhood; 6: Musical Recognition; 7: Core Musicality; 8: Musical Identities; 9: Musical Performances; IV: Musical Relationship; 10: Musical Connection; 11: Musical Companionship; 12: Musical Dialogue; 13: Musical Meeting; V: Musical Community; 14: Musical Togetherness; 15: Musical Hospitality; 16: Musical Belonging; 17: Musical Ritual; VI: Musical Transcendence; 18: Musical Epiphany; 19: Musical Thresholds; 20: Musical Hope; Musical Flourishing

’How Music Helps represents a fascinating and thought-provoking investigation into the importance of music in the lives of people. With a philosophical orientation that will resonate with many of us who are advocates of the social-cultural impact of music and music making, Ansdell expertly weaves person-centered narratives and theoretical reflection. A first rate book from an author who is continuing the legacy of Nordoff and Robbins by always thinking musically within the music therapy context’. Lee Higgins, Boston University, USA ’With ecological sensitivity as subject and method, Gary Ansdell has produced an exquisite guide to the exploration of music’s help in music therapy and in everyday life. The question of how music helps is approached by elaborations of where and when music helps, for people in specific situations. This is food for our theoretical imagination and a stimulating invitation to interdisciplinary work.’ Brynjulf Stige, University of Bergen, Norway ’Ansdell's newest music therapy book is not a research study, a theory or practice handbook, or a textbook for music therapists. It is instead an eco-phenomenology of the benefits of music, exploring where, when, and how music helps people make connections in order to heal and grow ... Ansdell provides useful diagrams, an appendix about his method, and extensive scholarly apparatus. For anyone in the healing professions, this book demonstrates that all musicians can benefit from the experiences of healing that come from making music for themselves and with other people. ...Highly recommended. Lower-division undergraduates through faculty and professionals.’ Choice ’... a complex and thoroughly enriching, challenging and inspiring reading experience. I highly recommend this book to any music therapist, musician and music lover. Approaches: Music Therapy & Special Music Education