Summary: Basic organizations

By:		Various
Date:		Various
Publisher:	Various
Formats:       	Web sites
Recommended:    Copious information, but difficult to find key information. 

Summary: The mission of the American Music Therapy Association is to advance public awareness of the benefits of music therapy and increase access to quality music therapy services in a rapidly changing world. Colleges with music therapy curriculums are supported.
    Music therapists assess emotional well-being, physical health, social functioning, communication abilities, and cognitive skills through musical responses; design music sessions for individuals and groups based on client needs using music improvisation, receptive music listening, song writing, lyric discussion, music and imagery, music performance, and learning through music; participate in interdisciplinary treatment planning, ongoing evaluation, and follow up. 
    Children, adolescents, adults, and the elderly with mental health needs, developmental and learning disabilities, Alzheimer's disease and other aging related conditions, substance abuse problems, brain injuries, physical disabilities, and acute and chronic pain, including mothers in labor. 
.

By:		American Music Therapy Association, Inc.
		8455 Colesville Road, Suite 1000
		Silver Spring, Maryland 20910, USA, Phone: (301) 589-3300
		E-mail: info@musictherapy.org
Date:		Founded in 1971
Publisher:	www.musictherapy.org
Formats:       	Provides conferences and products to support music therapists
Recommended:    The broad interests of this organization and music therapists
		in general make me cautious in saying they are geared to
		to the value and methods of helpful in kids with NLD and autism.
		But in any case, this is a tremendous ally.

Summary: The author, also responsible for The Handbook of Music Therapy (2002) from the same publisher, is an international authority on this specialty at the University of Bristol (UK). His work includes children within the autistic spectrum and those with cerebral palsy, together with work in the general field of palliative care. He is Director of the 'Musicspace' Therapy Centre in Bristol and runs the part-time postgraduate Diploma in Music Therapy.
    This book is Bunt's effort to establish empirical validation and rigorous methodology for music therapy, so many chapters are mainly of interest to the professional. Especially helpful to educators and parents are Chapter 3 on the effects of the musical elements (pitch, loudness, duration, etc.) and Chapter 4 on music therapy and child health. This chapter provides success stories, music therapy links with processes in child development, developmental sequencing, and music therapy with older children that are worth the price of the book. A comprehensive bibliography and project descriptions are helpful.

By:		Bundt, Leslie
Date:		1994
Publisher:	Routledge
Formats:       	213 pages, hardcover
Recommended:    This book provides an in-depth professional level of 
		information, so it's not for the casual reader. 
		It will spark a lot of ideas and possibilities for
		parents, educators, and therapists. I am grateful to Church
		liturgist Christopher Walker, who was a student of Bunt's at the
		University of Bristol, for making me aware of Bunt's efforts.

Summary: This companion to Tanguay's Nonverbal Learning Disabilities at School (same publisher) uniquely includes an afterward on "The Miracle of Music." The author's daughter has a nonverbal learning disability. She writes that "Several years ago our neuropsychologist encouraged us to have our daughter take drum lessons... which would stimulate the right hemisphere. Apparently, music lessons and/or playing an instrument do that. Three years later, I am astounded with the difference music has made for our daughter." Indeed, where there have been no formal studies regarding a connection between NLD and musical ability, evidence suggests a connection--but the author cites no source. Regardless, her daughter's accomplishment in drum, acoustic, and bass guitar improved:
    * Coordination and spatial awareness
    * Physical fitness
    * Thinking
    * Problem solving
    * Handwriting speed
    * Self-esteem
And at age 15, she was invited to play in a group. I will be contacting the author to see where this strength has led. 

By:		Tanguay, Pamela B.
Date:		2001
Publisher:	Jessica Kingsley Publishers
Formats:      	267 pages, paperback
Recommended:	NLD at Home is great in your basic NLD library. The companion volume,
		NLD at School, should be made available to every educator
		involved with your child, especially the chapters on
		test formatting. Unfortunately, NLD at School doesn't contain
		the afterward on music that would be relevant to educators. Almost 
		every school has a band--it's a structured environment where musical kids
		with NLD can really excel.

Summary: This is the ground-breaking book in the field, which mentions the apparent correlation between NLD and musical ability, but unfortunately doesn't elaborate.

By:		Thompson, Sue
Date:		1997
Publisher:	LinguiSystems, Inc.
Formats:       	182 pages, spiral bound
Recommended:    Good basic resource, but more recent books may be more helpful. 

Summary: An Amazon reviewer wrote: "This book is a great resouce for parents. It speaks to the wonderful strengths of individuals with NLD and Asperger's. It also gives wonderful information about what services are needed to assist individuals with NLD and Asperger's to maximize those strengths."

By:		Stewart, Kathyrn
Date:		2002
Publisher:	New Harbinger Pubns
Formats:       	200 pages
Recommended:    I didn't buy this book yet, but the review sounds encouraging.