Product Description
by Edeline Lefevre (Translator), B. C. J. Lievegoed (Author)
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.
Author Biography
In 1931, after his medical studies, Bernard C.J.Lievegoed (1905-1992) founded The Zonnehuis, a home for children with disabilities, of which he remained the director until 1954. The thesis on the therapeutic elements of music, which he wrote for his higher doctorate in 1939, is based on his experiences in this residential home. Lievegoed co-founded various others institutions in the Netherlands, among which the Waldorf School of Zeist in 1932, the Publishing House 'Vrij Geestesleven' in 1952, and founded the NPI, Institute for Organizational Development in 1954 and the Free High school in 1971, of which he was the dean for the next 11 years. He also became the manager of the Free Pedagogical Academy (now Hogeschool Helicon) in 1973. Lievegoed published a large number of books on various subjects, like Organization Development, Human Development, Psychology, Organic Agriculture, as well as on several spiritual scientific subjects. Edeline LeFevre has worked with children and adults with learning disabilities for 43 years now, 30 years of which as a therapeutic music practitioner. Her work in therapy was based, among other sources, on Lievegoed's findings in his thesis 'Beat, Rhythm and Melody'.
