Music therapy is a small, but evolving profession. Numbers of music therapists are increasing, yet little is known regarding the workforce and its employment characteristics. To understand the current profile of the music therapy workforce in the United Kingdom (UK), the British Association for Music Therapy (BAMT) commissioned a national survey of its membership. This survey explores the profile of the UK music therapy workforce in terms of demographics, training and employment characteristics. An online survey was circulated to all BAMT members. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and thematic analysis of open-ended responses. A total of 374 therapists responded (44% response rate). Following demographic information (including age, nationality and training background), we focus on employment characteristics such as income, types of work, settings, clients and age groups. Supervision and clinical fees are considered as well as commissioning and funding of self-employed and employed music therapy work. As an initial mapping of the current UK workforce, this study offers a pragmatic platform to consider development and strategic priorities and thus to re-vision the future of music therapy in the country. Potential implications for the international music therapy community are also discussed. Keywords British Association for Music Therapy, employment, music therapists, survey, United Kingdom

Umberto Eco’s ideas and philosophy have proven to be a profound inspiration to the research team dedicated to the recently completed qualitative interdisciplinary research project ‘RHYME: rhythm & rhyme; co-creation through tangible interaction’, in which both of the present authors participated. The idea of RHYME is that ordinary objects in the home environment – a pillow, carpet or toy, for example – if they should become both musical and interactive, might afford meaningful, joyful and even health-promoting moments of co-creation in the everyday lives of families with a child with disabilities. This article develops the central RHYME notion of co-creation further by introducing it to music therapy. From our experiences with interactive and musical media from RHYME, and inspired by Eco and his notions of ‘open works’ and ‘fields of possibilities’, we have developed an understanding of music therapy as a configuration of possible events or interactive structural forces. Music, then, becomes one of many possible media in music therapy. Through a reflective synthesis which also includes the discussion of empirical RHYME data, we will address the following research question: Can Eco’s notions contribute something new to our understanding of co-creation in music therapy, and, if so, what and how? Keywords co-creation, musical and interactive tangibles, music therapy, Umberto Eco

This article considers an integrative approach to individual music therapy with a primary aged child with conduct difficulties. A synopsis of music therapy literature with this population is given, potential social and cultural influences are discussed and the complexities surrounding possible diagnosis are explored. Presenting behaviours are considered in light of the impact of the attachment relationship on regulation. A case study explores how consideration of a child’s capacity to symbolise can support the development of play, musical play and emotional regulation. Keywords child, conduct difficulties, developmental theory, integrative, music therapy, psychoanalytic theory