Music therapy in the school context: a case study with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Music therapy is a useful discipline in the prevention and treatment of many disorders. The positive attitude shown by children towards music and related activities make this a tool that could be introduced in school or educational contexts, especially among children with special educational needs. Musical activities allow for the recovery and strengthening of self-esteem and personality, the integration of the body scheme, learning literacy and the acquisition of fundamental concepts. Similarly, music opens new channels of communication, promoting integration and socialization as relevant aspects in the development of human beings. In this article a complete intervention with music therapy is described, carried out by a qualified music therapist for nine months in a public school in the metropolitan area of Valencia. The patient was an eleven-year old boy diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder and intellectual disability