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This book is about links between music and health. It focuses on music and public health, and, in particular, the potentially positive and negative effects of listening to and making music on the health of the general population. The book starts out by discussing the protection music offers against adverse effects of stress. It then discusses social aspects of music production and listening and examines religious music within the framework of social functioning. It offers insight into the physiological and psychological effects of music listening, the biological effects of singing, and the use of music in therapeutic situations and the rearing of children. The book concludes by discussing the significance of music for musicians and their health. Although it may seem that music has only good health effects, and therefore all professional musicians should be healthy, not all music effects are positive. The book describes situations in which music has negative health effects and makes clear that there is a pronounced difference between living with music for joy and to earn one s living from making music. In the latter situation, performance anxiety may become a factor that affects health adversely.

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Chapter 1: Introduction.- Chapter 2: Stress and Music.- Chapter 3: Music in Social Cohesion.- Chapter 4: Music in Religion.- Chapter 5: Physiological Aspects of Listening to Music.- Chapter 6: Music in Treatment.- Chapter 7: What Happens in the Body during Singing? Chapter 8: Singing Together.- Chapter 9: Growing up with Music.- Chapter 10: The Musician s Health.- Chapter 11: Final Thoughts.

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"He discusses a range of the research-based evidence of the effects of musical participation upon health, including some of his own studies. ... This discussion of the myriad benefits of music during human development, and its contribution to our holistic wellbeing and social integration, provides a wealth of evidence which may be useful in several practical contexts ... . This book is a useful resource for anyone with an interest in music and wellbeing." (Michael Bonshor, Arts Health Early Career Research Network Blog, artshealthecrn.com, August, 2018)

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