Book excerpt: Written by a senior clinician and educator in order to meet the needs of prospective and current educators, clinical supervisors and students of music therapy, this book provides an overview and detailed commentary about all aspects of professional and advanced education and training in music therapy. Major topics include: (1) historical perspective and review of academic standards defined by both the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM) and the American Music Therapy Association (AMTA), faculty qualifications, levels of practice suggested by levels of educational programming, post-graduate training and distance learning. (2) incorporating, contextualizing and extending music and clinical foundations into music therapy coursework while teaching music therapy foundations at successive levels of depth. (3) detailed suggestions for training the student in practice competencies- both practicum and internship. (4) historical commentary on how competencies for advanced practice were composed and how revised standards will play a part in the development of masters and doctoral programs in the United States. (5) analysis of the coursework in 32 graduate programs across the United States in order to suggest the current use of coursework in meeting advanced competency areas. (6) reflection on relevant learning theory, learning styles, student development phases, and application to music therapy pedagogy and evaluation. (7) information related to admissions, advisement, retention, teaching and evaluation techniques in music therapy programs. (8) review of music therapy programs in 30 countries which concludes with a discussion of common themes and issues in the development of international education and training. As we consider the ongoing challenges in the United States and throughout the world to develop curriculum that is appropriate to various degree levels and changing professional entry standards, this book will prove an important resource. With a foreword by Dr. Suzanne Hanser and appendices which include a listing and analysis of sixty years of books published in music therapy, this book is an invaluable addition to the music therapy literature.