Playing with Distinction? Music Therapy and the Affordances of Improvisation

SUMMARY

In the United Kingdom (UK), improvisation seems to be regarded as central to, and even defnitional of, the practice of music therapy. This article considers reasons why improvisation might be professionally prized in this way but also turns to Tia DeNora's (2003) notion of musical affordance to consider what in practical terms improvisation may have to ofer within music therapy practice, focusing on two vignettes from a mental health environment.KeywordsImprovisation; music therapy; affordance; profession; distinction