Considerations on the lifelong development and their connections with the music therapy assessment practice

Rationale: The music therapy assessment practices involve assessing clients. Thus, it is vital to understand how these subjects develop throughout their lifespan and their complex transformations over time. These transformations are a consequence of internal factors (biological aspects) and external factors based on the individual's interaction with the environment and the people who are part of that environment. Objective: This presentation aims to show a general notion about human development based on the physical, emotional, social and cognitive changes that occur during typical development and their relationships with the music therapy assessment practices. Presentation approach and theoretical background: This presentation is based on assessing some case vignettes and their connections with typical development (general and musical development) aspects. These aspects include milestones, processes, theories and domains about overall development and some specificities about musical development that will directly influence the understanding of music therapy assessments. Discussion and conclusions: The music therapist must have a general notion about human development based on the physical, emotional, social and cognitive changes that occur during typical development. Understanding development is essential for the music therapist to have clear comparison parameters based on the context or condition of the client assessed.