Schneck, D.J. & Berger, D.S. (2006). The Music Effect. Philadelphia: Jessica Kingsley Publishers. 272 pages. ISBN 1-84310-771-6. $29.95

Schneck, D.J. & Berger, O.S. (2006). The Music Effect. Philadelphia: Jessica Kingsley Publishers. 272 pages. ISBN 184310-771-6. $29.95. Daniel Schneck and Dorita Berger combined their considerable talents to write The Music Effect. The book discusses the reciprocal relationship between physiology and music and provides an excellent resource for clinical practitioners, students, and educators. The authors have extensive experience in their respective fields. Both are internationally known and both are accomplished musicians. A Fellow of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering, Schneck provides information regarding physiology; board-certified music therapist Dorita Berger provides a clinician's insight. Together, they develop the noteworthy paradigm that music can alter behavior in a positive direction through physiological entrainment. The authors offer a new perspective on the subject, which is applicable to various music therapy models. I found the book well organized. Divided into 12 chapters, information is presented in a logical, sequential manner with smooth transitions between chapters. The authors' writing styles differ but do not detract from the work as a whole. In fact, I enjoyed the contrast. Both authors seem to be consummate teachers who are able to translate complex concepts into language that is easy to understand. Chapter 1 lays the foundation for the book. The authors discuss the importance of the survival instinct, input signals for fear, and the manner in which information is processed. They present their paradigm for behavior change in six clear points: (1) the human body acts on information received through the senses; (2) information is evaluated emotionally against a survival backdrop; (3) the need for homeostasis establishes physiological "set-points"; (4) persistent changes known as continuous disturbances result in functional adaptations through entrainment; (5) applying, repeating, and reinforcing sensory stimuli can change set-points; (6) elements embedded in music can be used as the stimuli for change (pp. 19-20). Chapter 2 draws parallels between the basic elements of music and physiology, from the smallest unit to the largest. The effect of sonic energy on the body is explained in the following excerpt: "traveling sound energy can disturb the air, and anything else it encounters ... the body's atoms, molecules, cells, organs, tissues, and operational systems will indeed be affected by sonic vibrational energies" (p. 36). Thus, the concept of altering human behavior through music is established. Chapters 3 and 4 delve into the physiology and processing of music. Chapter 3 is devoted to the physics of energy as it applies to music; chapter 4 is devoted to sensory processing and the conservation of energy in response to stress. Case studies are introduced in chapter 5. The five examples are included because the clients initially presented with the same predominant emotion of fear while having diverse diagnoses. The authors explain the physiology of fear in detail, the clients' manifestations of the emotion, and the role of music therapy in effecting positive change. The authors contend that entrainment to music can interrupt the fear cycle. Chapter 6 offers an explanation of the complex ways in which the body entrains to stimuli through its nervous system, genes, and enzymes. Acknowledging the contribution of Asian philosophy, the authors postulate that perhaps energy centers within the body can be manipulated through entrainment and thus restore internal balance (p. 135). A discussion of musical stimuli follows. Chapters 7 through 10 are devoted to the primary elements of music that influence behavior: rhythm, melody, timbre, harmony, dynamics, and form. The authors use numerous clinical examples to support the concepts presented. Chapter 7 explores the close relationship between biological rhythms and rhythm in music. …