Music and health is a growing field of research that, among other things, stems from the discipline and practice of music therapy, and this text aims to open the field towards an everyday practice of healthy use of music. This overview text presents knowledge about music's regulatory functions, music therapy practices within humanistic, cognitive/behavioural and psychodynamic traditions, how music is connected to community building within community music therapy, as well as music performance in, for example, bands, choirs and orchestras.

The publication can be understood as an extended overview article that seeks to provide an insight into music and health as a developing field by elaborating on a model that maps the most well-known and recognized health musical practices and approaches. We have included a rich reference list so readers can learn more about topics and perspectives of interest.