Use of Music in Special Education and Application Examples from Turkey

Music, as in the case of every individual, is an essential element which makes life liven up and raises its quality for the individuals with special needs as well. Music, besides being entertaining, provides educators and/or therapists with a lot of opportunities for using it with the purpose of education and therapy on various aspects. Many researches related to these functions of music show that using music in the educational programmes of the individuals with special needs yields effective and useful results just like in the case of normally developing individuals. Music can be used in different ways with individuals with disabilities. Both in "music education" in which the musical knowledge and skills are in the centre and the development of these skills through voice and instrument training is the aim and in "education through music" where the music is used as embedded teaching to support the other developments of kids (like cognitive, sensual, psychomotor), the existence of music in the education programmes of the individuals with special needs increases the effectiveness and permanence of the education and facilitates conducting more enjoyable and highly motivating activities. "Music therapy", which indicates the use of music for therapeutic purpose is also important as a complementary element in training activities. Whether with the aim of education or therapy, the use of music both in the individual and group education creates an important, inclusive, integrative and stabilizing atmosphere. Conducting music activities using multi-sensational music education approaches which offer opportunities for creativity and improvisation is a factor that improves efficiency. In this study, by mentioning various uses of music in the field of special education, some examples of application in the field of special education in Turkey are cited. (C) 2013 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.