Making Music That Matters

This book presents a transformative vision for musicians seeking meaningful careers while revitalising community wellbeing. It speaks to musicians seeking to diversify their career portfolios, educators developing future music leaders, and health professionals interested in harnessing music's connective power through social programs.

Melissa Forbes is Associate Professor of Contemporary Singing at the University of Southern Queensland and a leading advocate for the transformative power of music, particularly singing. Her music career spans performance, higher music education, research, and community engagement. Melissa's work bridges academic research with practical community music leadership, demonstrating music's role in supporting social health and quality of life.

Part I Solo 1. Positive music leadership for meaningful careers 2. Finding your forte: A positive leadership capability framework for musicians 3. Tuning your instrument: Self-care for positive music leaders Part II Ensemble 4. Revitalising social health through positive music leadership 5. Building connection through positively energizing leadership 6. Activating the power of social identity for connection Part III Tutti 7. Cultivating contextual awareness: Appreciating complexity 8. Reconnecting through integration: The interpersonal neurobiology framework. 9. Championing positive music leadership 10. Finale: The future of positive music leadership