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Help support the music therapy profession... just by shopping!
home-btn-100x705% of any purchase you make at Amazon.com can go to benefit AMTA and its programs. All you have to do is click here before you head to Amazon.com and then make your purchase in the new window that appears.  Amazon will donate 5% of your purchase price to AMTA at no extra charge to you. That's easy.
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AMTA's Combined Federal Campaign designation #
is 11588.  
Music Therapy Makes a Difference

Music Therapy Makes a Difference

The mission of the American Music Therapy Association is to advance public awareness of the benefits of music therapy and increase access to quality music therapy services in a rapidly changing world.

 
What is the Profession of Music Therapy?

What is the Profession of Music Therapy?

Music Therapy is the clinical & evidence-based use of music interventions to accomplish individualized goals within a therapeutic relationship by a credentialed professional who has completed an approved music therapy program.

 
How Does Music Therapy Work?

How Does Music Therapy Work?

Music therapy interventions can be designed to address a variety of healthcare & educational goals: Promote Wellness, Manage Stress, Alleviate Pain, Express Feelings, Enhance Memory, Improve Communication, Promote Physical Rehabilitation and more

 
Where Do Music Therapists Work?

Where Do Music Therapists Work?

Music therapists work in medical hospitals, treatment centers, psychiatric hospitals, schools, community mental health centers, drug & alcohol programs, senior centers, nursing homes, hospice programs, correctional facilities & more.

 
What Do Music Therapists Do?

What Do Music Therapists Do?

Music therapists assess emotional well-being, physical health, social functioning, communication abilities, & cognitive skills through musical responses; design music interventions for individuals and groups based on client needs; & follow up progress.

 
Who Can Benefit from Music Therapy?

Who Can Benefit from Music Therapy?

Children, adolescents, adults, & the elderly with mental health needs, developmental & learning disabilities, Alzheimer's disease, aging related conditions, substance abuse problems, brain injuries, physical disabilities, acute and chronic pain, & more.

 
Does Research Support Music Therapy?

Does Research Support Music Therapy?

AMTA promotes a vast amount of research exploring the benefits of music as therapy through publication of the "Journal of Music Therapy," "Music Therapy Perspectives" & other sources. A substantial body of literature exists to support its effectiveness.

 
 
 
 

What is Music Therapy?

Music Therapy is the clinical and evidence-based use of music interventions to accomplish individualized goals within a therapeutic relationship by a credentialed professional who has completed an approved music therapy program.

Music therapy interventions can be designed to:

  • Promote Wellness
  • Manage Stress
  • Alleviate Pain
  • Express Feelings
  • Enhance Memory
  • Improve Communication
  • Promote Physical Rehabilitation

Research in music therapy supports its effectiveness in a wide variety of healthcare and educational settings. For further information, please explore the rest of this site including the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page.

 

Mission of the American Music Therapy Association

The mission of the American Music Therapy Association is to advance public awareness of the benefits of music therapy and increase access to quality music therapy services in a rapidly changing world.

 

Regular Registration for the 2012 Annual Conference Now Open

AMTA's 2012 conference will be held in OCTOBER in St. Charles, Illinois (just outside of Chicago).  Visit the Events>Annual Conference tab to learn more.

Regular registration rates are in effect until September 19, 2012 after that date, registration rates will increase. Become a member of AMTA for even more savings!  Click the Join AMTA button, log in, and add membership to your shopping cart first, then discounted conference rates will apply.

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Thanks to our 2012 conference sponsors for their support.

 

Music Therapy Featured on PBS Newshour

The February 27th edition of the PBS Newshour broadcast included a story on music therapy titled "The Healing Power of Music."  Music Therapy programs in Northern California and historical footage from AMTA were featured.

Watch The Healing Power of Music on PBS. See more from PBS NewsHour.

 

Sparking Memories Musically

NBC recently produced a piece about music therapy for their program, NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams.  Though the piece did not air during the regularly scheduled showtime, it was published on the MSNBC website. The story features the work of AMTA member Jodi Levine with elderly patients at the Avery Heights Health Care Center in Hartford, Connecticut. NBC worked with many other therapists including Kat Fulton, Cathy Knoll and Ronna Kaplan.

 

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Additional clips:
 

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Latest News

view all news stories

Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Music Therapists Help Ease Treatment Of Children With Severe Burns
Shriners Hospital for Children in Boston is marking 10 years of its music therapy program. The program involves the clinical use of music in a medical setting to accomplish therapeutic goals such as pain management, anxiety reduction and physical rehabilitation. At Shriners in Boston, the focus is on burn care for children. Continue Reading
 
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
2012 Workforce Study Now Available
The "AMTA Member Survey & Workforce Analysis," a benefit of current membership in AMTA, provides a detailed descriptive statistical narrative about demographics, employment, salaries, and other helpful information to draw a snapshot of the music therapy profession. Continue Reading
 
Thursday, September 13, 2012
Opening Session Guests Announced
AMTA staff held a conference call with 4 fabulously talented singer-songwriters known as “The Bitchin’ Babes.” The “Babes” will perform for the Opening Session at the AMTA annual conference next month. The “Babes” were fascinated to see videos depicting music therapy in action and to learn about the many populations with whom we work. They asked great questions and expressed their admiration for the valuable work of music therapists. Don’t miss what promises to be the show of a lifetime! Continue Reading
 
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
CBS Los Angeles Features Music Therapy Clinic
"Music can be a form of therapy for many people who are dealing with physical, emotional and intellectual challenges. The Music Therapy Wellness Clinic at Cal State Northridge is considered a great option for many people." Continue Reading
 
Thursday, August 9, 2012
Newest Music Therapy Column in Huffington Post
Click on this link to read the latest column by AMTA Immediate Past President Ronna Kaplan in the Huffington Post. With input from Connie Tomaino, Ronna responds to the video clip of Alive Inside and describes for readers the profound impact music therapy can have on individuals with Alzheimer's or other dementias. Continue Reading
 
Monday, August 6, 2012
Music Therapy Mover and Shaker
Music therapy took an unexpected turn in San Diego, CA when Dr. Barbara Reuer moved into town. Innovative programs, the expansion of music therapy services in the community, the “business” of music therapy, the thrill of training new therapists, as well as heartfelt stories about ways in which music and therapy have touched her life abound in this AMTA-pro podcast which is a benefit of membership in AMTA. Click to read more. Continue Reading
 
Friday, July 20, 2012
Music Therapy Matters 15(2) Published
The newest edition of AMTA's member newsletter is now available. Log in with your current member email address and password, then go to Member Resources>Member Toolkit to read your copy today! Continue Reading
 
Friday, July 20, 2012
AMTA 2011 Annual Report
The 2011 Annual Report is now available. Read on to review highlights, successes and progress made last year as the music therapy profession became stronger than ever! » Download Document
 
Friday, July 13, 2012
AMTA Member Benefit of the Week:
New AMTA-pro podcast, "Debbie Dacus: Music Therapy from Different Angles." Debbie has 25 years of clinical experience, has published several books and coauthored several music therapy resources, and is currently preparing to teach at the university level. In this podcast, Debbie shares compelling stories from her daily work and talks with about lessons learned from her experiences in music and in music therapy over the years. Continue Reading
 
Friday, June 22, 2012
2012 Conference Concurrent Session Schedule Online
You can now see the planned concurrent session and meeting schedule for the 2012 AMTA Conference. Check it out, then click the Attend a Conference button to register for the conference before the early deadline of July 11, 2012 for maximum savings on your conference registration. » Download Document
 
Thursday, June 7, 2012
AMTA Vice-President Elect featured on WBAL Radio (Baltimore, MD) - June 9, 2012 - 6pm EST
AMTA Vice-President Elect Lisa Gallagher will be a featured guest on” Audioanalgesia: Music that Soothes the Body & Soul” this Saturday June 9, 2012 - 9pm Eastern. The program originates from WBAL radio in Baltimore in association with the Johns Hopkins Medical Center. Hosted by Paul J. Christo, MD, MBA from The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, you can listen to the show live online or access podcasts later by going to: www.paulchristomd.com. Continue Reading
 
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
AMTA-pro Podcast: Deforia Lane
In this AMTA-Pro podcast, a benefit of membership in AMTA, Dr. Deforia Lane shares the compelling story of her career as a music therapist, a journey that actually began when she was in kindergarten. Deforia went on to develop new music therapy programs for children with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and music therapy in medical settings. Tune in and be inspired. Continue Reading