Our MT-BC colleague Marcia Humpal has so many stories to tell about making music when she was a kid, about studying and teaching music, and then about being inspired to return to college to become a music therapist. In this AMTA-Pro podcast, Marcia tells us of some of her career adventures in music therapy for young children on a staff at a county early childhood center, in private practice, as an intern supervisor, as a consultant, as a practicum supervisor, as an author and guest lecturer, and, most importantly, as a music therapist who enjoys seeing a youngster’s eyes light up when they are able to make music. Marcia also talks about the value of being deeply involved in the American Music Therapy Association, and she shares some thoughts about moving forward on a productive path that is beneficial to MT-BC professionals, students, and interns as well as individuals who can benefit from music therapy services.
Note: in addition to listening to Marcia’s interesting podcast, you will want to look at her collection of pictures of music education, music therapy, and music therapists over the years.
Our music therapy colleague Dr. Alan Solomon tells his AMTA-Pro podcast listeners his musical journey started as a result of his living in the same town as the Newport Jazz and Folk Festivals, events which inspired him to take guitar lessons. This opened the door to music experiences as a youngster, teen, and college student which eventually led to his becoming a music therapist. Alan has many stories to tell about his career as a musician, a clinician, and an educator as well as his active life as a retiree teaching online, spending time with families of their three sons, and teaching, composing, and playing acoustic fingerstyle guitar and traditional acoustic blues. The text accompanying this AMTA-Pro podcast includes some interesting photographs as well as a written informal biography in which Alan shares some more delightful stories about his adventures in music and music therapy over the years.
The music therapy gig for Mary Rudenberg started over 70 years ago. Yes, you are reading correctly. Mary began her graduate studies in music therapy with E. Thayer Gaston and William Sears at the University of Kansas in 1951. And now, in 2022, she is still encouraging music therapy clinicians. Mary wrote chapters about dance therapy and about geriatric patients in the original Gaston book Music in Therapy published in 1968; she trained over a hundred music therapy interns; and she was a pioneer in medical music therapy at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, Texas starting in 1966, working at the children’s orthopedic hospital, in inpatient and outpatient pediatric rehabilitation, and with pediatric burn patients at Shriner’s Burns Institute. And that is just the beginning of the story. Tune in to this AMTA-Pro podcast for more about her rather amazing life. p.s. this picture was taken in 2019 when a group of music therapists visited Mary at her home in Galveston one summer day.
As is the case for many music therapists, Barbara Crowe was born into a musical family, played her Scottish grandmother’s 3/4 sized violin in orchestra, and enjoyed singing & playing guitar as did many teens in the 1960’s. While in college she was intrigued at the reaction when she shared music with kids with special needs, so she decided to “invent a new profession.” Then she realized the field of music therapy already existed and appreciated having Bob Unkefer help guide her through a rewarding career from that moment on. In this AMTA-Pro podcast, Barb tells some delightful stories about her music exploits as a youngster, her discovery of music therapy, her eventful professional years, and her interesting adventures as an officer in AMTA in the 1990’s.
Linda Bosse got a strong start to her music therapy career with her professors Dr. E. Thayer Gaston and Dr. William Sears and her intern supervisors Ken Medema and Sandra Golden. And things have not slowed down in the 50+ years since. In this AMTA-Pro podcast, Linda tells us stories of her education, her clinical work in adult psychiatric and addictions treatment, and her dedicated volunteer work with regional and national music therapy, beginning as a young therapist serving on the NAMT committee that created the current Assembly and Council structures. As Linda tells stories of her professional and volunteer work, she also provides intriguing glimpses into the history of NAMT and AMTA over the past five decades.
Our music therapy colleague Barbara Wheeler realized early in life that she wanted to share music beyond an elementary school classroom, so she embarked on a music therapy career. In this AMTA-Pro podcast, Barbara tells us of her privilege to cross paths with many people over the year in her work as a clinician, as a college professor in two universities, as an active volunteer in national and world music therapy organizations, as an author and editor of music therapy literature, and as a speaker around the world. The text accompanying this podcast on the AMTA website includes some memorable photos of some of these opportunities. Barbara tells us her connections over the years have helped her understand the broad nature of our field with music therapists around the world working in very different ways. She encourages all of us to get involved with other professionals and to spend some time near the ocean.
Our MT-BC colleague Michelle Hairston was introduced to music therapy as a toddler. Her dad, Dr. Olin Parker, studied at University of Kansas with Dr. E. Thayer Gaston, the “Father of Music Therapy.” During one of his many visits to their home over the years, Dr. Gaston asked Michelle about her interests. When the 13-year-old told him she really liked playing in the junior high band and she enjoyed volunteering at a local nursing home. Dr. Gaston took time over the dinner table that evening to tell her about the ins and outs of a career in music therapy, firmly convincing Michelle of her career path. In this AMTA-Pro podcast, Michelle tells us the interesting story of her professional life and of the “of course you can!” encouragement she received from several key figures. You will also want to look at the pictures of Michelle’s personal interaction with music therapy pioneers as well as her long music therapy career.
AMTA.Pro » Podcast
Michelle Hairston: Early Connections to Music Therapy
As described by our colleague Suzanne Hanser, our music therapy careers allow us to “share our time, creativity, imagination, and compassion with others” while at the same time learning from all we meet. Suzanne has a long and illustrious career as a student, clinician, professor, author, speaker, researcher, and volunteer leader in professional associations. In this AMTA-Pro podcast she shares insights gained during music therapy sessions from several individuals facing challenges in their lives, and she talks about the fulfilling time spent with music therapy colleagues and students she has met over the years.
Our colleague Robert Groene eventually ended up as a professor of Music Therapy at UMKC, but his long and winding musical road all started when he picked out the riff for “Louie Louie” on the piano when his piano teacher preferred he play “Happy Hoptoads” for a recital. In this AMTA-Pro podcast, Robert tells of his adventures as he played in rock bands, got drafted, taught guitar to at-risk adolescents as a Conscientious Objector, started and quit college, then played in more bands and at coffeehouses. All of this before he had even heard of music therapy! Tune in to this AMTA-Pro podcast where Dr. Robert Groene, a recipient of the AMTA Lifetime Achievement Award, tells many anecdotes about his interesting career as a musician and as a music therapist.
This AMTA-Pro podcast features a conversation with AMTA’s new Chief Executive Officer, Adonia Calhoun Coates, CAE, CMP. After talking briefly about her previous professional experience, Adonia tells the podcast listeners about her enthusiasm for joining the AMTA team and working with the dedicated community of music therapists. She shares stories about her hearing of the AMTA CEO job opportunity and about her personal long-term connection with music therapy through a family member. Adonia talks about some ideas, immediate projects, and future plans for advancing AMTA’s mission and goals as well as for heightening awareness, increasing collaboration, and a strengthening commitment to expanding the reach of music therapy. You can also see this conversation in video on the AMTA YouTube channel – https://youtu.be/Y4VmUIELWB8
When in 7th grade, our colleague and AMTA Honorary Life Member Marilyn Sandness was recruited to play saxophone in a dance band. With the money made on those gigs, she purchased more instruments and lessons, embarking on a long, illustrious career in music and music therapy. In this AMTA-Pro podcast, Marilyn shares engaging stories about her professional journey including her college studies beginning with a degree from Eastman in 1958, her clinical work in some challenging situations in the early 1960s and through major transformation in the nature of services in the 1970s, her twenty-four rewarding years as a music therapy professor, and her thirty-four intense years as a volunteer with NAMT and AMTA, helping shape the nature of education and training music therapists today.
AMTA’s Federal Advocacy for Music Therapy AMTA-Pro Podcast ~ February 2021 Judy Simpson, MT-BC and Rebecca Preddie
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In this AMTA-Pro podcast, AMTA’s Government Relations Director Judy Simpson and AMTA’s Senior Federal Policy and Programs Analyst Rebecca Preddie overview the extensive work of AMTA’s Government Relations team on behalf of the profession of music therapy and the people music therapists serve. This discussion provides the information and contacts music therapists need to get involved in helping raise the impact and efficacy of music therapy services and to increase access to music therapy in the areas of health, education, veteran services, and the health care work force. The AMTA-Pro podcast notes provide a wealth of advocacy resources for music therapists.
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AMTA-Pro is filled to the brim with a wealth of podcasts featuring your colleagues sharing reflections, strategies, insider tips, and details about every aspect of music therapy. Don't miss even one of several dozen AMTA-Pro podcasts on a wide variety of topics, including:
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Our MT-BC colleague Marcia Humpal has so many stories to tell about making music when she was a kid, about studying and teaching music, and then about being inspired to return to college to become a music therapist. In this AMTA-Pro podcast, Marcia tells us of some of her career adventures in music therapy for young children on a staff at a county early childhood center, in private practice, as an intern supervisor, as a consultant, as a practicum supervisor, as an author and guest lecturer, and, most importantly, as a music therapist who enjoys seeing a youngster’s eyes light up when they are able to make music. Marcia also talks about the value of being deeply involved in the American Music Therapy Association, and she shares some thoughts about moving forward on a productive path that is beneficial to MT-BC professionals, students, and interns as well as individuals who can benefit from music therapy services.
