AMTA.Pro - Online Symposium - For Music Therapists, By Music Therapists

MT Advocacy: Make a Real Impact

In reality, a music therapist’s daily work is the strongest advocacy tool for spreading the word about music therapy. At the same time, every MT-BC can more purposefully contribute to the critical task of increasing the strength and frequency of advocacy efforts for our profession in keeping with the mission of AMTA – “to advance public awareness of the benefits of music therapy and increase access to quality music therapy services in a rapidly changing world.” In this AMTA-Pro podcast, our colleague Leslie Henry, co-chair of AMTA’s Professional Advocacy group, shares a wealth of helpful advocacy guidelines based on her own experiences as well as some years of working with MT-BCs around the country. Leslie leads listeners through an exploration of their own networks and how to tend these networks, approaches that can be used based on the timing of the idea you are advocating for, and time-tested tips on being persuasive in different situations. The text notes for this AMTA-Pro podcast include valuable guidelines and resources,


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Resiliency & Staff Care Program Model

Because MT-BCs respond to unit needs throughout the hospital system, Houston Methodist recognizes music therapy as an opportunity to provide opportunities for self-care, wellness support, and resilience training for the staff. In this AMTA-Pro podcast, three of our music therapy colleagues, Jennifer Townsend, Virginia Gray, and Audrey Zybura, share details about their program that provides both wellness support and staff care for their fellow healthcare professionals at Houston Methodist. They talk about various aspects of the programs, including boundaries, collaboration, costs, and specific unit needs, and the music therapy team shares a number of creativity-focused and education-focused opportunities that have proven helpful to staff. The music therapists also discuss points music therapists would want to consider when establishing a resiliency and staff care program. The podcast notes include resources, details about their program, and an outline for establishing similar support in other agencies.


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Music Industry Issues for Music Therapists

Why should music therapists be concerned with music industry issues? How are songwriters compensated for their work? What are fair use principles? How do fair use, copyrights, streaming, and other music industry issues impact music therapy?  In this AMTA-Pro podcast, Dr. Tracy Richardson shares her knowledge and insights about these issues based on extensive personal experience in both music therapy and the music industry. In addition to being a serious singer/songwriter who has opened for major artists and has 3 original CDs to her credit, Tracy has over 30 years of experience as a music therapy clinician and educator. Her podcast provides some food for thought and helpful resources for all music therapists.


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Self-Care Toolbox for MT Students

Stress and anxiety impact music therapy students daily. Not only freshmen, but also upperclass and graduate students often struggle with schedules, new surroundings, finances, grades, expectations by self and others, over commitment, and other pressures. In this AMTA-Pro podcast, Dr. Jennifer Fiore shares her work with music therapy students in learning to recognize the need for self-care and to develop their own self-care toolbox with personalized strategies addressing their unique situation and needs. Dr. Fiore provides many helpful tips and resources for music therapy professors and music therapy students, including suggestions for coping with particular stresses related to COVID-19.


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MT & Speaking Voice in Parkinson’s Disease

Speaking voice is an area of concern for many individuals with Parkinson’s Disease since being able to communicate makes a real difference in our daily quality of life. People with PD often experience softer voices and find it harder to talk to others, potentially leading to self-isolation and to lose of desire to attempt communicating with people around them. In this AMTA-Pro podcast, our MT-BC colleague Sarah Swann Solberg discusses some of these issues and overviews her research about the impact of music therapy interventions on improving the speaking voice of individuals with PD. Susan recommends continued research because of the potential significance on the quality of lives of over 10 million people worldwide currently diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease.


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Innovations in Military Music Therapy Practice

Since 2014, board certified music therapists have provided services to active duty service members and veterans with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and post-traumatic stress (PTSD) in military medical facilities across the United States through Creative Forces®: NEA Military Healing Arts Network. In this AMTA-Pro podcast, speakers Sara Kass, Rebecca Vaudreuil, Donna Betts, and Danielle Kalseth describe music therapy practice and research as well as effective and innovative interventions. They also share stories illustrating ways in which Creative Forces supports clinic-to-community programming to further support healing, motivate recovery, and promote reintegration, making a marked impact in the lives of individuals and their families. The text notes of this AMTA-Pro podcast include links to a number of related resources and intriguing media links.


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MT in Forensic Psychiatric Setting

Our MT-BC colleagues Tara Brinkman and Steven Franco work at Department of State Hospitals- Atascadero , a maximum security forensic hospital. Some of the patients are awaiting court proceedings, and some were determined not guilty by reason of insanity, but a large portion of the population have been convicted of violent felonies. Both therapists work with various groups and individuals in the forensic hospital, but in this podcast they talk about a centralized group called REACH-Music. Tara and Steven overview the structure of the REACH-Music group and some of the research behind their work with these clients. They describe numerous music therapy interventions which address goal areas such as emotional intelligence, mental health management, grounding, and social skills. This AMTA-Pro podcast also includes information about the importance of building a therapeutic alliance and other safety tips.


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Group MT in Pediatric Medical Setting

Children admitted to a hospital are asked to live in an unfamiliar place, to put their trust in strangers, to commit to irregular schedules, and to endure frequent medical tests, check-ups, and procedures. Hospitals are unique settings where music therapy groups give kids a chance to enjoy making music, to cope with change, to boost environmental control, to broaden social networks, to express concerns and emotions, and to build resiliency. In this AMTA-Pro podcast, four MT-BCs at the Children’s Minnesota Hospitals – the 7th largest pediatric health system in US – talk about their music therapy groups for medical/surgical patients, for hematology/oncology patients, and for patents with diabetes, eating disorders, and other issues. Our colleagues Erinn Frees, Alicia Little, Sarah Woolever, and Kayla Shafer talk about their work – along with the other MT-BCs and MT interns at Children’s MN – facilitating groups for all ages including focus groups for tweens, teens, parents, siblings, and even staff. The text section of this AMTA-Pro podcast includes a wealth of resources, references, and other information about successfully including group music therapy alongside individual therapy in the pediatric medical setting.


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About the World Federation of Music Therapy

The World Federation of Music Therapy (WFMT) is dedicated to developing and promoting music therapy throughout the world as an art and science. The Federation supports a global music therapy network for exchanging and disseminating information about educational programs, clinical practice, and research in all parts of the world. The speakers in the AMTA-Pro podcast – Anita Swanson, Daniel Tague, and Andi McGraw Hunt – talk about ways in which professionals and students can collaborate with peers in other countries. They also tell us about some of the current WFMT initiatives such as contributions to research, plans for the upcoming 2020 World Congress of Music Therapy, and ways to participate in the annual March 1 World Music Therapy Day. The info page for this podcast includes photos, resources, and more information about the World Federation of Music Therapy.


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Leadership for Students & New MT-BCs

Are you a leader? Many students and newly board certified music therapists might hesitate to dive into a professional leadership role early in their career. In this podcast, two experienced music therapists who have served AMTA in a wide variety of capacities take some time during a very busy national music therapy conference to sit in front of the AMTA-Pro microphone to share their thoughts about the value of beginning early in a career path when considering leadership opportunities. Podcast speakers Amber Weldon-Stephens and Jean Nemeth not only encourage all music therapists to become involved in their local, state, regional, and national music therapy organizations, but the two experienced professionals also provide numerous specific, practical tips for making a journey into leadership rewarding and enriching.


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Intro to 2019 AMTA Code of Ethics

AMTA adopted a new Code of Ethics February 1, 2019.This AMTA-Pro podcast features members of the AMTA Ethics Board providing an overview of the Code of Ethics which is an aspirational model similar to that adopted by many allied health professions. Learn about this aspirational approach and how it asks each professional and student to take more responsibility for monitoring personal conduct and decisions while holding the best interests of the client at the forefront of the decision-making process.


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Substance Abuse and Music Therapy

More than 14,500 treatment facilities focus on substance abuse populations in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control’s National Syndromic Surveillance Program, opioid overdoses alone rose 30% in the United States from July 2016 through September 2017. In this AMTA-Pro podcast, our music therapy colleague Judith Pinkerton talks about her work providing music therapy service each week for 150 adult patients diagnosed with Substance Abuse Disorders in three residential facilities of the American Addiction Centers in Las Vegas, Nevada – over 11,000 patients in the past 7 years.  Judith shares information about dynamic, innovative music therapy services designed to meet the needs of patients, clinical staff, and administration, and she talks about session planning, treatment and prevention strategies, and self-care for the music therapist.


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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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