American Music Therapy Association

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 and the 2014 press release, "Setting the Record Straight: What Music Therapy Is... and Is Not."

Membership in AMTA - Each Note Counts

Why Should I Join or Renew My AMTA Membership Today?

In any great composition, each note counts. If one minor third or a single perfect fourth is missing from its correct position, the whole composition is diminished. “We Are AMTA” is not just a platitude, it is true. Each of us makes up this amazing family and each is important and needed. You contribute your own special music and the music therapy profession needs your contribution. It takes variety to make rich music. We invite you to join AMTA in 2018 and recognize how all the work we do together creates beautiful music for the music therapy profession. Each one of us improves and enhances the music therapy family. The music we make together benefits us and, ultimately, our clients.

Check out a long list of benefits that help you & your music therapy practice or read what others think at #EachNoteCounts on our Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram feeds for member benefits others have shared.

Need a few more reasons why membership is for you?  Watch these videos:

• For a longer list of member benefits, click here.

• For information on paying your Professional membership in installments (available through March 31), click here.

• If you want to mail in a payment instead of paying online: Download, print and fill out the 2018 AMTA Membership Application Form, then mail it in with your payment to:  AMTA, 8455 Colesville Rd., Ste. 1000; Silver Spring, MD 20910

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.

Music Therapy Featured at Kennedy Center Event, "Sound Health: Music and the Mind"

During the recent Memorial Day concert (scroll down to watch!), noted soprano Renée Fleming mentioned an exciting event at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., “Sound Health: Music and the Mind.” This major national event, honoring the power of music and music therapy, was made possible by a partnership between the Kennedy Center; Renée Fleming, Artist Ambassador for the Kennedy Center; and the National Institutes of Health.

A concert with the National Symphony Orchestra, led by conductor Edwin Outwater, alongside renowned neuroscientists Dr. Daniel Levitin, Dr. Nina Kraus, Dr. Charles Limb, as well as musician Ben Folds, singer/actor Jussie Smollett, and of course, the incomparable Renée Fleming, kicked off the weekend on June 2^nd.

June 3^rd featured a full day of sessions with interactive presentations and shows, including one curated by Dr. Sheri Robb, “Breakthroughs with Music Therapy: Recovery, Resilience, Quality of Life.”  Additional sessions featured music and child development (Dr. Nina Kraus), creative aging (Dr. Ani Patel), and jazz, creativity and the brain (Dr. Charles Limb). 

If you missed the live stream of Dr. Robb’s excellent session, “Breakthroughs with Music Therapy: Recovery, Resilience, Quality of Life,” with the help of musician Ben Folds, other music therapists, researchers, and clients, you can watch below:

You can find recordings of this and other events in the Sound Health: Music and the Mind Saturday workshop series at the Kennedy Center's YouTube Channel.

Music Therapy Featured in 2017 National Memorial Day Concert

A star-studded cast performed for the PBS broadcast of the National Memorial Day concert Sunday, May 28th.  This year, the National Memorial Day Concert honored Captain Luis Avila, a military policeman severely injured after an IED explosion. During the performance segment, featuring acclaimed singer Renée Fleming, a special moment was dedicated to the importance of music therapy services for Captain Avila and all veterans.  Captain Avila and music therapist, Rebecca Vaudreuil, joined Ms. Fleming on stage to recognize the importance of music therapy in the rehabilitation of America's veterans. The concert was broadcast live on PBS as well as to our troops serving around the world on the American Forces Network. The American Music Therapy Association is appreciative for Ms. Fleming's support of music therapy.  You can watch the segment on Captain Avila below or go to the PBS website for the whole rebroadcast of this amazing concert and a section of the concert's website dedicated to music therapy.

For information on the event's music therapy focus see:
http://www.pbs.org/national-memorial-day-concert/features/music-therapy/

Check out Captain Luis Avila's story:
http://www.pbs.org/national-memorial-day-concert/features/2017-wounds-of-war/

Watch the full concert online if you missed it:
http://www.pbs.org/national-memorial-day-concert/watch-2017-show-live/

And to all our veterans, thank you for your service.

Music Therapy in Larry's Life

In her daily work, board certified music therapist Moreen Bosch sees the impact of music and therapy on the lives of many individuals as well as on their families and other caregivers. Photojournalist Benjamin Hager captured some of Moreen's work on film, including her interaction with Larry and an interview with his wife. Take a few minutes to hear about music therapy from the perspective of a family member, and to see Larry's contentment and engagement when making music with Moreen in music therapy.  Click here to watch.

For more personal stories about the benefits of music therapy, click here.