AMTA’s monthly newsletter is filled with important and timely information about the work AMTA does to further the profession and how membership in AMTA benefits YOU. Matters is available to as a benefit of your membership in AMTA but this January issue is being made available to non-members and members alike.

After three decades serving the American Music Therapy Association, Inc., Executive Director Andrea Farbman announces her retirement, effective December 31, 2018.

“Music Got Me Here” premiered at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on January 10, 2018, to a packed crowd of medical personnel, music therapists, educators, administrators, and friends. Based on the resounding applause and standing ovations, the film touched audience members and promises to educate the general public and administrators alike about the power of music therapy as an evidence-based tool.

Watch the highlights reel from the 2017 AMTA Annual Conference in St. Louis, Missouri as well as speeches from our Lifetime Achievement Awardees, Linda Bosse and Deforia Lane.

Mindfulness has become a popular trend in business, education, and health care but is often misunderstood. Anne Parker looks at mindfulness from various perspectives to understand how it can positively impact our practice as music therapists. Anne was the featured speaker at the Carol Bitcon Memorial Lecture during the 2017 AMTA Conference in St. Louis, Missouri based on her experience as a music therapist for 40 years and as a student and teacher of mindfulness for over 20 years.

The AMTA Government Relations and CBMT Regulatory Affairs team invite you to participate in the 2018 Social Media Advocacy month! Find and share your advocacy song, and be sure to follow the #mtadvocacy hashtag throughout the month. We look forward to learning about YOUR music therapy advocacy song.

First AMTA Electronic Election Results: Congratulations to the 2018-2019 AMTA President Elect Deborah Benkovitz Williams, MSW, LSW, MT-BC and Vice President Elect Wendy S. Woolsey, MA, MT-BC!

Over 1700 music therapy professionals and students, exhibitors, and guests, attended the 2017 AMTA Annual Conference in St. Louis, Missouri. AMTA Spokesperson and renowned Soprano, Renée Fleming greeted attendees via an inspiring video message in which she lauded the efforts of Board Certified Music Therapists.

AMTA’s monthly newsletter is filled with important and timely information about the work AMTA does to further the profession and how membership in AMTA benefits YOU. Matters is available to as a benefit of your membership in AMTA.

Robin Spielberg, American pianist, composer, and Artist Spokesperson for the AMTA, was in Oxford, OH, as an "artist in residence" for a week in late October, 2017. Robin spoke to Miami University students, senior citizens, and children at a local school, expressing her joy in music and praising the power and importance of music and music therapy. Music therapist Debbie Benkovitz Williams presented with Robin.

AMTA is excited to announce the appointment of Dr. Laura Beer as the incoming Editor-in-Chief of Music Therapy Perspectives (MTP). She will assume her duties as Editor-in-Chief when the next term begins on January 1, 2019.

Carolyn Kenny passed away on October 15, 2017. Carolyn had a tremendous impact on music therapists and others around the world through her writing, presentations, and in-person supervision and teaching.

Valuable information about the music therapy profession can be found in AMTA's annually published "AMTA Member Survey and Workforce Analysis, A Descriptive Statistical Profile of the AMTA Membership and Music Therapy Community." The 2017 edition of this document is available free of charge for current AMTA members in Member Resources>Job Center>Resources and Links section. Also available for purchase by non-members (free to current members) in the AMTA online bookstore.

Please take a moment to learn more about the candidates who are running for President Elect and Vice President Elect for the 2018-2019 term and note the new voting procedure in this year's election.

This AMTA-Pro podcast features Dr. Andrew Knight of Colorado State University and Dr. Meganne Masko of Indiana University-Purdue University along with Eric Johnson, MD of University of North Dakota, who have teamed up with other health care professionals in 3 different universities. These knowledgeable colleagues discuss the growth of IPE (Interprofessional Education), their experiences and observations over the years, and the possibilities for the future.