Mark your calendars now! The dates for the 2015 AMTA conference, "Music Therapy: A Continuum of Growth," are from Thursday, November 12 through Sunday, November 15, 2015. We will be meeting at the Sheraton Kansas City Hotel at Crown Center in Kansas City, MO.

Early bird registration rates must be postmarked by August 3!!!

Some general scheduling for the conference includes the following:

• Opening Session: November 12, 2015
• Continuing Music Therapy Education (CMTE) courses: Nov. 12, 2015
• Meetings: Nov. 10-15, 2015
• Institutes: Nov. 11, 2015
• Concurrent Sessions: Nov. 12-15, 2015
• Internship Fair: Nov. 14, 2015 - 9:00-10:30 a.m.

While the schedule of meetings for the Assembly in Kansas City is not yet finalized, all MAR Assembly Delegates and Alternates should start planning now.   

The 2014-2015 Assembly is tentatively scheduled to meet as follows:

Thursday, November 12       1:30 - 5:30 pm

Friday, November 13            7:30 - 9:00 am

Saturday, November 14       11:15 am - 1:15 pm

As soon as the meeting schedule is set, I will be contacting the current Assembly Delegates and Alternates to insure we have adequate representation at all meetings in Kansas City. In addition, after receiving the AMTA Board and Assembly Book, I will be working with President Ritter to identify key issues that will come before the Assembly, both to seek feedback from membership as well as to coordinate a pre-Assembly meeting caucus in Kansas City if needed.

Welcome to the 2016-2017 Assembly-Elect!

With the results of our recent election, we are proud to announce the 2016-2017 MAR Assembly Delegates and Alternates.

The 2016-2017 Assembly-Elect meeting time is not yet finalized; it will either be on Saturday, 11/14 from 6:45-7:30 pm, or on Sunday, 11/15 from 6:45-7:30 am. While the Assembly-Elect meeting is brief, it is an important one in which four Assembly Delegates and four Alternate Delegates are elected to the AMTA Board of Directors. Of the four Delegates to Board, one will be elected as the new Speaker of the Assembly and one as the new Assistant Speaker of the Assembly. In addition, it is at this meeting that the MAR Assembly-Elect will select their new Assembly Chair. All full Delegates are encouraged to begin thinking about their possible interest in being nominated as a Board Delegate, as well as to consider appointment to the MAR Assembly Chair position. If you have questions regarding either, please do not hesitate to contact me.

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In this report we bring you updates and information about:

• The recipient of the 2015 Research/Special Project Award, Dr. Michael Viega for "Evaluating Arts-Based Research: Audience Perspectives"
• Highlights from the Research Track at Ocean City, MD
• Research news from AMTA

Research/Special Project Award: We received many strong applications this year for the MAR Research Award, which speaks to the great work being done in the region. Out of this pool, we selected Dr. Michael Viega's project, "Evaluating Arts-Based Research: Audience Perspectives." The $2000 award will support Dr. Viega's presentation of his and Dr. Diane Austin's arts-based research at several venues in the MAR region, data collection from audience members about their reaction to the research presentations, and mixed-method analysis of these responses. We look forward to seeing Dr. Viega's and Dr. Austin's presentations of their work, as well as the results from these data.

Research Track: Many attendees at the research track this year took the time to share very positive feedback about the research track at Ocean City. This year we hosted Dr. Blythe LaGasse from Colorado State University as our guest speaker to highlight clinician-based research. We supported this theme through Dr. Joke Bradt's session on mixed-method research for preliminary and feasibility studies. These sessions included dialogue and discussion about ways to incorpo rate these principles into attendees' own research ideas. We also highlighted Dr. Lillian Eyre's work resulting from the 2014 Research Award, a survey of music therapists practicing in mental health settings. Dr. Tony Meadows hosted a discussion  regarding the quality and performance of Music Therapy Perspectives, and Dr. Gene Ann Behrens provided an informative session on creating research posters. Our annual poster session rounded out the track, with several outstanding posters presented by both professionals and students. We plan to continue focusing on providing helpful and practical sessions to encourage clinician-based research next year.

AMTA News: On July 16-18, the AMTA is hosting "Improving Access and Quality: Music Therapy Research 2025" at Linthicum Heights, MD. This working symposium will host invited speakers and delegates to recommend guidance for future research. Interested music therapy professionals are invited to attend as general attendees and observers. Click here to find more information, including a draft agenda on the AMTA website.  Registration opened on May 4; space is limited, so register early.

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Global Perspectives Session at AMTA Conference

November, 2015

 

The International Relations Committee welcomes submissions for consideration for the Global Perspectives Session at the AMTA Conference. The session showcases international music therapy projects, scholarly work and service opportunities from around the world.   Previous sessions have highlighted both professional and student experiences. Please email Flossie Ierardi at [email protected] with your ideas for 2015 no later than July 1.

 

 

Upcoming international conferences (click on a flag for website link):

Canadian Association for Music Therapy  Conference May 22-24, 2015 Calgary, Alberta, Canada

 

The 2nd Nordoff Robbins Plus Research Conference:  "Evaluating music therapy:  Considering value, benefit and impact" June 9, 2015 London, UK

 

3rd Biennial Conference of the Interdisciplinary Society for Quantitative Research in Music and Medicine July 24-26, 2015 Immaculata, Pennsylvania, USA

 

8th Nordic Music Therapy Congress:  Music therapy across contexts August 5-8, 2015 Oslo, Norway

 

41st National Conference:  Australian Music Therapy Association September 18-19, 2015 Sydney, Australia

 

American Music Therapy Association 2015 Conference "Music Therapy:  A Continuum of Growth November 12-15, 2015 Kansas City, Missouri, USA

 

10th European Music Therapy Conference July 5-9, 2016 Vienna, Austria

 

15th World Congress of Music Therapy July 3-8, 2017 Tsukuba, Japan

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2015 has been a very busy spring for MAR Government Relations. The MAR Conference in Ocean City afforded MANY opportunities for conference attendees to learn about and become involved in efforts regarding state recognition and advocacy. The following are some highlights from the MAR Conference:

The Annual State Task Force Meeting was held and approximately 20 task forces members in MAR attended. We'd like to thank Megan Resig, MAR Public Relations Chair, for attending our meeting to discuss the new MAR Website. There was discussion on how to use the website in new ways for advocacy efforts. We'd also like to thank Judy Simpson, AMTA Director of Government Relations, who joined us as the force members discussed and shared ways to make task force work more effective in the region. A hearty thank you to all members of the MAR State Task Forces for all the work you do throughout the year!

• MDSTF Advocacy Breakfast was Friday morning of the conference. Local administrators, public officials, and members of the MDSTF met to share and exchange ideas about music therapy advocacy in MD. "Music Therapy Champion" awards were presented at this event. Many thanks to Niki Runge and Clarissa Karlsson, MDSTF Co-Chairs, for coordinating this event.
• Learning to Harmonize: Opportunities for Music Therapists and Therapeutic Musicians to Collaborate was a concurrent session by Certified Music Practitioner Allen Dec, CMP and Judy Simpson, MT-BC who presented on how to build relationships with therapeutic musicians on a regional level.
• The State of Music Therapy in New York State was a concurrent session led by Donna Polen, NYSTF Chair. The session updated music therapists about the LCAT and efforts being made for state recognition of a true music therapy license in NY.
• PA Town Hall Meeting was held during the PA State Meeting. PA State Task Force Co-Chairs Nicole Hahna and Melanie Walborn presented and discussed the proposed Music Therapy Licensure Bill in PA.

An Open Form on State Task Forces and State Associations was held by Judy Simpson, Julie Neal, Gabby Ritter, and Maria Fay to address, clarify, and educate attendees about the roles and missions of these two organizations. Discussion ensued about ways these two entities can support each others' work.

ARTS ADVOCACY DAY 2015

Learning the Layers of Advocacy

I had the incredible opportunity in my new role as Government Relations Specialist for AMTA to attend the 28th annual Arts Advocacy Day in Washington, D.C. on March 23-24. This annual event was hosted by the Americans for the Arts, the nation's leading nonprofit organization for advancing the arts and arts education. This event brought together a broad cross section of America's cultural and civic organizations, along with 550 grassroots advocates representing 48 states across the country, to underscore the importance of developing strong public policies and appropriating increased public funding for the arts. AMTA was a national co-sponsor of Arts Advocacy Day. AMTA served as the chair of the Arts in Health Subcommittee which developed the Arts in Health Issue Brief and Field-at-a-Glance talking points. Working with leaders from other creative arts therapies associations and artist organizations interested in healthcare, attendees were urging Congress to:

1. Support H.R. 271, the COVER Act, to improve access to evidence-based complementary and alternative treatments for veterans, including creative arts therapies.
2. Support S. 192, the Older Americans Act Reauthorization Act of 2015, which re-authorizes funding for supports services, including creative arts therapies; directs funding for behavioral health programs; and requires the Administration on Aging to focus on health and welfare needs of older individuals, which could increase access to creative arts therapies and artist directed health promotion programs.

 

AMTA's Director of Government Relations, Judy Simpson, presented details about these action items to attendees interested in arts in health issues. She presented to a standing only room.

The following is a link to 2015 wrap-up page for Arts Advocacy Day which includes the Nancy Hanks Lecture on Arts and Public Policy given by TV Producer Norman Lear, who was introduced by music artist COMMON. Congressional Arts Kick-Off speeches were given by Caucasus leaders Rep. Louise M. Slaughter (D-NY) and Rep. Leonard Lance (R-NJ) as well as Congressional Arts Leadership Award winner Senator Tom Udall. Other thespians who spoke in support of the cause were Holland Taylor, Doc Shaw, and Victoria Rowell.
Click here for more information on the Arts Advocacy Day 2015.

Judy Simpson Presenting the Arts in Health Issue Brief

Hill Visit Rep. Lou Barietta's Office

                                                             Actress Holland Taylor

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Information current as of 4/27/15

The voting members of NYSTF, appointed by the MAR Executive Board, are: Ari Amir, MA, MT-BC; Clare Arezina, MME, MT-BC, CCLS; Beth R. McLaughlin, MSE, LCAT, MT-BC; and Donna W. Polen, LCAT, MT-BC, Chair; and Tracy S. Wanamaker, MS Ed, MT-BC. Ex-officio members, without the right to vote, are: Rachel Reed and Rebecca Rossi, student members; Maria Hricko Fay, MSW/LSW, LCAT, MT-BC, MAR Government Relations Chair; Judy Simpson, MHP, MT-BC, AMTA Director of Government Relations; and Gabby Ritter, MMT, MT-BC, MAR President. NYSTF works closely with CBMT Regulatory Affairs Advisor, Dena Register, PhD, MT-BC, and CBMT Regulatory Affairs Associate Kimberly Sena Moore, MM, MT-BC, as well.

Music therapy licensing 

The task force is continuing to explore the creation of an authentic music therapy license in NYS, based on the recent survey results and discussions with members at the conference in Ocean City. A meeting in Senator LaValle's Albany office with two of his key staffers is scheduled in May. Scheduled to attend the meeting are Donna Polen and Tracy Wanamaker from NYSTF and Diana Georgia, our legislative advocate.

New legislation

NYSTF is currently monitoring the following bills which may impact the LCAT directly or indirectly:

S1958/A4229

Includes the term "diagnosis" within the definition of the practice of mental health practitioners.

S2065

To require blanket health insurance policies to include coverage for outpatient treatment by mental health practitioners.

A5465

Defines the practice of recreation therapy, including procedures for licensing and mandatory continuing education.

Medicaid

NYSTF has heard from numerous music therapists in all parts of New York with questions, concerns, and challenges as a result of the new Medicaid regulations that took effect October 1, 2014. Please be assured that we are doing our best to learn more about this and determine how we can best support our members while also considering action to take. If you have questions or information related to this, we want to hear from you!

NYSTF at Regional and National Conferences, and NYS schools

NYSTF facilitated the NYS meeting at the spring MAR conference in Ocean City, MD and also presented a concurrent open forum titled, "The State of Music Therapy in New York State." We are hoping to present a concurrent session at the annual AMTA conference in Kansas City in November. We are also starting to schedule workshops at each of the 5 licensure-qualifying schools in NY, which will include portions specifically for students and then time slots for students and professionals to learn together.

As always, please contact the task force with any questions you may have regarding the LCAT and any music therapy related legislative, regulatory or advocacy issues. We can be reached at: [email protected].

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T he 2015 MAR Conference in Ocean City, MC, was a lively and invigorating event! We "rode the sound waves" with almost 650 music therapy professionals, students, and guests!   Many of us enjoyed the beautiful setting on the ocean with the bay nearby for vivid sunrises, gentle waves, fresh air, and lots of tasty seaf ood! We reconnected with old friends, for med new relationships, explored new skills, gathered insights, and hopefully took a few moments to relax and refresh!

Click logo for a full report and conference reprise!

 

An incredible thank you goes out to the 2015 MAR Conference Council, the Local Committee, volunteers, and others who helped with planning and working such a spectacular conference!

 

2015 MAR Regional Conference Council

• VP-Elect for Conference Planning: Trish Winter
• Regional Event Planner: Tina Myers
• Regional Exhibits: Karen Jasko
• Continuing Education Coordinator: Clare Arezina and Laurie Keough
• Student Representative (MARAMTS VP): Qiana Thomas
• Public Relations: Megan Resig
• Local Hosts: Niki Runge and Amanda McEntegert

 

2015 Local Conference Planning Committee

• Local Hosts: Niki Runge and Amanda McEntegert
• Local Registration: Nina Galerstein and Kathy Hall
• Local AV/Instruments: Sarah Speice and Melissa Ward
• Local Exhibits and Fundraising: Carolyn Sonnen and Doris Ludicke
• Local Social, Entertainment, Hospitality: Shana Oshiro and Nadine Wobus
• Local PR/Government Relations: Niki Runge and Amanda McEntegert
• Local Volunteer Coordinator: Cynthia Breese
• Local Student Service Project: Tatyana Martin
• Local Committee Member-at-Large: Gina Greeson

Thanks also to other MAR members who assist in the conference planning process:

• Research Track: Anthony Meadows and the MAR Research Committee
• Special Target Populations Networking Lunch: Darcy Lipscomb
• Assembly Delegate networking and Celebration of Life: Donna Polen
• Special Student Forum: Conio Loretto

 

The Mid-Atlantic Region is proud to host high quality conferences each year! This year's conference featured one Pre-Conference Institute, eight CMTE Courses, and 73 concurrent sessions with more proposal submissions than ever before! The schedule of events also included:  

• MAR's first Advocacy Breakfast to recognize 18 local professionals as Music Therapy Champions
• Ask a Professional: Student Forum
• Networking with Assembly Delegates
• Town Hall: Master's Level Entry Subcommittee Spring Progress Report
• PA Town Hall on state licensure
• A Celebration of Life: Evelyn Selesky

Look for photos of these and other conference moments as captured by our professional photographer as well as conference attendees!

 

Congratulations to the recipients of this year's awards and scholarships!

• MAR Advocacy Award: Tara Kearns
• MAR Service Award: Karen Jasko
• MAR President's Award: Maria Fay
• MAR Research Award: Michael Viega
• MARAMTS Scholarships: Lydia Anthony; Bethany Wentling; Briana Sanford; Elizabeth Bligh; Megan Neil
• Music Therapy Club Award: Elizabethtown College; Temple University
• Jenny Shinn Scholarship: Diana Abourafeh; Marissa Aulenbach; Arianna Bendlin

Check out these conference highlights and other information and FAQs at   www.mar-amta.org . See you in Harrisburg, PA!

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This Issue's Feature:

 

YOU'RE AN LCAT AND YOU CALL YOURSELF A WHAT? 

 

The Mental Health Practitioner's law is both a scope of practice and title protection law. It regulates the practice of four professions (Creative Arts Therapy, Marriage and Family Therapy, Mental Health Counseling, and Psychoanalysis). Each of these four professions includes the practice of psychotherapy, as defined in law:

 

"Psychotherapy" means the treatment of mental, nervous, emotional, behavioral and addictive disorders, and ailments by the use of both verbal and behavioral methods of intervention in interpersonal relationships with the intent of assisting the persons to modify attitudes, thinking, affect, and behavior which are intellectually, socially and emotionally maladaptive.

 

There is no such thing in New York as a licensed psychotherapist. Psychotherapy is part of the practice of creative arts therapy. As a further reminder, there is no such thing in New York as a licensed music therapist. The LCAT does not license the profession of music therapy.

 

As a Licensed Creative Arts Therapist (LCAT), the law is clear regarding what you can call yourself and your work:

 

Article 163, Section 8404, Part 2: Practice of creative arts therapy and use of the titles "creative arts therapist" and "licensed creative arts therapist". Only a person licensed or exempt under this article shall practice creative arts therapy or use the title "creative arts therapist". Only a person licensed under this article shall use the title "licensed creative arts therapist" or any other designation tending to imply that the person is licensed to practice creative arts therapy.

 

There are many instances of LCATs referring to themselves with titles that do not exist. Examples of these that have been brought to the attention of NYSTF include:

• Licensed psychotherapist
• MT-BC, LCAT, is a board-certified, licensed psychotherapist
• Music psychotherapist
• I'm a board-certified and NYS licensed music therapist
• Music psychotherapist (LCAT)

If you are an LCAT music therapist, make certain that you identify yourself accurately, using only titles set forth in law: creative arts therapist, or licensed creative arts therapist. If you also are board certified, you may call yourself a Board Certified Music Therapist and licensed creative arts therapist.

 

Furthermore, if you are working under a Limited Permit, there are no titles or abbreviations identified in law for your use. If you wish, you may indicate that you "hold a Limited Permit in Creative Arts Therapy" or are a "Permit holder in Creative Arts Therapy," but be certain that you do not imply that you are licensed to practice the profession.

If you have specific questions or areas of law that you would like us to address in future issues, please notify us at [email protected].

   

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NEW MARMATS EXECUTIVE BOARD ELECTED

First and foremost, our student organization elected their new Executive Board. Congratulations to...

Elizabeth Bligh (SUNY Fredonia) - President

Andrea Schaertel (Duquesne University) - President Elect

Megan Neil (Radford University) - Vice President

Allison Broaddrick (Duquesne University) - Parliamentarian

Meghan Smith (Temple University) - Secretary

Amanda Montara (Temple University) - Treasurer

Cody Thompson (Elizabethtown College) - Government Relations Chair

Conio Loretto (The Center for Discovery) - Student Affairs Advisor 

New Executive Board

Outgoing Executive Board

SCHOLARSHIPS AWARDED

We awarded several scholarships during the conference. The MARAMTS sophomore, junior and graduate scholarships were awarded to students in our region who have demonstrated a commitment to our field based on the following criteria...

        ...active participation in Music Therapy club meetings and activities...

        ...interest and involvement in regional conferences...

        ...self-motivation with regard to independent learning experiences.

The scholarship winners are decided by a team of student judges through a blind review of applications. A special thank you to this year's team of judges!

Congratulations to the following scholarship recipients, who were awarded complimentary student membership to the American Music Therapy Association for 2015 and with free registration to our Mid-Atlantic Region Conference:

SOPHOMORE SCHOLARSHIP

Lydia Anthony (Elizabethtown College)

Bethany Wentling (Elizabethtown College)

JUNIOR SCHOLARSHIP

Briana Sanford (Nazareth College)

Elizabeth Bligh (SUNY Fredonia)

GRADUATE SCHOLARSHIP

Megan Neil (Radford University)

The Jenny Shinn Memorial Scholarship for Music Therapy Interns was also awarded during the conference. This scholarship is given to three student interns within the Mid Atlantic Region who have demonstrated scholarly excellence, a strong character and significant service to our field. We accepted twenty applications this year, which were then narrowed down to six finalists following a blind review by our judging panel. The six applicants were then interviewed by our judges at the conference in Ocean City.

Congratulations to the three scholarship recipients, who will each be awarded $500 to help support them in their internship experiences...

JENNY SHINN MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP

Diana Abourafeh (Molloy College)

Marissa Aulenbach (Elizabethtown College)

Arianna Bendlin (Elizabethtown College)

Thank you to our professional judging panel, Trish Winter, Bob Miller, Beth Deyermond and Michael Viega for making this very difficult decision.

We also awarded this year's Music Therapy Club Award to Elizabethtown College and Temple University. Each club received $250 based on their noteworthy efforts to spread awareness and advocate for our field.

STUDENT SERVICE PROJECT

MAR Conference Committee member Tatyana Martin spearheaded the redesign and reorganization of the annual Student Service Project. Groups of students from one university (or two if pairing with sister schools) signed up to visit a location in the Ocean City area and provide an overview of Music Therapy and/or provide a sample Music Therapy experience. Given this new format, many more sites were visited by smaller groups of students. In the end, our students visited eight different locations and introduced Music Therapy to agencies serving a diverse range of populations. Special thanks to Tatyana whose amazing organization (and persistence!) made this happen!

ASK THE PROFESSIONAL: AN OPEN FORUM FOR STUDENTS

At this year's conference, we once again provided an opportunity for students to sit with a panel of professional Music Therapists, all at different stages of their careers, to answer questions and seek advice as to what it is like navigating the professional world. A wonderfully dynamic exchange occurred, with many topics covered. Thank you to our panel who openly and honestly shared their experiences - Kayla McNamara, Ashley Drake Estes, Sarah Radzieski, Shana Oshiro, Kerry Cornelius, Kristen Vogt, Marie Louise Lyon, Lauren Rowe, Kristen O'Grady and Beth Deyermond.

THE CANNING PROJECT

Thank you to all who dropped some change in the cans circulating through the conference center. All together MARMATS collected around $100, which will be donated to The Music Never Stops: The Tyler Seaman Foundation.

SWAP SHOP

Thank you to all schools who participated in this year's Swap Shop. Many ideas for various clinical situations were shared...a great opportunity to learn from one another. A special shout out to Abby Erdman who organized the wonderful event.

LOOKING TO THE FUTURE

Our new Executive Board is energized and looking to the future. Be on the lookout for the announcement of this year's PASSAGES conference - coming soon! And, any student who has a great idea (or two!) for advancing our organization should reach out any of your MARAMTS officers. Here's to a great year!    

Executive Board - Past and Present

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