The Music Therapy Show

The business meeting for AMTA ran late so I missed the original broadcast of the show... But the show must go on! So I've rescheduled and will broadcast live from the exhibit hall of the American Music Therapy Association National Conference!

I am back from maternity leave and ready to get back in the swing of things with the show. In this show, I'll talk about my experiences as a new mom and a music therapy business owner. I'll also share how I used music therapy during childbirth.

Dr. Dorita S. Berger, PhD, MT-BC, LCAT, born in Argentina, is a concert pianist, educator, author, Board Certified music therapist, and New York State Licensed Creative Arts Therapists. Dr. Berger holds a BFA in Piano Performance (Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA) , an MA inMusic Therapy (New York University, New York, NY), a PhD in Physiologic Music Therapy (Psychology Department, Roehampton University, London, UK), and additional piano performance training at The Juilliard Conservatory (New York). Dr. Berger is Adjunct Faculty, Dept. of Music, Kean University, Union, NJ. Adjunct Faculty Dept. of Arts & Humanities, Gateway Community College, New Haven CT., and Adjunct Faculty for Autism Research, Dept. of Psychology, Virginia Tech. She has served as Assistant Professor of Music Therapy, and Visiting Specialist at Montclair State University, (NJ). Dr. Berger has held faculty positions at Universities in Connecticut, New Jersey, and Florida, and continues to be called upon to teach and provide clinical supervision, seminars, and presentations at National and International Conferences in Europe, Canada, South and North America.

At the present time you can only see The Autism Channel on the Roku set-top box. The Autism Channel is free to viewers, you can purchase a Roku at any big-box store or at electronics stores such as Radio Shack starting at less than $50. Soon you will be able to see The Autism Channel on smart TVs, Blu-Ray players, and not long after on tablets. Just as autism is different in every individual, effective treatment varies for every individual. Our job at The Autism Channel is to help parents, caregivers, people on the spectrum and other members of the autism community to find what works for them. We strive to be agnostic about treatment options, support, advocacy organizations and causation theories. We seek to give our audience a wide range of choices so they can make an informed decision that is as unique as their individual situation.

My guest this week is Connie Tomaino. Dr. Concetta Tomaino is the Executive Director and co-founder of the Institute for Music and Neurologic Function and Senior Vice President for Music Therapy at CenterLight Health System ( formerly Beth Abraham Family of Health Services), where she has worked since 1980.   She graduated from SUNY at Stony Brook with a BA in Music Performance in 1976 (her instrument is the trumpet), a minor in psychology and sciences, and a commitment to the emerging field of music therapy. She received the Masters and Doctor of Arts in Music Therapy from New York University Dr. Tomaino is internationally known for her research in the clinical applications of music and neurologic rehabilitation.  She has lectured on music therapy throughout the United States and in, Argentina, Australia, South Africa, Italy, England, and Canada. She is past president of the American Association for Music Therapy and received the Award of Accomplishment from Music Therapists for Peace at the United Nations.  In 1999 she received a Touchstone Award from “Women in Music” for her visionary spirit. In 2004 she received the Music has Power Award from the IMNF and the Zella Bronfman Butler Award which is given by the UJA-Federation of New York in partnership with the J.E. and Z.B. Butler Foundation to professionals in the UJA-Federation agency network for their outstanding work on behalf of individuals with physical, developmental, or learning disabilities.  She was honored with the 2010 Professional Practice Award from the American Association for Music Therapy and also as one of “Three Wise Women” by the National Organization of Italian American Women.  In 2011 she received in inaugural Burton Grebin Innovator of the Year Award from the NY Continuing Care Leadership Coalition (CCLC )    

Dr. William Davis is my guest this week and will highlight the AMTA Archives. Dr. Davis is currently Director of the graduate program in music therapy at Colorado State University and Chair and Director of Graduate Studies in Music for the Department.  He joined the CSU faculty in 1984 after completing a doctorate in music therapy with a performance minor in clarinet from the University of Kansas. His clinical background and area of clinical expertise is with adults and children who have intellectual disabilities. He has been active for many years in the American Music Therapy Association serving on the AMTA Board of Directors as historian; in 1998 he founded the AMTA Archives at CSU and continues in the capacity of Archivist. Dr. Davis has also served as an Editorial Committee member for the Journal of Music Therapy, an Assembly of Delegates representative, and as a member of the Government Relations Committee. He is co-author of an introductory level music therapy text in its third printing and is used by many music therapy programs in the United States and abroad. Previous editions of the book have been translated into Spanish, Korean and Japanese. His research interest is in the history of music therapy with numerous articles appearing in the Journal of Music Therapy, Music Therapy Perspectives and the British Journal of Music Therapy.

Can you believe I've been on the air for 5 years?! Please join me for the anniversary show and call in 646-652-2850 to let me know what you've enjoyed about the show and what you'd like to see for the next 5 years!

Valerie McDaniel is a graduate of Drexel University’s Masters program, earning a Masters of Arts in Creative Arts Therapy – Music Therapy in September 2010.  She has worked with a variety of populations and settings as a music therapist, including medical facilities, schools, private clinics, the family court system, and outpatient psychotherapy centers to name a few.  Valerie currently works with clients ages 2 to 72, with a large portion of her work occurring with children with autism and young adults with traumatic brain injuries.  Valerie is currently in the process of admittance to a PhD. program so she can pursue research in speech and music.  In the meantime, Valerie promotes her self-care by maintaining two blogs, Old People Don’t Smell & Traumatic Love Injury, as well as a YouTube Channel as missvalim. Valerie has obtained her certification from the Certification Board of Music Therapists and is an active member of the American Music Therapy Association (AMTA).

Karen Miller is Professor and Director of Music Therapy at SHSU.  Prior to joining the faculty at Sam Houston State, Professor Miller worked as a music therapy director, supervisor, and clinical practitioner, acquiring more than ten years' experience in clinical music therapy practice.  Professor Miller has provided full-spectrum music therapy services to a wide variety of populations in Florida, South Carolina, and Texas. She has received specialized training in Neurologic Music Therapy and is among the first fellows of the Robert F. Unkefer Academy of Neurologic Music Therapy. She has been active in community education, presentation of clinical and research material, and research publication.  Professor Miller is a Past-President of the American Music Therapy Association's Southwestern Region (SWAMTA); she currently serves as  Assembly Delegate to the American Music Therapy Association (AMTA), and Co-Chair of AMTA’s Academic Program Approval Committee.

Patti Catalano is a Board-certified Music Therapist and a Neurologic Music Therapy Fellow.  She is a graduate of the University of Dayton and received her Master’s in Music Therapy from Colorado State University.  Her experience includes music therapy with children and adults with physical and intellectual/developmental disabilities, children with autism, early intervention, older adults and gerontology, adults with Alzheimer’s and dementia, and children with orthopedic and health impairments. She has been very active on the Music Therapy State Recognition Task Force in Washington State, working with state agencies and the legislature to gain recognition for music therapy.  In addition, Patti is the Regional Project Manager for the Wilson Trust Music Therapy Project, a project of the American Music Therapy Association.  This project focuses on advancing sustainable music therapy services in the Puget Sound Region in order to help more Washington residents access services.

This week I'll be broadcasting from the Joint Conference of the Southwestern and Midwestern Regions of the American Music Therapy Association.

Ronna Kaplan, Director of the Department of Music Therapy since 2004, has been a music therapist at The Music Settlement since 1988, serving clients ranging from premature infants to adults through the age of 103 years with varied disabilities and levels of functioning.  She has conducted research on the effect of music on premature infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at the Cleveland Clinic and on music therapy program goals and outcomes for clients with autism spectrum diagnoses at The Music Settlement.  Her special interests are young children and individuals with diagnoses on the autism spectrum, language delays and/or problems in the area of social skills, as well as teen parents or those with mental illness. She has supervised many music therapy interns at The Music Settlement and was instrumental in developing the department’s Outcomes-Based Measurement tool and program.  She served as Interim Co-Executive Director of The Music Settlement and as Acting Director of the Performing Arts Department/Music School for several months in 2007. Ronna also taught Music Therapy Practicum and Adapted Percussion classes part-time at Baldwin-Wallace College for 14 years.  

Kim Bell is a music therapist at Children's Hospital in New Orleans, LA and an Information Specialist for the American Music Therapy Association. She is trained in NICU Music Therapy, Infant Massage, and Neurologic Music Therapy.

Natasha Thomas is a graduate of the University of North Dakota (MS, Special Education, BM Music Therapy, BA Honors Program) & Board Certified Music Therapist, serving individuals statewide through North Dakota Vision Services/School for the Blind (NDVS/SB) and ND School for the Deaf, in addition to private clients she sees in the home and in settings like LISTEN Day Services and the LISTEN Drop-In Center. Natasha is also a member of the American Music Therapy Association and regularly attends their annual conferences. She enjoys educating her community on Music Therapy, supervising UND practica students, and teaching/performing Middle Eastern Dance in her spare time (when she has it!) Her twitter handle is @MusicMovesND. You can email her at Natasha.MTBC@gmail.com

Kate Taylor has practiced as a board certified music therapist (MT-BC) since 1999 and holds a Master of Arts in Music Therapy. Kate has been trained as a birth assistant or “doula” since 2007. Kate runs an agency called Music Therapy 4 Me and she is the founder of Creative Childbirth Concepts.  Through her private practice, Kate offers professional labor support and music therapy for childbirth.  Her advanced clinical training includes level I Guided Imagery and Music (GIM), improvisation, hospice music therapy and water birthing.  Kate draws upon her knowledge of the birth process and her experience co-treating with creative arts therapists to develop innovative curriculum for expectant parents. Her work includes the use of music therapy in pre-natal and post-partum care as well as music therapy during childbirth.  Kate is uniquely qualified to guide couples through childbirth and has implemented music therapy at nearly a dozen hospital and home births.  Ms. Taylor has presented her work at music therapy conferences and international conferences on parenting.  Kate is interested in connecting with other birth professionals and developing new research in music therapy assisted childbirth.  Please reach out to her to share your experiences and ideas.  Contact Kate Taylor at mymusictherapist@gmail.com or visit www.musictherapy4me.com for more information about her music therapy and doula services. Follow her facebook page Creative Childbirth Concepts  https://www.facebook.com/CreativeChildbirthConcepts