Here is the summer edition of your MAR-AMTA newsletter, Tuning In to Rx Music. In this edition, you will find reports from appointed officers of the MAR-AMTA Executive Board.

So please enjoy your summer read and...thanks for Tuning In to Rx Music!

As always, feel free to give newsletter feedback by emailing:

editor@maramta.org

assistanteditor@maramta.org

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In Memoriam



Reports

President

President-Elect

Immediate Past President

CoreValues Committee

Vice President for Membership

Public Relations Chair

Government Relations

International Relations Committee

Vice President for Conference Planning

MAR Assembly Chair

Student Affairs

Professional Advocacy

Continuing Education

Research Committee

Howard University, founded in 1867, is the only HBCU with a music therapy program within the MAR! The music program started at the school in 1870, and as of 2021 has been renamed as Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts in honor of the great alumnus. Follow this link to learn more about the rich history of the School of Music at Howard University: https://music.howard.edu/about

MAR-AMTA wants to take time to help raise awareness of and provide support to this impressive and innovative Music Therapy program. Join us in spreading the word about this program and consider providing support via donations through the links below: 

Black Music Therapy Network Student Scholarship fund - Donations collected are used to fund scholarships through the BMTN that can be awarded to music therapy students at Howard that apply: https://www.blackmtnetwork.org/donations-center

Other Support for Howard University MTs- Howard University has identified a need for support from the music therapy community with clinical placements, networking/mentorship for students, guests lecturers, and mentorship/support for faculty. Please fill out this Google Form to indicate any support you are able to provide in these areas: https://forms.gle/39mxLNp6MkKDmesN9

If you are interested in learning about other ways to support students and Howard University, please reach out to Jasmine Edwards at Jasmine.edwards1@howard.edu or PR Chair Cheyenna Eagle at Publicrelations@maramta.org

In Memoriam

The Western New York music therapy community is mourning the loss of 29-year-old Sara Rogers, who was killed in a tragic accident in Buffalo, NY on June 17th, 2022. Sara was an extraordinary music therapist, musician, and human being who touched the lives of countless people in her short life. 

Sara graduated from Nazareth College in 2015 where she received the Excellence in Music Therapy Award and the Raymond Shiner Jazz Award. After her internship at Mary Cariola Children’s Center, Sara returned to her hometown of Buffalo, where she worked as a music therapist at numerous agencies, including Our Lady of Victory Human Services, Baker Victory Services, The Community Music School of Buffalo, Liberty POST and Buffalo Niagara Music Therapy Services. While she worked with people of all ages, Sara’s vibrant personality and ability to connect with anyone made her a natural fit for working with children, who loved her as much as she loved them. This ability was recently on display as she worked with children impacted by the tragic mass shooting in Buffalo. Because she was such a gifted musician, creating original music or authentic recreations to meet her clients’ needs came naturally to Sara, which can be seen on her YouTube channel.

Sara was also an accomplished and respected performing jazz musician, playing guitar, trumpet, and singing with countless groups in the Buffalo and Rochester communities including her duo Girl Crush. Her loss will also be felt greatly in this circle. 

We send our condolences to all of Sara’s family, her partner, her friends, and the many clients and families who are processing her loss. For more about Sara’s legacy and impact on her community, see this article. 

Hello MAR Community,

I hope you are all finding joy and care this summer. There has been tremendous stress as our country and communities continue to experience gun violence, police brutality, and attacks on human rights. As therapists, it can feel two fold as we have our personal experience and then hold space in sessions for the clients to process how they experience it. I hope you can make space to take care of yourselves whether it’s making your own music, getting into nature, engaging in activism, being in community, or whatever works for you.

The Constitution and Bylaws Committee is in the early stages of combining both documents into one for your review. Thanks to Donna Polen for spearheading this project! We’ll be meeting as a group soon to look at that process as well as processes for the critical discourse analysis and plain language summaries. Welcome to the new MARAMATS parliamentarian, Elise Kohler. We look forward to working with you!

Thank you to all who attended our space for exchanging support related to mass shootings and gun violence. I personally benefited from being in that space with you all.

I have attended two national AMTA meetings- one for regional leaders and one for the assembly of delegates. I honestly don’t know what to say or even quite how I feel about it all, especially since things are changing so fast and only so much information is concrete or can be shared with us. Nonetheless, I wanted to share that it is on my mind and that I am grateful to all who are working to make the radical changes that are necessary to have an association that safely and ethically supports the music therapy community and the clients and their families.

Wishing you Justice and Peace,

Audrey Hausig, MMT, MT-BC President Elect

Dear MAR music therapy community,

We recently had a Town Hall meeting on July 18, 2022 to discuss AMTA’s current status in light of the recent changes to leadership. The recording of this meeting will be available on the MAR-AMTA website in the near future.

We will continue to schedule future meetings so that we can hear your perspectives!

Sincerely,

Clarissa Lacson, MA, MT-BC

VP for Membership

Public Relations Chair Report

Cheyenna Eagle, MT-BC

Happy Summer, MAR-AMTA! 

MAR has been trying to maintain a frequently updated online presence to ensure clear communication and accessibility of information about our region. Our social media pages and visits to our website have been growing slowly steadily, but if you have not already, I invite you to join our Facebook Group or like our page and follow us on Twitter (@MARAMTA) and Instagram (@MARMusicTherapy) to make sure you always know what’s going on in our region! 

I have continued to work with our Webmaster, Joseph Madejski, to keep our website looking fresh! I encourage you to check out the updates that have been made and to let us know your thoughts! Our goal is to make the website the most beneficial, and functional, it can be for our community, so if there are changes and improvements you would like to see, or if you ever run into any issues, please do not hesitate to contact the webmaster (webmaster@maramta.org) or myself (publicrelations@maramta.org).

I want to highlight some of the changes we have made to the website, specifically our News Section. On the website, our News section is frequently updated to highlight any MAR Events, the MARAMTA Newsletter, and any major updates from AMTA. We also have the new option to submit MAR related news that you would like highlighted on the website through this form. Under the Events tab, you will be able to find any upcoming MAR hosted Events including conference updates, meeting announcements, and more! Our newest addition to the News section is the “AMTA Financial Updates” page. We want to make sure updates from AMTA regarding their status are available to everyone as quickly as possible. Any major updates directly from AMTA or MARAMTA’s responses will be posted on this page as soon as possible. Go check out what’s been going on in MAR!

That is all for now from Public Relations! A quick reminder that if there is ever anything that we as a board can do to better support you, please let us know. Thank you!

Cheyenna Eagle, MT-BC, NMT

Chey- (She/her/hers) 

MAR-AMTA Public Relations Chair 

Website: MAR-AMTA.org

Twitter: @MARAMTA

Instagram: MARMusicTherapy

Facebook: Mid-Atlantic Region of the American Music Therapy association

Regional Updates:

*Licensure Achieved (in hand or in the process of writing regulations) 

o   DESTF (Chair: Gina Greeson) 

•   Currently recruiting co-chair. If anyone is interested in serving, please contact Stephenie Sofield (governmentrelations@maramta.org) or Tatyana Martin (governmentrelationselect@maramta.org).
• No current activities.

o   MDSTF* (Co-Chairs: Tatyana Martin, Elizabeth Smith) 

    Licensure:

•     Licensed Professional Music Therapist (LPMTs) Running Total in State: 121, as a result of the SB 82 the music therapy licensure went into law June 1, 2021!
•   Effective January 1, 2022 all Music Therapists need to obtain licensure in order to practice within the state. Deadline for applications was extended through April 20th, 2022 for all practicing Music Therapists. If you have not applied, please contact the MDSTF at mdstate.task.force@gmail.com

o   NJSTF* (Chair: Paula Unsal) 

• It is with sadness that NJSTF shares with you the following notice from the Drama and Dance/Movement Therapies Task Force on the loss of Brooke Campbell, one of the drama therapist members on the New Jersey State Board of Creative Arts and Activities Therapies. The NJSTF and MAR GR hold Brooke’s family close to our hearts at this time. https://www.mountlaurelfuneralhome.com/memorials/brooke-campbell/4969665/#details

o   NYSTF (Chair: Donna Polen) 

•  Recent activity: Submitted several proposed revisions to our licensing bill which were completed by bill drafting and approved by our bill sponsors; these revisions included:
•        Addition of language negotiated between AMTA, CBMT and ASHA clarifying scopes of practice between music therapy and speech therapy.
•      Removal of references to the National Music Therapy Registry, which ended on 1/1/2020
•   Removal of ADHD and ASD from the list of “serious mental illness”

Continuously monitoring LCAT activities, as well as legislation that affects LCATs

o   PASTF (Co-Chairs: Michelle Muth and Nicole Hahna) 

•        PASTF is currently planning two fall Hill Days! Stay tuned for more information.
•       Phase 2 (Southwest region) of the Statewide Music Therapy Initiative for Health Care Workers is under way. This is a collaboration with the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, The Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania (HAP) and the Pennsylvania Music Therapy Task Force. This 500,000 grant is the first ever; statewide initiative that is being rolled out in 3 phases. It is also the largest grant the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts has ever given and largest funding initiative to date for music therapy in the USA. For more information see: https://www.haponline.org/Public-Health/Nurturing-Health-Communities/Music-Therapy

o   VASTF* (Chairs: Shelby Reynolds) 

•  VASTF is meeting regularly with the MAR and national GR teams for guidance with decisions regarding regulation writing and reimbursement.
•    The members of Advisory Board of Music Therapy have been posted to the Virginia board of social work page: https://www.dhp.virginia.gov/social/social_board.htm.
•  The VASTF is in correspondence with the regional and national teams to review drafted recommendations for regulation.
•      Thank You Tracy Bowdish for your amazing service on the VASTF! Tracy has stepped down from Co-chair and we wish her the best!

o    WVSTF (Chair: Nancy Marmorella) 

• Nancy Marmorella is the new WVSTF chair! We are excited to work with her and national to revitalize the work in WV.

A lovely summer’s day to fellow music therapists from the Mid-Atlantic Region. MAR-AMTA President Bob Miller informed me last August 3, 2021, that I was appointed by the Board as MAR-AMTA International Relations Committee (IRC) representative. Consequently, I’ve had the privilege of attending various online IRC meetings and virtual global sessions since then. My name is Arlene Manso Witt, MT-BC, LCAT. I graduated from New York University’s master’s in music therapy program. I have 20 years of music therapy clinical experience.

I have presented in 3 WFMT music therapy international congresses at Oxford, UK; Jyvaskaala, Finland; and Buenos Aires, Argentina. There is always an added element of cultural surprise and excitement in international conferences. I encourage everyone to participate when the opportunity presents itself. 

Here is a recap of AMTA-IRC activities:

•  August 2021 

            Upon request by Yu-Ling Chen and Erin Haley, co-chairs of the International Relations Committee, I reviewed six Global Perspective Summit (GPS) submissions to the AMTA GPS conference scheduled for October 2021. 

• Pre-conference meeting October 11, 2021

           I attended the AMTA-IRC pre-conference meeting with other IRC members. It was my first time to virtually meet the other IRC members and co-chairs. It is always so engaging to meet new colleagues.

• Oct. 16, 2021 AMTA-International Relations Committee (IRC) Global Perspectives Sessions’ Online Conference    

        I attended the AMTA-IRC Global Perspective Sessions’ online conference on October 16th, 2021. I was assigned as one of two proctors, with the two co-chairs spearheading the event. The GPS conference was culturally enriching and well attended. There were presenters from Taiwan, Malaysia, and the US.  It was attended by WFMT members as well. The Taiwanese, Indonesian and Malaysian music therapists were streaming live between 11 pm to 3 am because of their respective international time zones. Kudos to the contributions of our music therapy colleagues locally and internationally from different time zones!

• March 7, 2022 pre-Round table discussion 

           The IRC met on March 7, 2022, to discuss plans for a Round Table Discussion on networking and relevant topics for international music therapy students and music therapy professionals. 

A statement from IRC regarding Ukraine was also drafted.  Yu-Ling Chen, one of the IRC co-chairs, attended the WFMT Special Webinar on Ukraine. 

• April 2022,  Brainstorming session re: IRC & DEI

          I attended a brainstorming session/meeting in April 2022 to discuss the role of the IRC vis-à-vis  the DEI, with Yu-Ling, IRC co-chair and Eva Yuvich, AMTA-IRC Rep from the New England Region.

•    May 21st, 2022, Online International Roundtable Discussion hosted by the IRC-AMTA.

             I attended an international virtual roundtable discussion hosted by the International Relations Committee (IRC-AMTA). There were 53 registrants for this event. The discussion focused on “Cultural Adjustment and Readjustment” and discussed collaborations between international music therapy students and MT professionals.  International panelists composed of Music Therapists in Singapore, India, and Indonesia, shared their experiences of navigating cultural differences as well as the challenges of returning to their countries of origin and integrating music therapy practice into their home culture. The excellent panel of international music therapy students trained in graduate programs in the US and the UK. The roundtable discussion was indeed well attended by students and professionals despite the 12 hour-time difference and illustrates the commitment of global and local music therapists. This was an excellent opportunity for MT professionals both nationally and internationally and international music therapy students in the US to engage in online dialogue regarding certain complex issues and challenges of “Cultural Adjustment and Readjustment.”

Once again, kudos to our international MT participants for streaming live from various global locations.

• The IRC will be meeting this summer to discuss the Global Perspectives Sessions for the WRAMTA event in 2022.

Thank you everyone for reading and have a lovely music-filled summer!

Arlene Manso Witt,  MA, MT-BC, LCAT

MAR-AMTA International Relations Committee (IRC) Rep

Hello MAR-AMTA! The Vice-Presidents for Conference Planning are so excited to be having yet another conference in-person for our incredible region in Niagara Falls, NY! The 2023 “Call for Papers” for our conference is officially open, and information for submitting a proposal is below! If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Timothy Doak, VPCP at his email address below. Thank you all and we look forward to receiving your proposals and hosting you IN PERSON in 2023!! 

● Our conference will be held March 9th-11th, 2023 IN PERSON at the The Conference & Event Center of Niagara Falls (101 Old Falls Street, Niagara Falls NY, 14303). 

● The “Call for Papers” is OPEN and we will only accept online submissions

● Before filling out the online form, please review the following documents: 

•  The 2023 Conference Proposal Review Information provides information on items that reviewers will be paying attention to, and provides more information on the proposal question related to diversity, equity, and inclusion. 
• The 2023 Call For Papers PDF is a document that includes all of the questions so you can have a hard copy to refer to. Please DO NOT use this to turn in your call for papers. It must be submitted electronically through the link below. You may use this document for preparing to submit your proposal.

The Mid-Atlantic Region of the American Music Therapy Association seeks to acknowledge and repair the oppressive structures placed upon our historically marginalized music therapy colleagues and students. With this in mind, we are providing compensation in the form of free conference registration for historically marginalized music therapy members. We recognize the emotional labor required in both constructing and presenting these sessions. To receive this free conference registration:

• Individuals must be from a historically marginalized community (e.g. Asian, Black, Disabled, Indigenous, Latinx, LGBTQIA2+, North African, South-West Asian). 
• MAR-AMTA recognizes Affinity Groups as those who represent historically marginalized and oppressed community members. 
• Individuals must submit their presentation within the “Call for Papers” call period.
• Presentations must undergo the anonymous review process and receive a passing score
• In the “Call for Papers,” individuals must select “yes” in the corresponding section for this compensation. 
• The Vice-President for Conference Planning will have sole access to this identifying information and will not question or police individuals identity.

PROPOSAL DEADLINES:

SEPTEMBER 1st, 2022 (by 11:59pm): $35.00 registration discount 

SEPTEMBER 15th, 2022 (by 11:59pm): $25.00 registration discount

OCTOBER 1st, 2022 (by 11:59pm): Final submission deadline. (No registration discount.)

(Discounts are for concurrent sessions ONLY. Both CMTE’s and Pre-Conference Institutes receive a stipend)  

Last but not least, please follow THIS LINK to submit your proposal. We are excited for your submissions and hope to host you in Niagara Falls, NY March 9th-11th, 2023!

Please also be checking your emails and social media for announcements about an exciting opportunity in the fall presented by the MAR-AMTA Conference Planners and Executive Board! More information will be coming soon! 

If you have any questions please contact Timothy Doak at vpconferenceplanning@maramta.org.

In service,

Timothy Doak, MS, LCAT, MT-BC Vice-President of Conference Planning MAR-AMTA

vpconferenceplanning@maramta.org

Ian Vereen, MA, MT-BC, NMT

Vice-President Elect of Conference Planning MAR-AMTA vpconferenceplanningelect@maramta.org

AMTA Assembly of Delegates Updates

The first meeting of the 2022-2023 AMTA Assembly of Delegates was held on June 20, 2022. One of our own Alternates, Mary Claire Holliday, served as Recording Secretary, and MAR member Barb MacLean served as Parliamentarian. The meeting lasted a little over two hours. 

One of the main items of business in this meeting was the approval of the meeting minutes from all of the fall 2021 meetings of the 2020-2021 Assembly (9/21/21, 10/12/21, 10/20/21, and 11/17/21) and the 11/10/21 meeting of the 2022-2023 Assembly-Elect. Speaker Brian Jantz and Assistant Speaker Spencer Hardy are committed to getting Assembly meeting minutes approved more quickly than in the past and having them posted on the AMTA website.

Following the Speaker’s Report, which highlighted the important work of the Regional Presidents, brief updates were provided regarding planning for alternative ideas for online continuing education opportunities in lieu of the annual AMTA conference in additional to updates from the Council Coordinators on the work of the national standing committees, all of which continue to work during this time of change in the Association.

AMTA President-Elect Angie Snell provided a brief report to affirm that the AMTA Bylaws are still in effect. She encouraged all Delegates, Alternates, and others to familiarize themselves with the Bylaws on the AMTA website (https://www.musictherapy.org/members/bylaws/) with the understanding that revisions will likely be part of the restructuring process.

The majority of the meeting time was spent receiving a report and updates from AMTA President Lori Gooding, including a timeline of work that is being implemented through the end of the year as the AMTA Board of Directors focuses on achieving financial stability for the Association.

The Assembly will be meeting again in the fall, dates TBD.

Feel free to reach out to any MAR Assembly representative with questions. You can find us here: 

http://mar-amta.org/about/committees/assembly-of-delegates/ 

Greetings everyone!

My name is Christina Mihalik from Nazareth College and it is my honor to serve as this year’s MAR-AMTS Vice President! I am excited to be working with all of the amazing professionals and students throughout our dedicated region.

Join me in warmly welcoming our newly elected MAR-AMTS executive board. We are currently setting a date for our summer business meeting part two. 

Please welcome the following MAR-AMTS executive board members:

President: Dana Shafranek, Montclair State University

President-Elect: Nina DeMilta, Nazareth College

Secretary: Anaya Baptiste, Roberts Wesleyan College 

Treasurer: Katelyn VanLanen, Marywood University 

Government Relations: Zacharia Arsalane, Temple University

Parliamentarian: Elise Kohler, Montclair State University 

Public Relations: Nazarene Campodonico, Nazareth College

Historian: Nicole Pinnella, Elizabethtown College 

Student Affairs Advisor: Meghan Smith, MT-BC

We are excited to announce that the annual Passages Conference is once again in the midst of being planned for this fall. Stay tuned for more information. 

Feel free to contact me with any questions or comments and please follow MAR-AMTS on social media.

Best,

Christina Mihalik (she/her)

MAR-AMTS Vice President

maramtsvp@maramta.org 

The Professional Advocacy Committee continues to work in the region to better advocate for the profession. Since my last report, Leslie Henry has been appointed as Council Coordinator for Professional Practice. The combination of Tracy Wanamaker and Leslie Henry was a huge help to me as I came into this role.Leslie will be missed and we are so glad that she continues to offer her knowledge, heart and expertise to support AMTA, particularly during this challenging time. I am excited for Leslie and grateful for all she does and has done to support AMTA. I am very pleased to announce that Maggie Connors of Vermont and the New England region is now co-chair with Tracy. I look forward, with excitement, to working more with Maggie and seeing Tracy and Maggie guide the committee.

In these uncertain times with AMTA, I want to assure you that the Professional Advocacy Committee continues to move forward to advocate for music therapy and empower music therapists in navigating some of the challenging “music therapy advocacy” circumstances we encounter in our daily lives. We are working on a few projects including the PAC Facebook group and are always seeking opportunities to present on advocacy in the region. If you are seeking resources for presenting on advocacy or someone to speak on advocacy to your students, MT professionals, please feel free to contact me as the MAR regional Representative.

To see more of what the Professional Advocacy Committee is doing check out the Facebook group. This is a private group so you will need to request to join.

Thank you for the honor to serve the region in this capacity

Michelle Muth, MT-BC

MAR Professional Advocacy representative to the Mid-Atlantic Region

professionaladvocacyrep@maramta.org

Hello everyone!

I hope you are having a wonderful summer, enjoying the beautiful weather, and getting in at least a little time to relax. While I have no new report at this time, I just wanted to remind everyone that if you have an interest in presenting a CMTE at any point during the year, please check out the MAR-AMTA website under “Continuing Ed.” for all the details on how to host a course. Forms and frequently asked questions are included in the same section, but always please feel free to reach out if there is anything else you need. I am happy to help!

Also, as a point of clarification, if you watched the videos of the latest regional conference and took note of the codes edited into the videos, you may simply list those codes on your renewal application for CBMT.   When you log into your account and start a renewal application, under “Workshops/Courses/Conferences/Independent Learning, you will be able to click on “add” and select “concurrent sessions” from the drop-down menu. It will then prompt you to add the code that you heard listed in the video. The codes do not need to also be sent to me as I do not issue a certificate for each individual session. However, if for some reason you have trouble accessing your certificate of attendance for the conference or have other questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at continuingeducation@maramta.org.

Respectfully submitted,

Mary Claire Holliday, MS, LCAT, MT-BC

Membership

Gene Ann Behrens, PhD, MT-BC has stepped off the research committee.  She has been on the committee since its inception serving as a member and as chair.  Gene worked tirelessly on the research poster session, and created all the forms the committee uses to evaluate the research posters and grant applications. Her wisdom and expertise will be missed!  We also need to thank Shawna Vernisie for her dedicated service to the research committee.  She helped to prepare the research grant applications for blind review, and worked with the awardees to make sure they received their grants.  We also welcomed new members Kendra Ray, PhD, MT-BC, and Thomas Biglin, Jr., MA, LCAT, MT-BC

MAR Research Grant Awardees 2022

This year we awarded two MAR members research grants. We congratulate Meng-Shan Lee, MT-BC for her research study “The Effects Of A Song-Based Intervention On Psychosocial Factors In Dyads Including Adults Who Have Had Acquired Brain Injuries Or Spinal Cord Injuries And Their Caregivers” and Heeyoun K. Choi, PhD, for her research study “The Effectiveness of Music-Based Interventions on College Students’ Stress Management.” We look forward to hearing about the results of their respective studies at the 2023 MAR Conference.

2022 Research Track at the MAR Conference in Harrisburg, PA

Keeping with tradition, the research committee sponsored 5 concurrent sessions including the research poster session, presentation by Jing-Wen Zhang, the 2021 MAR Research Grant Recipient, and 3 sessions on diversity, equity and inclusion issues in music therapy research. These sessions focused on centering hidden voices, the importance of justice in research design, participant selection, and availability of effect music therapy treatments, and the importance of language used in recruiting, consent forms, and writing research reports.  We plan to continue with this theme in the 2023 research track, with more opportunities for discussions among participants.