AMTA Launches Executive Director | General News

The American Music Therapy Association seeks an engaging and transformational Executive Director to lead this nearly 4,000 member association that is committed to the advancement of education, training, professional standards and advocacy, and research in support of the music therapy profession.

American Music Therapy Association (AMTA) traces its roots to two organizations, founded in 1950 and 1971 respectively, that came together to establish AMTA in 1998. Representing over 7,700 board certified music therapists and music therapy students, along with corporate members and related associations worldwide, AMTA is committed to the advancement of education, training, professional standards, and research in support of the music therapy profession.

AMTA conducts a wide variety of projects and programs to fulfill its mission to advance public awareness of the benefits of music therapy and increase access to quality music therapy services in a rapidly changing world. Projects and programs include:

Public

Education:

AMTA provides therapists, professionals, and consumers with materials, research reports, and technical assistance in support of quality music therapy services. AMTA Artist Spokespersons, such as Renée Fleming and Robin Spielberg, contribute to outreach that helps advance the music therapy profession.

Research: AMTA seeks to advance research, theory, and practice in music therapy through the dissemination of scholarly work. AMTA provides a number of research publications, including two peer-reviewed journals, the Journal of Music Therapy and Music Therapy Perspectives. AMTA monitors the status of music therapy research, including recommendations for future research, through its strategic priority on research called “Music Therapy Research 2025” (MTR
2025).

Advocacy: AMTA strives to ensure those who may benefit from music therapy services are able to receive them through its federal, state, and local advocacy and government relations efforts.

Partnerships: By partnering with government agencies like the National Institutes of Health, the National Endowment for the Arts, numerous disability and education organizations, and like-minded allied health associations, AMTA successfully promotes the importance of music therapy in many arenas.

Conferences:AMTA presents a national educational conference each fall, attracting some 1,500 attendees. The conference features over 250 events, including: 150 workshops and lectures on state-of-the-art music therapy practice; over 30 continuing education opportunities; in-depth research sessions; 70 meetings to conduct association business and encourage professional networking; an ever-expanding exhibit hall with over 80 booths; and signature events featuring drum circles, chant circles, and performances by guest artists.

Regional conferences are held in the spring of each year.

Education and Training: AMTA establishes criteria for the education and clinical training of music therapists. Members of AMTA adhere to a Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice in their delivery of music therapy services. Over 80 academic training programs in music therapy are approved by AMTA at the bachelor’s and master’s levels. Doctoral studies are also available.

Technical Assistance and Professional Development: AMTA assists members in accessing and providing quality music therapy services to children and adults in a wide variety of settings through a variety of mechanisms including, but not limited to, a catalog of online continuing education offerings, expert consultations to professionals and stakeholders, and an array of active and productive association committees and special topic work groups.

Governed by a 16-member Board of Directors, which consists of elected and appointed officers, AMTA organizes its membership by seven regions across the United States plus international members. Policies are set by an Assembly of Delegates consisting of representatives from each region. With national headquarters in Silver Spring, MD, AMTA has a staff of 10 complemented by a host of consultants, and an annual operating budget of $1.8M funded through annual membership dues,…