Michigan Music Therapists

Important Call to Action

Dear Michigan Board Certified Music Therapist,

We are contacting you in anticipation of a Call to Action regarding legislation that could affect insurance coverage/services for music therapy in Michigan for those on the autism spectrum.  In an effort to prepare for possible quick action on this issue, we are asking you to please email the names of your State Representative and State Senator to the following:

gregjs@att.net Please put MI Legislator in the subject box.

If you aren’t sure who they are, you can easily find them by doing the following:

Go to www.michigan.gov

Scroll down to the bottom of the page

Click on “Find Your Representative” or “Find Your Senator”

Type in your address and your Legislator’s information will be displayed.

If you are interested in looking at the bills we are working on, they are HB4604 and HB4605 and SB 414 and SB415.  We are hoping to lobby the legislators to change some of the language in the bills to include music therapy.  Even if you do not work with clients who have ASD, please send the information back to us so that we can build our database and be prepared when issues arise.

Thank you for your prompt response in this matter.

Sincerely,

Susan E. Gregory, MMT Government Relations Chairperson

MMT Task Force Members

Michigan music therapists feature – GLR Conference (April 2012)

Dear Music Therapy Colleagues,

The 2012 Great Lakes Region Music Therapy Conference is just over 2 months away. We would like to recognize and feature all of our wonderful Michigan music therapists at the conference luncheon on Saturday, April 14. In order to do this, we need your help.

Please email a few of your favorite music therapy pictures to alisha.snyder@gmail.com. We’d also like to know the name of your facility or where you work, the populations that you serve, how many clients you see, and any special features of your music therapy program. If you are sending pictures that include clients, please be sure that you have permission to use the picture for promotional purposes. We will not include names of clients, only music therapists.

These pictures will be put together in a slideshow that will be shown at the luncheon, and possibly at the registration table. Please take a few minutes and add to our celebration of music therapy and all of the hard work that we do. We would like all responses sent by March 31, 2012.

For more information about the conference, check the conference website at www.glr2012.org. Keep an eye out for the registration brochure– coming soon! If you have any questions, feel free to send me an email.

Thanks for taking the time to do this, and for all of the work that you do!!!

2012 AMTA National Conference – October 11-14, 2012

Changing Winds: Innovation in Music Therapy

http://www.musictherapy.org/events/amta_2012_conference_changing_winds_innovation_in_music_therapy/

Pheasant Run Resort
4051 East Main Street
St. Charles, IL, 60174-9854
800-474-3272

2012 AMTA CALL FOR PAPERS

Music Therapy Social Media Link-Up

Great list of music therapy bloggers, editors, and podcasters…

Adventures in Multicultural and Bilingual Music Therapy (blogger: Christina Stock) http://terapistamusica.blogspot.com/

All Things Healing: Music Therapy & Sound Healing (editor: Bernice Chu) http://www.allthingshealing.com/music-therapy-information-blog-articles.php

Beyond the Music (blogger: Michelle Strutzel) http://beyondthemusicmt.blogspot.com/

Bill Matney (blogger: Bill Matney) http://billmatney.com/home.htm

CT Music Therapy (blogger: Jennifer Sokira) http://ctmusictherapy.com/wordpress/our-blog/

Developing Melodies (blogger: Meryl Brown) http://developingmelodies.com/

Developmental Community Music (blogger: Kalani) http://playsinglaugh.com/

Dr. John Carpente’s Music & Child Development Blog (blogger: John Carpente) http://drjohnmtbc.wordpress.com/

Greenlight Public Relations (blogger: Jim Ernst) http://greenlightpublicrelations.com/

Judith Pinkerton (blogger: Judith Pinkerton) http://judithpinkerton.com/

Key Changes Music Therapy (blogger: Natalie Mullis) http://www.keychangesmusictherapy.com/

Listen & Learn Music (blogger: Rachel Rambach) http://listenlearnmusic.com/

MTI in the ATL (blogger: Andrew Littlefield) http://mtiintheatl.blogspot.com/

Mundana Music Therapy (bloggers: Megan Resig and Kimberly Thompson) http://mundanamusictherapy.com/blog/

Music 4 Life Podcast (host: Judith Pinkerton) http://www.alltalkradio.net/music4life.htm

Music Makes Sense (blogger: Daniel Tague) http://musicmakessense.blogspot.com/

Music Matters (blogger: Kate Legge) http://musicmatterstherapy.blogspot.com/

Music Moves (blogger: Natasha Thomas) http://musicmoves.areavoices.com/

Music Sparks (blogger: JoAnn Jordan) http://musicsparks.wordpress.com/

Music Therapy Drumming (bloggers: Bill Matney and Mike Marcionetti) http://musictherapydrumming.com/

Music Therapy = Love (blogger: Ashley Lundquist) http://musictherapyequalslove.blogspot.com/

Music Therapy Maven (blogger: Kimberly Sena Moore) http://www.musictherapymaven.com/

Music Therapy Research Blog podcast (co-hosts: Blythe LaGasee and Andrew Knight) http://www.musictherapyresearchblog.com/

Music Therapy Round Table podcast (co-hosts: Michelle Erfurt, Rachel Rambach, Kimberly Sena Moore) http://www.musictherapyroundtable.com/

Music Therapy Services of Austin (blogger: Rachel See Smith) http://musictherapyservices.net/

Music Therapy Source (blogger: Matt Logan) http://www.musictherapysource.com/

Music Therapy Tween (blogger: Michelle Erfurt) http://musictherapytween.com/

Musical Gems (blogger: JoAnn Jordan) http://musicalgems.wordpress.com/

Musically Thinking (blogger: Megumi Azekawa) http://musicallythinking.wordpress.com/

Prelude Music Therapy (blogger: Annie Walljasper) http://preludemt.blogspot.com/

Rhythm For Good (blogger: Kat Fulton) http://www.rhythmforgood.com/

Soundscape Music Therapy (blogger: Rachelle Norman) http://soundscapemusictherapy.com/posts/

The Eclectic Guitar (blogger: Sara Sendlbeck) http://theeclecticguitar.com/

The Groovy Garfoose (blogger: Bonnie Hayhurst) http://groovygarfoose.com/

The Mindful Music Therapist (blogger: Roia Rafieyan) http://mindfulmusictherapist.blogspot.com/

The Music From Within (blogger: Dean Quick) http://themusicfromwithin.wordpress.com/

The Music Therapy Show with Janice Lindstrom (host: Janice Lindstrom) http://themusictherapyshow.blogspot.com/

The Musical Autist (blogger: CJ Diachenko) http://www.themusicalautist.org/

The Rhythmic Mind (blogger: Stephanie Kuester) http://therhythmicmind.wordpress.com/

Time for Music (blogger: Wade Richards) http://www.timeformusic.org/blog-beat/

Maxim Healthcare Contract – Grand Rapids, MI

Maxim healthcare out of Grand Rapids, MI is looking for a Music Therapist to work in a correctional setting full time. The contract is guaranteed to be at least six months long. Once the six months is up, there is an opportunity to become fulltime thru the prison based on performance during the contract. All interested candidates please email your resumes tograndrapidsstaffing@maxhealth.com or call 616-285-5460.

Ryan “Sully” Sullivan
Maxim Staffing Solutions
Ph: 616-285-5460 Fax: 866-941-7507
2627 E. Beltline Ave., Suite 220
Grand Rapids, MI 49546
rysulliv@maxhealth.com

Music Therapy Clinical Supervision – EMU, February 4, 2012

The Music Therapy Program at Eastern Michigan University is Pleased to Announce…

Celebrating 35 Years of Music Therapy at Eastern Michigan University
Music Therapy Clinical Supervision: Best Practices
Theresa (Terra) Merrill, PhD, MT-BC,
Fellow of the Association for Music & Imagery

Saturday, February 4, 2012 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Music Therapy Center, Alexander Music Building :: Eastern Michigan University

On Saturday, February 4, 2011 Dr. Theresa (Terra) Merrill, music therapist and assistant professor of music therapy at Eastern Michigan University presents a workshop, An Introduction to Music Therapy Clinical Supervision: Best Practices. Dr. Merrill over 20 years of clinical experience in Elder Care, End of Life Care, Treatment of Parkinson’s Disease and Music Psychotherapy. She has been a music therapy educator for ten years. Dr. Merrill came to Eastern Michigan University from Marylhurst University near Portland, Oregon where she was the clinical director for six years. While there, she was awarded several grants for her Creative Arts Day Camp for Children with Special Needs – an interdisciplinary and inter-arts endeavor, serving the greater Portland areafamilies of children with special needs. Her research interests include inquiries into best practices in music therapy education and supervision, feminist and cultural issues in music therapy, and ethics. Her workshops on clinical supervision have been supported and adopted by the Canadian Association for Music Therapy, Canadian Therapeutic Recreation Association, Marylhurst University and Utah State University.

MT-BC needed in Novi, MI

Music Therapy Position Available Renaissance Gardens at Fox Run in Novi, MI

The board-certified music therapist (MT-BC) is responsible for planning, implementing, and evaluating the music therapy program at Renaissance Gardens at Fox Run, a division of Ericson Living in Novi, MI.  The MT-BC provides direct and indirect resident service as a certified practitioner and serves as the resident clinician in monitoring and guiding all intentional uses of music therapy within the organization.  Demonstrate problem solving and decision making abilities. Knowledge of principles, concepts and methodology of alternative therapy appropriate for older adults, with and without memory loss. Excellent communication skills both verbal and written. The music therapist must demonstrate the ability to work well with a multidisciplinary team, and the ability to develop and maintain rapport with the client and family. The central purpose/goal of the position is to provide the intentional and compassionate utilization of music to restore, maintain and improve the mental, physical, emotional and spiritual health of patients.

Interested applicants should be board certified and have experience working with older adults with cognitive loss.

Contact person is Kelly Garland, MT-BC. Questions and resumes are to be emailed to Ms. Garland at acc_kgarland@emich.edu.

Presentation opportunities via Wayne State

Compiling list of Credentialed Music Therapists Speakers for Wayne State Institute of Gerontology

I am in the process of compiling information to present to Donna Mac Donald, Director of Community Outreach and Professional Development with the Wayne State University Institute of Gerontology.  As part of this information, I would like to provide her with a listing of local, credentialed music therapists who work in the field of dementia/gerontology who would be interested in presenting on music therapy with the elderly.  Donna indicated that she was aware of music therapy and would be interested in incorporating credentialed music therapy speakers as a part of Wayne State’s ongoing community outreach and education program. To date, Wayne State has been presenting the use of recreational music with the elderly via a layperson who sings and plays the guitar.

If anyone is interested in having her or his name included on a music therapy speakers listing which will be given to Donna MacDonald, please let me know via this email <jalousi1@hfhs.org> or the telephone number listed below.  Attendees to these educational inservices include many who work with the elderly, including middle managers and directors. It’s a great opportunity to promote music therapy and to get your name out there as a provider of music therapy!

Many thanks.

Janis

Music therapist needed – Clarkston, MI

Julie Skelly, RMT (jasrmt@comcast.net) is looking for a music therapist to work with an individual client in Clarkston, Michigan.  For specifics, please email Julie at jasrmt@comcast.net.

Full-time activity therapist needed – Detroit, MI

Follow the link to find out more about this position (full-time activity therapist needed at a Detroit area acute psychiatric care facility):

http://www.careerbuilder.com/JobSeeker/Jobs/JobDetails.aspx?ipath=EXIND&siteid=cbindeed&Job_DID=J8A5K777Z2G69Y0LB05