Click here for more celebrity-donated auction items that benefit the American Music Therapy Association. AMTA is committed to increasing public awareness of the benefits of Music Therapy and increasing access to quality music therapy services throughout the United States and the world. Music Therapy Music therapy is an established health care and human service profession using music to improve quality of life by optimizing health and addressing the needs of children and adults with disabilities or illnesses. Highly trained and nationally certified music therapists build on the inherent qualities of music, using music and music activities in a focused and concentrated manner for healing and change, influencing physical, emotional, cognitive, and social responses. Today, over 6,000 music therapists are employed throughout the United States in settings such as hospitals, clinics, community centers, day care centers, substance abuse facilities, schools, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, and private practices.
Music therapists structure the power of music to focus and direct change and treatment.
Because music therapy is a powerful and non-threatening medium, unique outcomes are possible. Music therapists use music activities, both instrumental and vocal, designed to facilitate changes that are non-musical in nature. The American Music Therapy Association conducts a wide variety of projects and programs to increase awareness of the benefits of music therapy and increase access to quality music therapy services. Public Education AMTA provides therapists, educators, parents, doctors, and consumers with materials, press kits, research, and technical assistance to provide and support music therapy services. Research AMTA supports and facilitates research into the efficacy and clinical methodology of music therapy.