It’s a new year, and with the changing of the calendar comes the time to renew our annual membership to the American Music Therapy Association. Most of us know that AMTA membership gives us a discount on conference attendance, subscriptions to Music Therapy Perspectives & The Journal of Music Therapy, and membership into our regional chapter. Did you know that this is the absolute tip of the iceberg, so to speak, on what AMTA membership does?
In addition to print (and searchable online!) copies of our two main journals, with our AMTA membership we also get access to the Oxford Academic online catalog, additional literature, royalty free music to use in your practice, members only podcasts, access to scholarships & grants, private practice and music therapy advocacy support; discounts on conferences & continuing education, AMTA monologues; networking & leadership opportunities…
Many argue that they can’t afford to be a member of AMTA on top of a long list of required expenses and medium or low salaries. I strongly believe that WE CAN’T AFFORD NOT TO BE A MEMBER. AMTA membership is $250 per year, under 70 cents per day for professionals, or $95 for students with installment plans available. This expense could easily be paid off with a single scholarship or grant, referral given, free mentorship, free CMTE opportunity, articles printed for a research project, discounts, free materials… Conferences scholars have all the CMTEs they can go to covered by AMTA scholarships!!
AMTA is constantly working behind the scenes to expand awareness of music therapy within the community and the populations that we serve. This occurs in a multitude of formats. Non MTs have actually tried to trademark “music therapy” or to offer music therapy in the format of box sets of music. AMTA stepped in with their lawyers on behalf of our membership to block these things from happening.
Additional nationwide advocacy efforts include:
- The advocacy work done by AMTA staff, Board of Directors, Assembly of Delegates, Committees, Boards, and countless volunteers across the country every day affects everything, from individual salaries to federal, state, local, as well as public recognition of the benefits of music therapy. Your membership in AMTA supports that daily advocacy to make music therapy a stronger and more vital profession for you in which to work in a very real way.
- Capitol Hill presence – government relations activities including monitoring of legislation and regulations related to health and education
- State recognition operational plan – guidance provided to state task forces in relation to local legislation and regulations
- Promotion of recognition and reimbursement of music therapy services by third party payers
- National liaison with related professional organizations for recognition and promotion of music therapy
- Full time government relations staff members to answer questions
- Communication with federal and state agencies for recognition of music therapy
- Education, advocacy training, and marketing tools for music therapists
- Legislative and regulatory research, letter writing and draft legislative and/or regulatory language and creation of situation specific PR materials
- Free public relations and marketing resources for state advocacy efforts
- Input into standard development with Joint Commission and CARF
- Monitoring of White House and Government policies and communication of AMTA priorities to federal officials
- Communicate successful coding and documentation procedures with third party payers
Not joining AMTA not only limits the resources available to you but, also hurts the profession. Please make the commitment to join AMTA or make a donation!!
Go to https://www.musictherapy.org/ to renew your membership.
Melissa Spiess, M.M., MT-BC
Neurologic Music Therapy Fellow
Additional ways your AMTA membership pays off:
AMTA Expands the scope of music therapy
AMTA Members enjoy a wealth of benefits as a part of their membership, but perhaps the most important benefit of membership in AMTA is supporting an organization that provides a national voice for music therapy. AMTA reminds the public about the importance of the work you do. Your membership ensures that publications, public education, research, technical assistance and training necessary to increase awareness of the benefits of music therapy and increase access to quality music therapy services continue.
In addition, members also enjoy:
Publications
- Journal of Music Therapy (quarterly journal)
- Music Therapy Perspectives (bi-annual journal)
- Music Therapy Matters (monthly online newsletter emailed right to your inbox)
- Music Therapy Enews (monthly/periodic e-newsletter)
- AMTA literature (fact sheets, research bibliographies, standards of practice, and mailings of professional interest)
- Archived issues of newsletters, workforce studies, annual reports, and journals (including Music Therapy and imagine)
- Public education materials
- Journal article reprints and research compilations
- Members-only publications
Resources
- AMTA’s job center which contains job listings and help in finding a job or improving your employment
- Resources and information about Music therapy and Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Guidance for music listening programs – response to “Alive Inside” and Music and Memory programs
- Music Therapy with Specific Population fact sheets and population-specific research
- AMTA TechStop: tutorials and tips from the AMTA technology committee
- Workforce studies: yearly salary surveys and surveys of the AMTA membership and music therapy community
- AMTA e-courses: Affordable, convenient, online continuing music therapy education at discounted prices
- Access to AMTA’s Member Toolkit with scores of resources and downloads for use in music therapy practice
- On-line continuing education through AMTA.pro podcasts
- Royalty free music to download and use in your music therapy practice
Services
- Referrals: approximately 100 music therapy referral lists per month provided to consumers seeking music therapy services – member music therapists appear on these lists
- Approval of music therapy degree programs and internship sites
- Mentorship
- Access to national experts in music therapy
- Insurance, including professional liability, health, dental, life, accident, long term care and disability, and Medicare supplement can be purchased through Healthcare Providers Service Organizations (HPSO)
- Reimbursement information and support
- Standards of Clinical Practice applications
- Private practice education and support
- Sample contracting and sub-contracting agreements
- Assistance with employment issues
- Grant funding resources and grant writing support
- Support with copyright issues
- Responding to misrepresentation of music therapy
- Supportive documentation and research for consumers
- Guidance and materials for employers offering music therapy services
- Presentation guidance and materials
Scholarships and Grants
- Arthur Flagler Fultz Research Award
- Sean McGrath Intern Scholarship
- F. Tyson Grant to Study Music Psychotherapy
- E. Thayer Gaston Writing Competition
- E. E. Dick Scholarship for Music Therapy Interns
- Brian and Cathy Smith Memorial Fund
- AMTA Conference Scholar
- A. E. Kyllo Professional Scholarship
- AMTA Clinician-Based Grant Program
Discounts
- Up to $150 off your first-year membership and professional expenses by submitting a Welcome to the Profession Packet request form: discounted membership, conference AND product
- AMTA E-courses, over 30% discount for these online continuing education opportunities (over 60% discount for student members)
- Special member-only “pop-up” sales on publications and products
- Discounts on over fifty AMTA products and publications
- Free continuing education courses
- Free institutes
- Discounted public education materials and resources
- Discounted registration fees for AMTA national conference, regional conferences, and continuing education opportunities in the year in which you are a member
Meetings
- The largest gathering of music therapists each year at the AMTA annual conference
- Regional conferences
- Continuing education courses, institutes, and special trainings
Networking
- With free regional membership, opportunities abound to stay in touch with other music therapists in your area. Members enjoy:
- regional newsletters
- regional conference discounts in the year in which you are a member
- online member directory
- regional and state task forces
- yearly meetings at the regional and national level
- and a large, professional network
Leadership and Service Opportunities
- Members of AMTA make a difference in their profession by:
- holding office*
- serving on committees*
- serving on task forces*
- volunteering at conferences*
- speaking to media representatives
- voting in general elections* (Professional, Retired, & Honorary Life members only; must have completed all installment payment by June 30 of the year in which the election is held to be eligible to vote)
*subject to requirements of individual office or appointment
