Special Interest Groups (SIGs)
In 2019, for the first time, Special Interest Groups (SIGs) were selected by an IAMM review committee for inclusion at the following IAMM conference. Each leader was charged with assembling topic experts from different disciplines and continents. These groups met virtually throughout the year to develop outcomes that included research proposals, educational programs, white papers, and clinical practice guidelines.
As well as being active for the IAMM 2020 Conference, SIGs are also planned to be active for forward to future IAMM Conferences. Please find below, a list of SIG's present for each Conference and have a read about their content.
IAMM2026 Conference SIGs
Telehealth Music Therapy Practices
Led by: Amy Clements-Cortes, Associate Professor, University of Toronto
Participants: Amy Clements-Cortés, PhD, RP, MT-BC, MTA (Canada); Melissa Mercadal-Brotons, PhD, MT-BC, SMTAE (Spain); Indra Selvarajah, PhD, MMT Equivalency, MA(UK) (Malaysia and Singapore) ; Eugenia Hernandez-Ruiz, PhD, MT-BC (USA); Kezia Putri MT-BC (Indonesia) and Eunyoung Hanh PhD, KCMT, NMT , Haeundae Paik Hospital (Korea).
About this SIG:
Formed in 2021, this SIG began investigating telehealth music therapy practices, which grew significantly during the pandemic. Our first two published studies focused on international perspectives on telehealth practices and perceptions of music therapists. Following these, we conducted a study examining educator practices implementing telehealth training in their curriculum which is published in the Nordic Journal of Music Therapy.
Our most recent output is a scoping review on telehealth music therapy, published in the Arts and Psychotherapy Journal. In addition to these publications our team has presented at several conferences including IAMM and the WCMT.
The 2026-2028 team is a combination of previous and new SIG members. At present our team is working on a study to gather student and recent graduate perspectives on telehealth music therapy education and practice.
Music-based Interventions for People with Dementia and Their Caregivers
Led by: Melissa Mercadal-Brotons, PhD, MT-BC, SMTAE. Escola Superior de Música de Catalunya
Participants: Dr. Suzanne Hanser (USA); Dr. Connie Tomaino (USA); Dr. Amy Clements-Cortés (Canada); Dr. Kendra Ray (USA); Dr. Ayelet Dassa (Israel); Dr. Tereza Alcantara da Silva (Brazil); Dr. Shirlene Moreira (Brazil); Dr. Michael Silverman (USA); Dr. Andrea Cevasco-Trotter (USA); Dr. Ming Hung Hsu (Norway); Dr. Melissa Mercadal-Brotons (Spain); Dr. Karyn Stuart-Röm (USA); Dr. Hayley Antipas (Australia); Dr. Maria Clotilde Henriques Tavares (Brazil)
About this SIG:
This Special Interest Group (SIG) seeks to continue its advocacy work to promote the inclusion of music therapy as a core healthcare discipline for people living with dementia and to encourage government agencies to incorporate music therapy into insurance-covered care plans. The SIG is particularly interested in exploring how health professionals who use music-based interventions with people living with dementia can collaborate through clearly defined roles to ensure the highest quality of care. Its members are also developing and implementing research projects aimed at strengthening the evidence base in this field.
Looking ahead, the SIG plans to develop a position paper to engage with other organizations—including those supporting music and the arts, caregiver groups, advocacy agencies, and professional associations representing people living with dementia—in joint efforts to integrate music into dementia care practices. Through these initiatives, the SIG aims to enhance well-being and improve the quality of life of people living with dementia and their caregivers.
Music Therapy of Ancient China
Led by:Mrs. Yang LI, Master of Science, TU München, Direktor of WeltMusik und Energie-Forschung e.V., Berlin, yangli@wmef.eu
Participants:
- Prof. Qiang Miao, Professor Engineer/Physics (Germany) and Guest Professor for TCM (China)
- Dr. Michael Frishkopf, Professor of Ethnomusicology, Department of Music, Faculty of Arts, University of Alberta; Director, Canadian Centre for Ethnomusicology (CCE)
- Angela Feng Yanlin, TCM Therapist , Switzerland
- Yiwen Xiong, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University
- Zhiyuan Wang，BA，RUL
- Lei Wang, Manufacturer of sound therapy products
- Yuan Wang, Director of the China Urban Expert Network Art Healing Research Institute
About this SIG:
- Focus: The clinical application of traditional Chinese music therapy and historical instruments.
- Background: The earliest records of Chinese music therapy date back several thousand years. It is vital to preserve this cultural heritage through literature research and the reconstruction of archaeologically excavated musical instruments. By synthesizing historical theories and methodologies, this SIG aims to apply these ancient practices to modern clinical cases to improve patient outcomes.
WMEF is a working group composed of Chinese physicians and musicians dedicated to the preservation of Chinese music therapy. In recent years, several historical medical instruments have been reconstructed to test theories and methods derived from ancient literature, such as The Yellow Emperor's Classic of Internal Medicine. Additionally, several hundred clinical case studies have been conducted.
- Progress since 2024:
1. Exchanged findings and insights among various researchers and practitioners at the IAMM Congress in Berlin.
2. Tested and compared recently restored medical instruments alongside newly developed tools, such as meridian tuning forks and Meridian Resonance Kits.
3. Guided case studies across different countries and conducted a pilot study on the effects of Meridian Resonance Therapy on various TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) patterns.
4. Produced Resonance Music for the 12 Meridians and conducted a sound-effect survey among 100 users. - Next Steps and Expected Outcomes:
1. We are actively seeking research partners to help quantitatively verify the effectiveness of TCM music therapy using objective clinical parameters.
2. A clinical guideline for TCM music therapy with 100 comprehensive case studies, is projected to be published in English by 2028.
Advancing Research and Policy on Culturally-Rooted Music-Based Perinatal Mental Health Community Interventions
Led by: Preeti Kodancha (RCI-registered Clinical Psychologist & PhD Scholar, Dept of Clinical Psychology, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bengaluru)
Participants:
• Dr Shantala Hegde (Professor of Clinical Psychology, Consultant Clinical Neuropsychologist, and Faculty-in-Charge of the Music Cognition Lab at the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bengaluru)
Dr Katie Rose M. Sanfilippo (Presidential Research Fellow, City, University of London); Dr Frank Russo (Professor of Psychology, Toronto Metropolitan University, & Director, SingWell Project).
• Dr Arla Good (Research Associate, Toronto Metropolitan University, & Co-director, SingWell Project):
• Dr Prabha S. Chandra (Senior Professor of Psychiatry and Former Director, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bengaluru)
About this SIG:
This SIG aims to advance music-based interventions to address gaps in perinatal mental healthcare in LMICs. Access to maternal mental healthcare remains limited, particularly in rural areas, while evidence supports the benefits of singing-based interventions during the perinatal period. Rich cultural traditions of singing during pregnancy and early caregiving offer an ecologically valid, scalable approach that lay counsellors could deliver under specialist supervision. However, culturally rooted singing interventions remain underexplored, with no policy guidelines for their systematic implementation. Bringing together experts in music therapy, perinatal mental health, and public health, this SIG will develop a framework for research and implementation. Key outcomes include a white paper proposing policy guidelines for integration into tthe public healthcare system and a research proposal to advance evidence on culturally embedded singing interventions for maternal mental health.
Music, Music Therapy and Displaced Populations
Led by: Dr Elizabeth Coombes, University of South Wales, UK
Participants: Samuel Gracida, Hala Hamdan, Sarah Helander Emma Maclean. We are currently looking for members from other parts of the world to further develop the reach and scope of this SIG.
About this SIG:
This SIG has been in existence since the IAMM held in Berlin in 2024. At this time the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR 2024) released figures showing that the global population of forcibly displaced persons had reached over 117 million. This is truly a world crisis, with increasing numbers of people needing support to enable them to lead purposeful and meaningful lives. Music and music therapy offers, we believe, a way to support people, and this group is passionate about articulating best practice for this work.
Our plan for this event is to:
1. Present the results from a scoping questionnaire created by this SIG exploring global picture of music therapy work with this population.
2. Share and discuss data gathered from a World Cafe at the WCMT intended to understand what resources would be supportive for music therapists and musicians working with these populations.
3. Devise a plan to create and disseminate clinical guidelines and resources to support those working using music therapy and music in these situations.
The group believes this plan will enable the SIG to develop, further responding to the needs of practitioners and displaced persons.
Occupational Health in Music
Led by: Kris Chesky, Bloomberg Distinguished Professor, Johns Hopkins University
Participants: Sajid Surve, Preeti Ragavan, Ram Ramachandren and participants in the 1st Global Summit on Occupational Health in Music
About this SIG:
Music has long been understood as a powerful determinant of health—capable of promoting wellbeing while simultaneously posing preventable risks. Building on Dr. Donald Michel’s foundational concept of music as a two-edged sword, this Special Interest Group (SIG) reframes that insight within the emerging field of Occupational Health in Music (OHM). OHM recognizes music not only as an expressive or therapeutic medium, but as an occupation and exposure context with distinct physical, auditory, psychological, and social health implications across the lifespan.
This SIG provides an update from the First Global Summit on Occupational Health in Music (2025), which brought together international leaders in music medicine, public health, education, engineering, and policy. Summit discussions highlighted the persistent lack of shared frameworks, competencies, and role-based responsibilities for managing music-related health risks, despite growing global concern about noise exposure, overuse injury, mental health, and inequitable working conditions.
The session introduces the rationale for renaming this SIG Occupational Health in Music, outlines key Summit outcomes, and invites participation in an expanding international collaboration. Special attention will be given to contexts relevant to India, including diverse musical traditions, informal training pathways, extended rehearsal and festival environments, and limited access to occupational health services. Participants are encouraged to help shape culturally responsive research, education, and advocacy initiatives that support the health, sustainability, and artistic vitality of Indian musicians and music communities.
Culturally Responsive Music Therapy Models for Healthy and Active Ageing
Led by: Dr. Vijayalakshmi Subramaniam, Professor in Otorhinolaryngology, Yenepoya Medical College, Yenepoya (Deemed to be University), Mangalore-575018, Karnataka, India
Participants:
1. Prabha Adhikari , Yenepoya (Deemed to be University), Mangalore,India
Geriatrician with expertise in dementia and holistic elder care. Brings clinical insight into transitions between healthy ageing, vulnerability, and care needs.
2. Pratibha Pereira, JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research, Mysuru, India
Geriatrician focused on comprehensive ageing care, functional health, and quality of life.
3. Vidya Shenoy, Mumbai India
Integrative Therapist, Ageing and Dementia Care Specialist
4. Sumathy Sundar, Chennai, India
Founder Director, Chennai School of Music Therapy is an experienced educator and researcher in music therapy
5. Markéta Gerlichová ,Czech Republic
Music therapist and educator at Charles University, Prague, with strong interdisciplinary and rehabilitation-based practice.
6. Cordula Dietrich, Germany
Music therapist with strong grounding in clinical practice and culturally sensitive rehabilitation.
7. Aditi Kamat, Heidelberg, Germany
Sports physician, Medical Anthropologist and Music Therapist,
8. Baishali Mukherjee, Bangalore, India
Psychologist and music therapist, Faculty- Chennai School of Music Therapy
9. Maria Montserrat Gimeno, Portugal
Professor Emeritus / Music Therapist/Primary Trainer of the Bonny Method of GIM, Portugal
10. Maria Clotilde Tavares, Brazil
Accorde Musicoterapia Neurologica, Vice-Coordinator of CAFE – Nucleus of Science, Arts, Philosophy, and Spirituality, CEAM – Center for Advanced Multidisciplinary Studies, University of Brasília, Brazil
About this SIG:
Ageing is shaped by the body, relationships, daily routines, and cultural meaning. Alongside medical care, many older adults seek ways to remain mobile, emotionally balanced, socially connected, and engaged with life. Music therapy has long supported these dimensions of healthy ageing across clinical, community, and wellness settings. At the same time, existing literature and practice guidelines may not fully account for how ageing is experienced across diverse cultural contexts.
This Special Interest Group will explore how music therapy for healthy and active ageing can be more explicitly grounded in cultural context. Rather than advancing a single model, the SIG aims to foster dialogue across music therapy, medicine, gerontology, public health, ethnomusicology, and community-based practice. Particular attention will be given to indigenous, classical, folk, devotional, and community music traditions, and to the ethical and practical considerations involved in integrating these into preventive, wellness-oriented, and rehabilitative ageing interventions.
SIG members will engage in structured online discussions prior to the 2026 IAMM Conference to identify shared principles, variations in practice, and context-specific considerations. An open conference session will invite wider participation. The intended outcome is a collaboratively developed conceptual framework and best-practice guideline for culturally responsive music therapy in healthy ageing, adaptable across healthcare and community settings.
NICU Music Therapy
Led by: Joanne Loewy, Artur Jaschke, and Efthymios Papatzikis
Participants: Kirsty Jane, Anna Buonomo, Barbara Sgobbi, Betty Legler Thomsen, Mark Ettenberger, Lorraine Robertson, Maria Montserrat Gimeno, Gabriel F. Federico, Eva Marija Vukich, Angela Delaney, Abel Abraham, Kristin Gibbon, Elaine Kong, Maybelle Swaney, Louise Miles, Karina Ferrari, Tammy Takaishi, Anurati Jain, Velma Flodin, Elisandra Pujals, Karianna Anadonian, Kimberley Iverson, Hannah Bush, Kathy Murphy, Friederike Haslbeck, Carmina Erdei, Rieko Eguchi, Marija Pranjić, Hannah Bush, Jannatul Khawsar, Victoria Norris, Pablo González Álvarez, Florencia Morales, Lori Gooding, Bhuvaneswari Ramesh, Vijayalakshmi Subramaniam, and Şükrü TORUN.
About this SIG:
We have broken into separate pillars including, Neuroscience, Family: Trauma, Parent Voice, Song of Kin, and third, The infant as Cyborg: music therapy and Artificial intelligence in the NICU, and Technology. Our group is large and our subgroups have been working on our presentations for the conference and additionally, a possible reference which will include our multi-cultural practices and theories in-line with IAMM's mission to reach and instill greater access to NICUs across the globe.
Music Therapy and Chronic Pain
Led by: Dr. Lisa Gallagher, Cleveland Clinic Research Program Manager & Music Therapist
Participants: Katie Fitzpatrick, Hilary Moss, Joanne Loewy, Amy Clements-Cortes, Bhuvaneswari Ramesh, Claire Howlin, Clare Kildea, Fiiona Talkington, Gil Henriques, Gry Svanhild Hole, Hanneke van Dokkum, Helen Carrington, Joke Bradt, Yulin Wang, Meng-Shan Lee, Karen Kelly, Karen Twyford, Kate McMahon, Minn Stahl, Miriam Cano Esteller, Neasa Whelan, Reetta Keranen, Tom Huet, Tina Mallon, Tricia O'Shea
About this SIG:
IAMM's Music & Chronic Pain Special Interest Group (SIG) has continued to meet since the last conference, sharing information, collaborating on projects, assisting each other with research, supporting each other with ideas for clinical work, etc. During this presentation we will share some of these updates, as well as discuss future plans together as a SIG.
IAMM/ISfAM 2024 Conference SIGs
Telehealth Music Therapy Practices
Led by: Amy Clements-Cortes, Associate Professor, University of Toronto
Participants: Melissa Mercadal-Brotons, PhD, MT-BC, SMTAE; Marija Pranjić, MA, MMus, MT-BC; Indra Selvarajah, PhD (USA), MMT Equivalency (USA), MA(UK); Lisa Kelly, BA, MA; Eugenia Hernandez-Ruiz, PhD, MT-BC; Hilary Moss, PhD
About this SIG:
This SIG was formed in 2021 and began our work investigating international perpesctives on telehealth music therapy. We completed two studies, one survey study which is published and an interview study that has been submitted for publication. This new team which includes previous members of the SIG and new members will continue to research telehealth music therapy practices. We have several ideas but are going to be starting with a study focused on telehealth education and training practices. We would like to also meet at the IAMM Congress in Berlin and would welcome opening our meeting to educators to further our conversations on telehealth training.
Music-based Interventions for People with Dementia and Their Caregivers
Led by: Melissa Mercadal-Brotons, PhD, MT-BC, SMTAE. Escola Superior de Música de Catalunya
Participants: Melissa Mercadal-Brotons, PhD, MT-BC, SMTAE; Suzanne Hanser, EdD, MT-BC; Concetta Tomaino, DA, LCAT, MT-BC; Amy Clements-Cortés, PhD, RP, MT-BC, MTA; Tereza Raquel Alcantara-Silva, PhD, MT; Kendra Ray, PhD, MPH, MT-BC; Shirlene Vianna Moreira (Brazil), MSc, PhD; Ayelet Dassa, PhD
About this SIG:
The Special Interest Group on dementia within IAMM aims to advance knowledge, raise awareness, and advocate for the global recognition of music therapy in dementia care as a professional service. Members of this SIG view the upcoming IAMM-ISFAM conference in Berlin from September 18-21 as a unique opportunity. We aim to invite individuals from various disciplines currently working, or interested in working in the field of dementia using music-based resources, to participate in a two-hour presentation-discussion. This event serves as a platform to exchange ideas, learn from one another about the diverse projects professionals worldwide have undertaken using music-based interventions, and collectively contemplate how we can foster innovation in healthcare within the realm of music and dementia.
Music Therapy of Ancient China
Led by: Mrs. Yang LI, Master of Science TU München
Participants: TCM Professor, Yuan Guo, Canada, TCM Doctor Xiaochuan Pan, Beijing, Professor Physics, Qiang Miao, Germany, Professor Biology and environment, Chongxiao Wang, Germany, Mrs Xiaoguang Chen, Shenyang Conservatory of Music, China
About this SIG:
Focus: The restoration of chinese music therapie and instruments
Background: The earliest records of chinese music therapie are dated back to several thousand years ago. It is necessary to save these cultural heritage through literature research, the restoration of archaeological excavated music instruments, summarise the important theorie and methods, so as to apply them to clinical cases for improvements.
- WMEF is a working group of chinese physicians and musician who dedicate themselves to the preservation of chinese music therapy. In the past years, several medical music instruments has be restored to test the theorie and methods from ancient literature like Yellow Emperors Classic and quite a few case studies has been conducted. Plan: 1.Summarise the findouts from different researchers
- Test and compare the lately restored medical instruments
- Make a discussion on the verification and application of ancient instruments to clinical purpose today
Expected outcome: Guideline of TCM therapy music instrument design and application
Arts in Health Ecosystem
Led by: Ferol Carytsas, Director, UF Center for Arts in Medicine and Sarah Hoover, Associate Dean for Innovation in the Arts and Health, The Peabody Institute of The Johns Hopkins University
Participants: Michael Claytor, Musician in Residence, UF Health Shands AIM, Ricky Kendall, Musician in Residence, UF Health Shands AIM, Kat Agres, Assistant Professor, Music Cognition, National University of Singapore, Shay Thornton Kulha, Project Manager, Houston Methodist Hospital Center for Performing Arts Medicine, Penny Brill, Musacor, Amy Furman, Chair, NCCATA, Rosie Perkins, professor of Music, Health and Society, Royal College, Jane Bentley, founder, ArtBeat Music, Scotland, Grainne Hope, founder, Music & Health Ireland, Elke Downer, JoyRx Music Program Manager, Kerry Devlin, Senior Music Therapist, Johns Hopkins Medicine, Elaine Sims, Director, Gifts of Art, Michigan Medicine
About this SIG:
As the field of arts in health gains momentum beyond clinical settings, the contexts in which arts activities occur are expanding, and the roles of the people engaging with arts in health are becoming more heterogeneous. What does this developing and shifting ecosystem look like, and who is doing what? Papers such as Davies and Clift (2022) provide definitions for Arts and Health activities but do not address the need for defining roles and scope of practice. This SIG seeks to develop an ongoing inter-professional dialogue to explore the ways in which people are engaging with arts in health contexts with the goal of creating glossary recommendations to aid communication, research, education, practice, and policy, to be presented in a position paper at the 2026 Conference.
Objectives:
- Clarify the continuum of creative engagements, from self-initiated to professionally facilitated, that aim to influence health and well-being.
- Define the roles of those participating in the continuum of creative engagements.
- Develop a deeper understanding of how to collaborate across disciplinary/scope of practice lines to ensure beneficial outcomes for all involved.
Music, Music Therapy and Displaced Populations
Led by: Dr Elizabeth Coombes, University of South Wales, UK
Participants: Emma Maclean ( Queen Margaret University, Scotland and co-editor of book) (Samuel Gracida (pracitioner/researcher and co-editor of book), Sander Goor ( Music Therapist and author of book chapter), Bolette Daniels Beck ( Aalborg University, MT and researcher), Professor Nigel Osborne ( composer and community musician).
About this SIG:
Currently, I am part of a team of 3 co-editors who are compiling a book for Jessica Kingsley Publishers (Publication date Summer 2025) on the topic of music, music therapy and displaced people. With the current global situation demonstrating a high level of displaced populations, is seems that this topic is current and one that is likely to need significant resources from host countries in the future. My work on this project has enabled me to connect with many practitioners globally, and I feel now is the time to being to develop this work in a broader context. I am also part of a UK based research project with my own university and Middlesex university with displaced families with children under the age of 3. Further development of this project would be a hoped-for research outcome linked to this SIG.
I have set out below other outputs:
- Contribution to a roundtable accepted at the Nordic Conference for Music Therapy n Aalborg June 2023.
- Development of a research project to upscale the above once completed ( Summer 2023).
- Development of webinar to showcase the wealth of music and music therapy work with displaced people
Music as a Two-Edged Sword
Led by: Kris Chesky, Bloomberg Distinguished Professor, Johns Hopkins University
Participants: Bronwen Ackerman, Amyn Amlani, Karendra Devroop, Sarah Dunbar, James Ford, Anncristine Fjellman-Wiklund, Jane Ginsborg, Sarah Hoover, George Kondraske, Raluca Matei, Judy Palac, Preeti Raghaven, Guilia Ripani, Jeffrey Searl, Bridget Solonen, Sajid Surve, Claudia Spahn, Micheal Thrasher, Aaron William, Nabeel Zuhdi
About this SIG:
Dr. Donald Michel conceptualized music as a tool for influencing health outcomes. In his landmark Music Therapy textbook, he characterized this tool as a two-edged sword, one edge referring to music as a sound stimulus and the other to the psychosocial meanings. During the Health Promotion of Schools of Music (2004) project, he extended this by arguing that the influence of music on health is bidirectional. For example, while the World Health Organization promotes the health benefits of music, the WHO also claims that over 1 billion people aged 12 to 35 years risk losing their hearing due to excessive exposure to music. This idea of a two-edged sword is a critical perspective when considering the influence of music and related social determinants on biological, psychological, and social health. Limited recognition of this bidirectionality continues to hinder advances in how music is conceptualized, managed, and reported in educational, therapeutic, and social and behavioral science applications. This SIG will develop a philosophical and theory-based position paper with suggested guidelines for embedding these principles into education, practice, and research. The SIG will present these ideas during the 2025 PAMA international symposium in Washington DC hosted by Johns Hopkins University.
Music Therapy and Music-Based Interventions for Neurodegenerative Illness
Led by: Alexander Pantelyat, MD Associate Professor of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Participants: Kyurim Kang: Johns Hopkins, USA, Kerry Devlin: Johns Hopkins, USA, Jeanette Tamplin: University of Melbourne, Australia, Cindybet Perez Martinez: Washington Adventist University, USA, Caitlin Hebb - MedRhythms, Inc., USA, Connie Tomaino: Institute for Music and Neurologic Function, USA, Hanne Mette Ridder: Aalborg University, Denmark, Noah Potvin (Duquesne University/USA), Esa Ala-Ruona: University of Jyväskylä, Finland, Demian Kogutek, Wilfrid Laurier University, Canada
About this SIG:
This Special Interest Group (SIG) will focus on music therapy and other music-based interventions for neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson disease, Alzheimer disease, Huntington Disease, Ataxias and Multiple Sclerosis. The SIG will synthesize evidence from clinical studies on rhythmic auditory stimulation, therapeutic music performance, singing and dance, and other music therapy and music medicine approaches. The SIG will develop a session on this topic at the 2024 IAMM conference that will include multidisciplinary participation from international leaders in the fields of music therapy, neurologic music therapy (NMT®) and music-based interventions. The expected outcome of this SIG is the creation of a published best practice guideline on music-based interventions for neurodegenerative disorders, based on up-to-date evidence from existing studies coupled with expert opinion from leaders in the field. This plan will be accomplished through regularly scheduled conference calls before and after the 2024 IAMM conference, with assignment of specific tasks and sub-tasks to SIG participants and the setting of sub-deadlines. The SIG leader is a movement disorders neurologist and senior editor (along with SIG co-leaders Kerry Devlin and Kyurim Kang) of a forthcoming book on Music Therapy and Music-based interventions in Neurology (https://www.amazon.com/Music-Therapy-Music-Based-Interventions-Neurology/dp/3031470915).
A Research Collaborative on the Uses of the Arts in Times of Crisis, Conflict and War
Led by: Vivien Marcow Speiser, professor emerita, Lesley Univ; IAMM Scientific Committee
Participants: Phillip Speiser, PhD, University of the Witwatersrand, Research Associate, Rebecca Zarate, PhD, University of Utah, Associate Dean for Research, Kim Berman PhD, Professor, University of Johannesburg, South Africa, Debra Kalmanowits, PhD, Academic College of Society and the Arts and Bar Ilan University, Israel, Mitchell Kossak, PhD, Professor, Lesley University, Michal Lev PhD, Lecturer, Ono Academic College – ASA , Israel, Nsamu Moonga , MA, University of Pretoria and Open Windows University, Zambia, Raymond Saner, PhD, Titular Professor, University of Basel, Switzerland, Lichia Saner-Yiu, Ed.D, President, Centre for Socio-Eco-Nomic Development, Geneva & Taiwan, Ilene Serlin, PhD, Co-Founder, Association of Jewish Psychologists, USA, Celeste Snowber, PhD, Professor Simon Fraser University, Canada, Nathalie Robelot-Timtchenko, MA, Founder, First Aid of the Soul-Ukraine, US / Ukraine, Petro Janse Van Vuuren, PhD, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa, Tony Zhou PhD, Inspirees Institute, Holland, China
About this SIG:
This research collaborative project intends to bring together a inter-disciplinary group of artists, educators, clinicians and researchers to identify and formulate approaches for researching arts-based projects, programs, performances and other forms of artistic expressions that relate to current crises, conflicts and wars across the globe. We intend to explore the role that the arts play in the building of resilience and hope in troubled areas of the world, fostering empathic understanding, deep listening, connection and equilibrium as a way of countering the destructive elements that arise from these local, national and regional areas. Our group will consist of topic experts from across multiple disciplines and diverse backgrounds and contribute global perspectives towards this research project.
7. Projected Outcomes
- we will carry out collaborative research publications such as articles or series of articles emanating from our research group to the open access CAET- Creative Arts in Education and Therapy Journal
- Facilitate a session on the topic at the 2024 Joint International Congress of the IAMM and the ISfAM.
- Propose a joint webinar on this theme at other professional association events such as IACAET, The International Association of Creative Arts in Therapy and Education
Music Therapy and Chronic Pain
Led by: Dr Katie Fitzpatrick (University of Limerick Hospitals Group) and Prof Hilary Moss (University of Limerick)
Participants: Patricia O’Shea, Caroline Hussey, Prof Joanne Lowey, Patricia O’Shea, Prof Joke Bradt, Dr Stéphane Guétin, Dr Amy Clements-Cortes, Prof Dominic Harmon, John Corcoran, Bhuvaneswari Ramesh, Prof Lisa Gallagher, Clare Kildea, Dr Claire Howlin, Neasa Whelan, Karen Kelly, Helen Carrington, Reetta Keranen, Kate McMahon
About this SIG:
The group propose a rountable session for IAMM 2024 on the use of music and music therapy for people living with chronic pain. The group will discuss key recommendations from the research, approaches in clinical practice, and future areas for research. Key values of the group are: - Involving service users and other clinicians in every aspect of the SIG - An openness to quantitative and qualitative research methods, especially exploring how creativity and arts based research methods can illuminate the experience of chronic pain alongside more traditional mixed method research in this area - Producing practical, helpful recommendations for practice, for both music therapists working in this field and for people living with chronic pain.
IAMM 2022 Conference SIGs
Music Therapy and Music-Based Interventions for Movement Disorders
Led by: Alexander Pantelyat, Director, Johns Hopkins Center for Music and Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Participants: Dr. Monique van Bruggen Rufi, PhD, Soo JI Kim, Ph.D., MT-BC, KCMT, Kyurim Kang, Ph.D., LPMT, MT-BC, NMT, Kerry Devlin, MMT, LPMT, MT-BC, Brian Harris, MA, MT-BC, NMT-F, & Dr. Alfredo Raglio, PhD
About this SIG:
This Special Interest Group (SIG) built on its IAMM 2020 experience and focus on updates music therapy and other music and rhythm-based interventions for movement disorders--a field that had moved forward rapidly in the past several years. The SIG synthesized evidence from clinical studies on rhythmic auditory stimulation, therapeutic music performance, singing and dance for PD, and other types of neurologic music therapy and music medicine. The SIG developed a plenary session on this topic at the 2022 IAMM conference that included multidisciplinary participation from international leaders in the field of neurologic music therapy and researchers on music and rhythm-based interventions. The expected outcome of this SIG was the creation of a white paper, based on up-to-date evidence from existing studies coupled with expert opinion from leaders in the field.
Evidence Based Practices for Telehealth Music and Psychotherapy Services
Led by: Dr. Amy Clements-Cortes
Participants: Amy Clements-Cortes, Marija Pranjić, Melissa Mercadal-Brotons: , Rebecca Vaudreuil, Barbara Sgobbi, Allison Fuller, David Knott
About this SIG:
The focus of this SIG was to look at the emerging and developing evidence and research on telehealth music therapy with persons across the lifespan both in individual and group therapy, as well as participating in telehealth from varied locations (home, hospital, long-term care, group home etc). SIG members represented music therapists working: with a specific demographic, with various diagnoses, and / or within a specific clinical approach (i.e. NMT, The Bonny Method).
Music and Intercultural Neurodiversity (MINd) SIG
Led by: Prof. Michael Bakan, Prof. Niyati Dhokai and Jennifer Msumba
Participants: Matthew Cravener, Jennifer Msumba, Matt Savage, Jim Schwartz (they/them), Shiv Sharma, Daniel and Ken Trush
About this SIG:
For its IAMM debut at the 2022 conference, IAMM’s new Music and Intercultural Diversity (MINd) SIG offered an enlightening 90-minute online roundtable featuring presentations by six exceptional neurodivergent musicians, followed by open discussion and audience Q&A. The roundtable, titled “Speaking for Ourselves: Neurodivergent Perspectives on Music and Neurodiversity,” was moderated by two of the SIG’s three co-chairs, Michael Bakan (Professor of Ethnomusicology at Florida State University and author of the 2021 Oxford University Press book Music & Autism: Speaking for Ourselves) and Niyati Dhokai (Research Associate Professor at George Mason University and Program Director for the Veterans and the Arts Initiative at GMU’s Hylton Performing Arts Center). MINd’s third co-chair, Jennifer Msumba, was one of the six presenters.
Community Music Pedagogies and Engagements in Healthcare: Education and Advocacy
Led by: Joyce Yip, MA, HBSc
Participants: Suk Young Hong, MSc, BA(Hons), Amy Clements-Cortés, PhD, RP, MTA, MT-BC, FAMI, Sasha Judelson, MA, Kaela Lawrence, HBA, Mariah Story, MTA, BMT, Lindsay Sullivan, MA, BSW, Joyce Yip, MA, HBSc
About this SIG:
This SIG provided an overview of the field of community music pedagogies in healthcare through a curriculum design. Community music is broadly defined as the approach to music making or musicking that aim to deinstitutionalize the existing hierarchies of learning towards an inclusive, non-formal environment that fosters hospitality, cultural diversity, and creative freedom. It offered a resource for facilitators to engage in community music practices in healthcare as part of their work and/or professional development, such as foundations and case studies by our presenters.
Global Perspectives on Assessments in Music Therapy Practice
Led by: Camila F. Pfeiffer, MA/MT-BA, Lic., NMT-fellow
Participants: Camila F. Pfeiffer, MA/MT-BA, Lic., NMT-fellow, Gray Baldwin, MA, MT-BC, Gustavo Schulz Gattino, PhD, Orii McDermott, PhD, Thomas Bergmann, PhD, Eric G. Waldon, Ph.D., MT-BC, Wendy L. Magee, PhD
About this SIG:
The SIG on Global Perspectives on Music Therapy Assessments offered a comprehensive overview on a variety of standardized and non-standardized music based assessments utilized around the globe for developed for different client populations. The focus of this group lied on the specific role of music as a means to identify, observe, understand, and make meaning of the needs and potentials of individuals. We will communicate how these observations contribute to clinical diagnoses; interdisciplinary treatment; to guide therapeutic goals, and clinical decisions; to identify changes occurring in therapy over time, and to provide guidelines to communicate about music therapy to other professional fields.
Furthermore, the cultural adequacy of music therapy assessment procedures, as well as cultural context, in which they are administered were a central focus of this SIG group. This SIG group offered perspectives on Music Therapy Assessment drawing from their expansive, diverse, and international clinical, pedagogical, research and theoretical experiences and perspectives, as the diversity of philosophical foundations of music therapy practice are displayed in assessments, as well.
The Arts Continuum for Resilience-Building Across the Trauma Spectrum
Led by: Rebecca Vaudreuil, EdM, MT-BC, MSW Candidate
Participants: Rebecca Vaudreuil, EdM, MT-BC, MSW Candidate, SIG Co-Lead, Chief Warrant Officer Two Jonathan Crane, Capt. Moira G. McGuire, Mark Ettenberger, PhD, MA, MT, SIG Co-Lead, Technical Sergeant Craig Larimer, Diane G. Langston, MM, MT-BC, L. Samuel Gracida, MA, MT, Karen Wacks, LMHC, EdM, MT-BC
About this SIG:
This SIG was a network of experts including medical professionals, music therapists, researchers, musicians, military personnel, and civilians who work with traumatized individuals and populations around the world and across a clinic-to-community continuum of music engagement.
They share international perspectives of various applications of music including music therapy interventions and music-based experiences, music education and learning, and recreational music engagement to address trauma through professional facilitation, interactive and experiential learning, and performance informed by scholarly literature.
Music Therapy and Chronic Pain
Led by: Dr Katie Fitzpatrick and Prof Hilary Moss
Participants: Patricia O’Shea, Caroline Hussey, Prof Joanne Lowey, Patricia O’Shea, Prof Joke Bradt, Dr Stéphane Guétin, Dr Amy Clements-Cortes, Prof Dominic Harmon, John Corcoran, Bhuvaneswari Ramesh, Prof Lisa Gallagher, Clare Kildea, Dr Claire Howlin, Neasa Whelan, Karen Kelly, Helen Carrington, Reetta Keranen, Kate McMahon.
About this SIG:
This Special Interest Group (SIG) on the use of music and music therapy for chronic pain was established through International Association of Music Medicine in 2021. It was set up following discussions between Dr Hilary Moss and PhD researcher Katie Fitzpatrick at the University of Limerick, in consultation with advocacy organisation Chronic Pain Ireland, and international researchers working in the area.
The focus of this group was to explore and communicate current research on how music and music therapy can assist people living with chronic pain to improve health and well-being. This SIG brings together researchers, clinicians, and people living with chronic pain from the USA, Canada, Ireland, France, and Scotland. The group met to share current research and issues in the field, to discuss theoretical and methodological issues to be addressed in future studies, and to summarize our collective thoughts in relation to the priority questions for future chronic pain and music therapy research.
Key values of the group are:
- Involving service users and other clinicians in every aspect of the SIG
- An openness to quantitative and qualitative research methods, especially exploring how creativity and arts based research methods can illuminate the experience of chronic pain alongside more traditional mixed method research in this area and
- Producing practical, helpful recommendations for practice, for both music therapists working in this field and for people living with chronic pain.
Music Therapy in the Context of Dementia: Advocating for its Recognition
Led by: Dr. Melissa Mercadal-Brotons, PhD, MT-BC, SMTAE
Participants: Dr. Melissa Mercadal-Brotons, PhD, MT-BC, SMTAE, Dr. Tereza Raquel Alcântara-Silva, MT (Brazil), Dr. Amy Clements Cortés, PhD, RP, MT-BC, MTA (Canada), Dr. Ayelet Dassa, MT, Dr. Suzanne Hanser EdD, MT-BC, Dr. Kendra Ray, PhD, MBA, MPH, Dr. Concetta M. Tomaino, DA, LCAT, MT-BC, Dr. Shirlene Vianna Moreira (Brazil), MT, MSc, PhD
About this SIG:
After a year and a half of diligent and productive work, the work of the members of the IAMM Special Interest Group, “Music therapy in the context of dementia: People with dementia and their caregivers,” had culminated in the publication of six papers in a special issue of the Music and Medicine Journal. These papers reflected the different topics that were identified by the group members as important to research and discussion during the 18-month period, incorporating the latest research in the foundations and applications of music-based interventions and music therapy in the context of dementia. The group is interested in continuing its work since its members have come to the conclusion that there is enough scientific evidence to support and advocate for the different forms of music intervention that can be part of these people’s lives, as well as their caregivers.
This Special Interest Group would like to continue their work towards the drafting of a position (white) paper to influence government agencies and authorities of the importance to include music therapy in ¬insurance covered care plans for people with dementia. This position paper could be adapted to different cultural and political realities so that it helps music therapists from around the globe to become part of the professional staff in care homes for people with dementia. In some countries, this is already a reality. This position paper could also help in getting other organizations that support music and/or the arts, caregiver groups, advocacy agencies, and professional associations representing people with dementia, to join in the efforts to have music be part of these people’s lives, thus contributing to their wellbeing and a better quality of life.
IAMM 2020 Conference SIGs
NICU Music Therapy Updates from Global Experts
Led By:Joanne Loewy DA, LCAT, MT-BC & Mark Ettenberger PhD, MT
Participants: Anne-Greet Ravensbergen MA, MT, Julie Mangersnes MA, MT & Tora Söderström PhD cand, Alexandra Ullsten PhD, MT, Taru Koivisto PhD cand, Friederike Haslbeck PhD, Monika Nöcker-Ribaupierre PhD, Barbara Sgobbi Dott. ssa, Elizabeth Coombes MA, FHEA, FAMI, BMus, Karen Morrison MT, Dana Yakobson PhD cand, Cochavit Elefant PhD, MT & Shmuel Arnon MD, Cindy Lai PhD cand & YaYa Ng MD, Rieko Eguchi MA, LCAT, MT-BC, Helen Shoemark PhD, RMT & Verena Clemencic-Jones RMT, Marcela Lichtensztejn MA, MT-BC, Mark Ettenberger PhD, MT, Joanne Loewy DA, LCAT, MT-BC & Aimee Telsey MD
About this SIG:
NICU music therapists and neonatologists from Australia, Netherlands, Wales, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Taiwan, Japan, United Kingdom, Israel, Argentina, Colombia and the United States presented their work in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, with a focus on the unique aspects of their programs; measuring impact; growth/funding/sustainability; and research.
Topics included: advantages/disadvantages of open bay, smaller rooms, individual rooms; and defining the stakeholders in decision-making. The panelists are at different stages of their work, and will share what they have learned, highlights and critical factors, while continuing to build clinical practice and new research aims.
Survivors of Trauma: The use of Music for Resilience-Building and Healing in Areas of Armed Conflict
Led By:Rebecca Vaudreuil, EdM, MT-BC, Lead Music Therapist, Creative Forces: NEA Military Healing Arts Network
Participants: Chief Warrant Officer Two, Jonathan L. Crane, Mark Ettenberger, PhD, MA, MT, Sunil Iyengar, Danielle Kalseth MM, MT-BC, SSgt Craig Larimer, Diane Langston MM, MT-BC, CAPT Moira McGuire, Professor Karen Wacks, M.Ed, LMHC, MT-BC, MA
About this SIG:
This SIG is comprised of a network of experts including physicians, music therapists, researchers, musicians, military personnel, and civilians from around the world who work with traumatized individuals and populations across a clinic-to-community continuum in areas of conflict. They shared international perspectives of various applications of music for trauma and share professional experiences through interactive and experiential learning.
Music Therapy and Music-Based Interventions for Movement Disorders
Led By: Alexander Pantelyat, MD, Assistant Professor of Neurology, Director, Johns Hopkins Center for Music and Medicine (USA)
Participants: Olie Westheimer, MA, Elizabeth Stegemoller, MT-BC, PhD, Alfredo Raglio, MA (Music and Music Therapy), PhD, Brian Harris, MA, MT-BC, NMT/F, Kerry Devlin, MMT, MT-BC
About this SIG:
This Special Interest Group (SIG) focused on music therapy and other music and rhythm-based interventions for movement disorders. There was a particular emphasis on published studies in Parkinson disease (PD). The SIG presented evidence from clinical studies on rhythmic auditory stimulation, therapeutic music performance, singing and dance for PD, and other types of neurologic music therapy and music medicine approaches. The SIG included multidisciplinary participation from leaders in the field of neurologic music therapy and researchers on music and rhythm-based interventions. The expected outcome of this SIG was the creation of a published white paper summarizing the SIG presentations and highlighting areas for future work.
Music Therapy and Medical Assistance in Dying
Led By: Sarahrose Black, PHD, RP, MTA
Participants: Taylor Kurta, BMT, MA, MTA, Amy Clements-Cortes, PhD, RP, MTA, MT-BC,Joanne Loewy, DA, LCAT, MT-BC,Elizabeth Mitchell, PhD, RP, MTA, Jessica Lam, RN, BScN, CON, Angela Wibben, MM, MT-BC Lee Bartel, PhD, Melissa Jessop, MMT, RP, MTA,Madeline Li, MD PhD FRCP, Adrienne Pringle, MMT, RP, MTA, Kiki Chang, MA, M.Ed., RP, MTA, Karie Rippin Bilger, BMT, MSW, RP, MTA, Sarah Pearson, MMT, RP, MTA
About this SIG:
This Special Interest Group explored the clinical role of music therapy within the context of medical assistance in dying. Panelists discussed the revision process of clinical guidelines that were originally created in 2017, and have since been revisited and revised based on evidence-based methodology. The panel consisted of a cohort of diverse professionals with varying expertise in music therapy and/or assisted dying. They explored ethical, educational, and practical implications of these guidelines.
Music Therapy for People with Dementia and their Caregivers
Led By: Melissa Mercadal-Brotons, PhD, Academic Director and Director, Master Program in Music Therapy, Escola Superior de Música de Catalunya
Participants: Tereza Raquel Alcântara-Silva, PhD (Brazil), Amy Clements Cortés, PhD, RP, MT-BC, MTA (Canada), Assistant Professor, Ayelet Dassa, PhD (Israel), Suzanne Hanser, EdD, MT-BC (Boston, USA), Shirlene Vianna Moreira, PhD (Brazil), Kendra Ray, PhD, MBA, MPH (New York, USA), Concetta M. Tomaino, DA, LCAT, MT-BC (New York, USA)
About this SIG:
This Special Interest Group presented the year-long work of experts around the world who gathered to prepare clinical guidelines for professionals, including physicians, nurses and allied health professionals on implementation of music experiences and referral of individuals with dementia to music therapy. Topics included: types of dementias, domains affected by dementia, music therapy and music-based interventions for people with dementia according to scientific evidence, and steps toward the preparation of the best practice guidelines.
Relationship Completion in Palliative Care Music Therapy: Evidence & Potential
Led By: Amy Clements-Cortés, PhD, RP, MT-BC, MTA, Assistant Professor, Music and Health Sciences, University of Toronto, Instructor & Supervisor, Wilfrid Laurier University, Music Therapist, Registered Psychotherapist, Canada
Participants: Amy Clements-Cortes PhD, RP, MT-BC, MTA, Joyce Yip, MA, Sarah Rose Black, PhD, RP, MTA, Elizabeth Derrick, MT-BC, Nuria Escudé, Lucy Forrest, MMUS, RMT, Bev Foster, MA, BEd, BMus, AMus, ARCT, Sara Klink, MMT, RP, MTA, Joanne Loewy, DA, LCAT, MT-BC, John Mondanaro, PhD, LCAT, MT-BC, CCLS, Chrissy Pearson, RP, MTA, Marija Pranjic, MA, MMus, NMT, Rafael Ramírez, PhD, Brian Schreck, MA, MT-BC, Giorgos Tsiris, PhD
About this SIG:
This Special Interest Group offered an evaluation of the evidence of recreational, music medicine interventions and music therapy techniques that have supported relationship completion and its benefits, as well as an exploration in the potential of new, undocumented music opportunities that may benefit in facilitating relationship completion. A question and discussion period followed the presentation with the aim of assisting our team in realizing the integration of this knowledge into the development of clinical guidelines for music therapists in our continued work.
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