by Amy Thomas | Jan 22, 2020
Next week, Upstate Music Therapy Center is excited to attend a panel at Nazareth College titled “Music Therapy, IDEA, and FAPE”. This seminar is an opportunity for parents and educators to learn about music therapy as a related service. While music therapy grows in recognition, it is important that teachers and parents understand what it means to have music therapy as a related service on an IEP.
The keynote speaker, Betsey King, Ph.D., LCAT, MT-BC and other
panelists, will be answering many common questions, including:
- What is a music therapy assessment and what
does an assessment look like? Who will be providing it?
- How do I know if my student is eligible for
music therapy services?
- What are my legal rights when it comes to
obtaining a music therapy assessment for my student?
The music therapists at UMTC are looking
forward to this opportunity to discuss a common concern in our community: advocacy.
By getting together and engaging in these conversations, we hope to grow
stronger as a music therapy community.
Not a teacher or parent? All individuals
are welcome to join! Counselors, CSEs, CPSEs, or anyone who may be interested
in learning about music therapy is encouraged to come.
This seminar will be occurring on two dates:
Wednesday January 29th from
6:30pm-9:00pm
OR
Thursday January 30th from 7:30-10:00am
For information related to registration and directions click here.
We hope to see you there!
This blog was submitted by: Katie Hall
by Amy Thomas | Jan 9, 2020
Here at Upstate Music Therapy Center (UMTC) we have been hard at work creating a new website. We hope that with an updated online presence we can spread awareness and knowledge of music therapy. It is our hope to end 2019 on a high note and enter into 2020 ready to engage with the Rochester music therapy community!
Let’s take a tour of the new site! Throughout this post you
will see many underlined topics. To learn more about that topic click on the
text and you will be redirected to that page on our website.
Services
UMTC primarily services children ages 5 to 21 in the pre-school and school-based settings. The majority of our client base consists of children in the school-based setting. Parents, teachers, and other school professionals are encouraged to refer a child if they observe improved attention, communication, participation, or other skills in the presence of music.
We also provide private and community-based music therapy services to children outside of the school setting, in day care, in-home, or other facilities.
We’d like to emphasize that UMTC services all individuals, not just children! There are a variety of community-based programs for adults including:
- Private music therapy sessions
- Music Appreciation class
- Adaptive Instrument Lessons (group or
individual)
- Learning Through Music class
Education
Being involved in the education of aspiring music therapists is a priority at UMTC. If you are in high school and wondering if music therapy is the career for you, we invite you to come and observe one of our staff members and see for yourself. College students, you are also welcome to come and shadow.
UMTC also offers an internship affiliated with Nazareth College. If you are a Nazareth student in the music therapy program and looking for a school-based internship in the Rochester area, check out our internship application details.
Additionally, we are able to support local high schools and school counselors in student’s career exploration. Please contact us if you are interested in having a music therapy booth at your high school’s career day.
Community
UMTC is eager to spread the word and raise awareness for music therapy in our community. We are able to offer presentations on a variety of topics such as:
- Introduction
to Music Therapy
- Music
Therapy and the Pre-Schooler
- Music
Therapy in Special Education
- Music
and Relaxation
- Music
Therapy as a Co-Treat to Related Services
- Music
Therapy in Mental Health
Please contact us if your school or organization is interested in one of these presentations.
Thank you!
UMTC has certainly evolved over the last twenty-years. We
look forward to sharing all we have to offer with our clients, aspiring
MT-BC’s, and all those who are a part of the music therapy community. Thank you
for taking the time to read and explore our new website.
If you have any questions or want to get in contact please give us a call at (585) 377-1000 or email our director Amy Thomas at Amy@upstatemtc.com
This blog was submitted by: Katie Hall
by Amy Thomas | Jan 11, 2016
This summer, my husband and I had the opportunity to go on a music-based mission trip to Belize with a local, non-profit organization called Guitars For Glory (GFG). Originally, they had asked my husband to go as the trip videographer, but when they found out I was a music therapist, they saw the benefits of having someone trained in the therapeutic aspect of music and invited me as well. A total of 19 people went on the trip, all whom work typical 9-5 jobs, but are incredibly talented musicians, worship leaders in their churches, spiritual leaders, and all affiliated with and representatives of Guitars For Glory. The guitar company, Fender, donated at-cost 14 acoustic electric guitars, 2 electric guitars, and 1 bass guitar for us to take to Belize. We also brought 2 kajones (box drums), and a petal board for the electric, hand made by one of our team members, who is the owner of Midnight 30 Music. The trip was a total of 7 days and we spent the majority of our time in the city of Belmopan.
We lead and participated in ministry every day, morning, noon, and night. In planning and organizing the trip, we partnered with Praying Pelican Missions, and were sent to lead music and worship training at the church, Casa De Dios. During morning ministry we had a kids VBS, which I had the privilege of leading music, dancing, and face painting. Another morning we visited an orphanage, which was one of the nicest facilities that we visited in Belize. The children were craving attention, making it difficult for the mere 19 of us to attend to and play with what seemed like hundreds of children, all ranging in age. One morning we were able to spend time in worship as a team, lifting up our voices and praising God. We had packed suitcases full of supplies for women and children’s ministry, which we were able to give away during small group time in the evenings.
Our main ministry was equipping the church, Casa De Dios, for worship, so we spent 3 days leading training workshops, including acoustic guitar, electric guitar, bass, keyboard, drum, and vocal lessons. I got to help lead the vocal training and on the first day, we were singing 3-part harmonies to the song, “Holy Spirit.” What a beautiful sound. We were able to give away all of the instruments that we brought to the church, Casa De Dios, and to some individuals that attended the music training.
For evening ministry, we lead worship in different places. The first night we arrived, we were waiting at Casa De Dios for the bus to pick us up. They were having their church service, but there was a Spanish language barrier. The church began singing a song in Spanish that some of us from GFG knew in English, so we were able to sing with the congregation, but in different languages. That’s when I realized that the power of God through music truly transcends all language. It was an incredible moment. The following night we lead worship in a street, shutting down a neighborhood street and inviting locals to come worship with us. Another night we lead worship outside of a high school and people gathered on a football field. That night it began raining really hard, so everyone tried to cram onto the small school porch. After a few minutes everyone started slowly going back out in the rain and continued worshiping. A little rain can’t hold us back!
While we were in Belize, we did get to see and experience the beauty of the country. We ate amazing food every meal that the pastor’s wife fixed, under the shade of a huge almond tree. We went cave tubing in the rainforest, seeing bats, crystals, stalagmite, and stalactite. We also rode in a water taxi out to one of the Keys and went snorkeling in the Caribbean in the second largest coral reef in the world. Later that day we swam with stingrays and nurse sharks. If you’ve never touched a stingray, they are super slimy! We also got to rub a shark’s belly, which is bumpy and tough. It was only moderately terrifying with these animals swimming around our legs. 😉
It was truly an incredible mission trip. It is possible that we will be going back next summer to equip other churches in Belize for worship. I feel so blessed that I not only got to experience the power of music in Belize, but that I get to experience it every day as a music therapist. What a gift.
You can find out more information about each organization as listed below:
www.guitarsforglory.com
www.prayingpelicanmissions.org
www.midnight30music.com
Mollie Flasch
by Amy Thomas | Apr 28, 2015
Music Therapists Erin Valvo, Joel Page and Gina Schuster participated in the 4th annual MATT Fair (Managing Autism Together Today) on Saturday April 18th at the ESL Total Sports Experience in Spencerport. While there, these therapist’s met with other professionals in the special education, health and wellness, and agencies working with children and adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder. They also were able to meet parents and grandparents and speak with them about how music therapy could contribute to their child’s education; how to get a referral for a music therapy evaluation; and/or how music therapy works in the special education setting. If someone stopped at our table they also were invited to make an instrumental out of recyclable materials such as bottles, cups, paper towel tubes and containers, then jam out to their favorite song. Joel Page even made a drum set out of card board boxes, pots and pans and had kids come by and try it. Overall it was great day and a fun experience for everyone!!
by Amy Thomas | Mar 3, 2015
Managing Autism Together Today (MATT) is a 501 (c) 3 not-for-profit organization focused on supporting parents, children, and families affected by Autism. Our mission is to make it easier for families to locate, obtain, and use the community resources that are available to their special needs children in the Greater Rochester, New York area, so that these children can live happy, healthy, and productive lives.
On Saturday, April 18, 2015, 9am-1pm, Managing Autism Together Today (MATT) will be hosting our 4th Annual Autism Spectrum Connection Fair at the Unity Health System Total Sports Experience, 880 Elmgrove Road, Rochester, NY 14624. This will be a free community event that will connect parents who have children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) with the agencies, businesses, and organizations in the Greater Rochester, New York area that provide Autism services, support, and information. MATT would like to invite you to participate in this 4th Annual Autism Spectrum Connection Fair.
The Autism Spectrum Connection Fair will be an informative and fun-filled family day, where parents/guardians will have an opportunity to come face to face with representatives from a variety of wonderful businesses and organizations in the Greater Rochester, NY area that provide services and support to those affected by Autism.
In addition, this event will be opportunity for special needs children to come have fun. MATT will provide bounce houses, games, and other activities for children of all ages that attend with their parents/caregivers to enjoy.
