We were recently contacted by AMTA and CBMT to participate in the Social Media Advocacy project. This annual event is a time for music therapy bloggers to share posts of the same topic in an effort to spread awareness of #MTAdvocacy.
AMTA/CBMT explains our topic for 2015:
VISION: this project is about vision, about envisioning our profession’s identity (our entire scope of practice) and sharing that with our audience both online and offline (advocacy). We Value this endeavor, we Imagine Success in our advocacy efforts, we Invest in advocacy Opportunities Now and whenever possible.
Music Therapists have no problems when it comes to creativity and compassion. Our jobs require us to have immediate musical reflexes in response to a clients needs that are happening in the moment. Drive and discipline? We’ve got that too! No one could become proficient in guitar, piano, voice and percussion without hours of self motivated time in the practice room. Don’t forget about imagination. It takes special skills to fantasize the possibilities of music and health. These qualities are at the core of each of us. Intelligence… come on! Science, anyone?!?!
The tricky part is to figure out WHAT TO DO with these qualities.
Do you keep them to yourself?
We say…
HELL NO!!!
SHARE IT!
Sharing your information is the next step. It takes courage. It takes action. It starts with you but your ideas will come to LIFE when you share with others.
Where to share…
- Don’t shy away from the conversation “What is Music Therapy?”.
- Present at conferences… not just music therapy conferences but other professions.
- Publish your work you have a lot of options: ebook, podcast, blog post, or white paper.
- Contact local radio stations to be a guest.
- Write press releases in the local newspaper about the latest happenings with your private practice.
- Speak at local optimist clubs and other associations.
- Show it off on your clothing! Wear “I love music therapy” shirts. Or have similar themed water bottles, pens, etc.
- Be a guest blogger and share your MT point of view.
- Write an EBOOK!
FROM CBMT:
As the profession of music therapy has been moving forward with recognition at the state level it has been identified that a document was needed to reflect a similar format to other health care professional organizations Scopes of Practice. CBMT and AMTA worked together to create a Scope of Music Therapy Practice (2015) for the profession based on published documents from both organizations. This new document entitled Scope of Music Therapy Practice (2015) is available as an educational tool and legislative support document that broadly defines the range of responsibilities of a fully qualified music therapy professional with requisite education, clinical training, and board certification. Click here to read the Scope of Music Therapy Practice (2015).
