Southeastern Conference of the American Music Therapy Association 2006
UofL Students and Faculty Helped with Successful SER-AMTA Conference!
The Southeastern Conference of the American Music Therapy Association (SER-AMTA) was held in Louisville from March 29 to April 1, 2006. The conference theme was “Music Therapy Across the Board.” UofL music students and faculty were very involved in the conference. Every music therapy major attended at least a portion of the conference and most assisted with registration and presiding at sessions.
Kerry Chamberlain, part-time music therapy faculty member, was conference chair and responsible for much of the success of the conference. She was assisted by the following part-time music faculty members and others involved in teaching UofL students (among others): Jenny Branson helped with program development; Jenny Krider and Jenny Branson handled donations, exhibit hall, and sponsorships; Lorinda Jones arranged entertainment; Jenny Krider and Michael Clark handled registration services; Cheryle Lawrence coordinated instruments; and Michael Clark handled the website. Allison Cross, as President of the Music Therapy Organization of the University of Louisville (MTOUL), was very involved in coordinating UofL students who helped with the conference.
Harry Pickens, presented an inspiring keynote address (including music, of course), encouraging attendees to take charge of their own career development. Joy Berger presented a continuing education course, “Compassion Wellness: Burned Up? Burned Out? Or Fueled Within?” The Lorinda Jones Trio provided music at the Awards Celebration and Banquet.
The following concurrent sessions involved UofL personnel:
Shannon Bowles - “The Effect of Lifelong Music on Well-Being and Depression for Older Adults”
Lorinda Jones, Jenny Krider, Allison Kerr, Greta Gillmeister, and Jenny Branson - “Across the School Board*Planning, Implementation, and Documentation”
Cheryle Lawrence, Megan Fitzpatrick (Music Therapy intern) - “Orff Music Therapy Across Age and Ability Levels”
Barbara Wheeler, Lorinda Jones, Jenny Branson - “Developing Music Therapy Jobs: Three Perspectives”
“Passages” was held prior to the conference and was intended for students and new professionals. Barbara Wheeler gave the keynote address for this, “Emerging as a Music Therapy Professional.” UofL senior Cyndi Williams did a very effective presentation, “Understanding Visual Impairments in Music Therapy,” in which she presented information about visual impairments and working with them, including some experiential exercises that allowed participants to experience what a person with a visual impairment experiences. Paula Dowdy and Lara Fejes were in charge of a portion of the closing session.
As the host school, MTOUL students had t-shirts made up and sold them. They made a very good profit on these which should help with future expenses for students who attend conferences and other professional events. The t-shirts say, “Music Therapy Across the Board” and, on the back have a quote from Plato: “Music is a moral law. It gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and charm and gaiety to life and to everything.” A few t-shirts are still left and MTOUL would be happy to sell them to anyone for $10 each! Cyndi Williams made all of the t-shirt arrangements with the assistance of Allison Cross.
The UofL School of Music was a sponsor of the conference and the Friday morning coffee break.
Presentation given by Cyndi Williams
