Drumming Up Music Therapy at the AMTA 2011 NationalConference:

Here we are again after another year of work, study, play.  Time has passed and brought us back to another national AMTA conference.   This year’s event is being held in Atlanta Georgia.   Last year was the first year to offer a “drum track” to the mix.  This year also has plenty of percussion-related opportunities.  There will be CMTE’s, concurrent sessions, and extra events relating to percussion and drumming, including a variety of experiences not previously offered.  I’d like to highlight the events here below:

Opening Session:

Daiko Drumming Experience

Headed by Irish Shiraishi, and guest-performed by Kalani Das, Carolyn Koebel, Bill Matney, and Jane Creagan, the world of Japanese Daiko drumming will be experienced by all who attended the opening ceremony.  This promises to be captivating!

Read more about Iris Shiraishi here.

Friday, November 18, 7:00 PM:

Conscious Drumming Experience

with Jim Borling

Jim Borling is professor of music therapy at Radford University.  He and colleague Bob Miller developed the Conscious Drumming experience as a response to traumatic events and community needs.  This year has witnessed disasters and difficulties that have affected many of our colleagues.  Come participate in an indigenous music therapy model based in drumming and community that is didactic, and can also be transformational.

Mickey Hart: Drumming Events-

Mickey Hart, drummer for the Grateful Dead, author of books on ethnic percussion such as Planet Drum, and musician/producer for many world music CD’s, will be joining us at the AMTA conference.  Mickey Hart is rumored to be involved with the Friday night drum circle, and will likely be involved with other events during the conference.   Look at the official program during the conference for more details!

Spirit Dance:

Move and dance to percussion music, and possibly even a full rhythm section, with Kalani, members of the Music Therapy Drumming team, and other musicians/music therapists.  This is an event certain to get your groove on!

CMTE Events:

Many continuing education opportunities will be offered at this year’s national conference.  Of these, there are quite a few related to drumming.  Each CMTE course takes a unique angle on the use of this instrumentation in clinical work.  Following is a summary of each of these CMTE courses.

Clinical Improvisation: Essential Skills for Creating Sound Connections: Kalani

November 7th, 7:30-12:30

Acclaimed musician, author, Orff Schulwerk facilitator, and music therapist Kalani Das will be offering a CMTE introduction to his new book The Way of Music: Creating Sound Connections in Music Therapy. This CMTE will offer participants an introduction to specific non-idiomatic music improvisation frameworks as experienced both inside and outside of the field of music therapy.  It will also offer an introduction to clinical improvisation techniques indigenous to music therapy practice.   The book will be available at the conference exhibit hall, in the Sarsen Publishing member booth, and will subsequently be available through Sarsen Publishing.   You can find Chapter 1 and audio examples of the book here.

New Ideas on Drumming With Older Adults in All Levels of Care-Kat Fulton:

November 20, 1:30-6:30

Kat Fulton will present on the use of group drumming with older adult populations.  Those who have seen Kat’s DVD are aware of her common-sense approach to integrating music, accompaniment, games, and improvisation into music experiences.   Certainly a beneficial CMTE for those who work in geriatric settings.

The Pulse of Wellbeing- Christine Stevens

November 7, 1:30-6:30

This CMTE will be geared towards employee wellness and team building, integrating facilitation techniques and concepts from theHealthRhythms training.

Foundations of an Orff Music Therapy Practice: Entree, Side Dish, or Dessert? –

Linda M. Wright-Bower

Sunday November 20, 1:30-6:30 PM

Orff-Schulwerk, percussion, and music therapy are a great fit!   This CMTE will explore the structuring and layering of Orff-based music experiences, and apply them to music therapy theoretical orientations.

Concurrent Sessions:

This year’s concurrent sessions appear diverse and thorough.  The problem will be choosing which one to go to!  Attached here are concurrent sessions focusing on percussion or some relevant clinical consideration.

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Related posts:

1. AMTA Atlanta 2011: The Percussion Track
2. 2010 AMTA National Conference – Percussion-Related CMTE’s and Sessions
3. Music Therapy Drumming on Facebook
4. The American Music Therapy Association Percussion Track
5. Benefits of Traditional Drumming in Music Therapy

About

Music Therapy Drumming is a world drumming and clinical therapy curriculum primarily for Board-Certified Music Therapists (MT-BC). It is designed and presented by MT-BC's who are also professional percussionists.