In the words of FloRida…. “OH sometimes…. I get a good feelin’!” We have been so busy getting ready for the regional music therapy conference this past week here in Springfield! The committee is currently hard at work preparing and organizing so that the first MT conference in Springfield is a success! We are striving for you to truly “get your kicks on route 66”! There are going to be around 200 music therapists here in Springfield in less than a week and we couldn’t be more excited! We have an AMAZING list of presenters for the weekend, GREAT musical entertainment lined up, a Friday Night Jam Session, PLUS it is First Friday in the downtown area which means the conference falls on the night of the city’s Art Walk. Downtown will be filled with people, art, live music and great dining experiences for all! If you aren’t the type for the downtown scene, no worries! There will be a Drum Circle/Jam Session held on Friday night at the hotel which will be led by myself and the awesome MT students from Drury University, located here in Springfield. A big round of applause for Natalie Wlodarczyk, PhD, MT-BC and Kyle Wilhelm, MA, MT-BC for their amazing work as conference chairs, as well as everyone else on the conference committee who has been working so hard to get things ready! Here are a few things to look forward to!
Keynote Speaker: Dena Register, PhD, MT-BC
Student Passages Keynote Speaker: Leslie Jones, MMT, MT-BC
CMTE’s Offered: -Writing Grant Applications for Music Therapy Research -Guitar in a Show Me State of Mind: You Ask We’ll Show -A Streamlined Approach to the Treatment Process: Paper Trail: Documentation Methods and Terminology that Translate Across Settings -Defining the Therapeutic Function of Music for Clinical Practice
Musical Performances Including: -The Drury Intergenerational Rock Band -Drury Jazz Band -Alexa Kilgore (Drury MT student)
Are you excited yet?! We can’t wait to see you all and hope that you all ENJOY YOURSELVES and have a PHENOMENAL conference!!! See you Friday!
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Feel free to check out these websites to learn a little more about the University Plaza Hotel and Convention Center, Downtown Springfield, and Art Walk. Big Whiskey’s American Bar and Grill is also contributing! Present your conference name tag and receive a 10% discount on food! Downtown location only! You’ll have to check your swag bags for other awesome goodies to help make your weekend stay a great one! 😉
