Like other professions, a lot happens in the world of music therapy and stories of success and new discoveries in treatment happen every day. These news articles don’t always make the front page, so we’re going to share them with you here.

1. HEALING POWER OF MUSIC BRINGS FAMILY TOGETHER
In Cincinnati, Procter & Gamble retiree, Greg Huntington launched a program four years ago by gifting ukuleles to severely ill children to provide them with the opportunity to use music to forget about pain and negative associations often made with medical equipment and procedures. This article covers the amazing story of how a music therapist and a ukulele have impacted the life of a 7 year old boy diagnosed with Krabbe disease, an enzyme deficiency that effects the nervous system. Not only does Elias use music to express himself, but he has the opportunity to connect with his siblings as they join in his music therapy sessions by playing trombone, flute, and even a ukulele quartet with their brother.
For more information about this story, please click on the link below:
http://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2014/12/24/ukulele-music-therapy/20866863/

2. MUSIC THERAPY ON CNN
It isn’t every day that music therapy gets coverage from a major network; however, CNN recently made their way to Canton, Georgia where they interviewed Music Therapist Jennifer Puckett. Jennifer owns her own music therapy practice where she provides this service for individuals with a variety of diagnoses and special needs. Although this news story primarily focuses on educating America about music therapy, it’s still important coverage for our profession. Many families are unaware that music therapy exists or is even a treatment option that is also covered by public schools, some insurance companies, and some hospitals and rehabilitation facilities. For the whole story, please click on the link below.
http://edition.cnn.com/videos/tv/2015/01/08/music-therapy.cnn

3. PRESIDENT OBAMA SALUTES MUSIC THERAPY
President Obama recently spoke about the importance of music therapy in the recovery of a wounded warrior at “A Salute to the Troops: In Concert at the White House.” According to the President, “[In] the months and years that followed, he kept fighting back with the help of hundreds of hours of music therapy. And today, Luis can see again, he can eat again, he can speak again. He’s even playing, as I understand, a little bit of golf. (Laughter.) And every night, he still goes to sleep with music playing.
The President’s complete remarks can be found here:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2014/11/06/remarks-president-salute-troops-concert-white-house