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Our Mission Statement

NMTSA was established to enhance the profession of music therapy for the good of the general public by providing preventative and rehabilitative neurologic music therapy services at reasonable fees to individuals and organizations desiring and/or needing such professional services in the Phoenix area; to provide community and family education/training related to positive behavioral and communication approaches to working with persons with autism, neurologic impairments, and/or developmental disabilities; to professionally advertise, promote, and otherwise make known to individuals and organizations in particular, and the public in general, the positive proven therapeutic value that can be obtained by persons who need and receive professionally administered neurologic music therapy services from educationally qualified and clinically trained NMTs; and to promote advances in research and education of the application of neurologic music therapy interventions with persons with developmental disabilities.

Watch our video below outlining the mission and programs offered by NMTSA:

About NMTSA

Though Music Therapy is a relatively new profession in the eyes of many, its history spans centuries.  The first coursework developed to train students into professionals was developed in the 1940s.  More recently, scientists have researched the effects of music and the brain, and found the primary and effective element to be rhythm.  While speech and cognition are hemisphere-specific brain activities, rhythm activates areas in all parts of the brain, thus allowing neurological change occur.

In 1981, as Arizona native Suzanne Oliver was finishing her internship in Wisconsin and searching for jobs, she found only a few music therapy positions within the entire state of Arizona.  At the time, funding for music therapy services beyond private pay was virtually nonexistent—Suzanne then envisioned one day offering quality music therapy services to all those in need in the Phoenix area, regardless of their financial means.  When Ms. Oliver returned home to Phoenix, she began working to fulfill her vision, and in 1982 Music Therapy Services of Arizona, L.L.C. (MTSA) became the first private agency in the nation to provide home-based music therapy services.  In 1983 MTSA was the first to receive a contract in music therapy as a Qualified Vendor with the Arizona Department of Economic Security-Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD), allowing individuals in need of music therapy to access services without financial burden.   Following its DDD contract, MTSA was also the first in Arizona to receive reimbursement for music therapy from private insurance companies, and in 1989 became the first home-based music therapy agency in the country to receive Medicaid funding.   Over the years, recognition of music therapy’s benefits and improved consumer education on accessing service has resulted in an increased need for music therapists throughout the entire state.  In 1999, after reviewing the research findings of the Center for Biomedical Research in Music at Colorado State University and applying the standardized interventions which particularly identify music therapy’s uniqueness in service provision, MTSA continued to improve service delivery via the implementation of a Neurologic Music Therapy approach to treatment in working with individuals with developmental disabilities.  In 2001 MTSA made the advanced level training in Neurologic Music Therapy (NMT) offered through the Center mandatory for all staff, and moved to center-based treatment with the opening of the first Neurologic Music Therapy Clinic in the country.  In 2003, following a fundraiser led by a client parent, MTSA came to the realization that the agency’s vision, including offering positive behavioral supports, increased parent and community education, client support groups, parent and sibling support groups, communication groups, and a school for children with autism, was larger than could be funded by its primary funding source of DDD.  In order to secure alternate means of financial support required to continue this vision, MTSA became NMTSA, Neurologic Music Therapy Services of Arizona—an Arizona 501 (c) 3 nonprofit corporation effective March 2005. 

Today the mission of NMTSA is much the same as it was twenty-five years ago, though the vision of the agency grows as we gain increased understanding of neurological disorders, the needs of individuals within the Phoenix community, and how music therapy can address these needs.  In order to facilitate the growth of increased family education and community support, NMTSA provides a number of programs in addition to individual music therapy sessions.

Future Vision

In the future, NMTSA envisions expanded program offerings in order to adequately support its mission.  As funding increases, NMTSA plans to offer a Second Level Advanced Competency-Based Communication Training and a Second Level Advanced NMT Parent Training, presented late in 2007.  NMTSA also plans to increase programming for Spanish-speaking families, expand home programming in order to further educate and provide resources to families and community members in supporting individuals with Autism and other impairments, and would like to include sibling support groups and parent rock band support groups in its family support programs.  Funds are also needed to furnish the new additions of a Parent Empowerment Center, an invaluable resource center for parents, and a Client Recording Studio.  In order to assist in the development of future music therapy professionals, NMTSA also plans to offer a clinical internship program affiliated with Colorado State University.  It is our goal to continue to develop top-quality, cost-efficient programs that serve the needs of individuals with neurologic impairments, and to offer these programs free of charge to the Phoenix community. 

As the Autism prevalence continues at stifling numbers, as individuals with neurological impairments and their families continue to seek a positive approach to treatment, and as the Phoenix community at large continues in their need for education of what quality music therapy services entail, NMTSA will continue to improve its programming in order to serve those individuals and families.  NMTSA’s current needs include funding for ongoing staff training and continuing professional education to support its therapists in continuing to implement strategies on the forefront of scientific research; additional updated equipment to support and expand our programs; financial resources to offset operational costs including support staff, development officers, and marketing; volunteers to support our programs and general office operation; and funding for additional community education and support.   Though NMTSA has always maintained strength in its employees, business ethics, best practice methodologies, and strategic planning, the organization has never settled for what is already offered.  NMTSA has always and will continue to be an organization that is committed to seeking out the needs of its community members and finding innovative, effective ways to serve them.  NMTSA can only do so with your help.  Please consider making a tax-deductible contribution or a donation of your time by volunteering to assist in one of our many programs. 

Copyright 2006-2007 Neurologic Music Therapy Services of Arizona
All Rights Reserved