Below, please find a list of curated resources and information that may be of help to you in the following areas. Links and information are shared below for your convenience and easy access. AMTA does not necessarily endorse nor approve these products or services, but wishes to provide broad access to opportunities during this dramatic shift in practice and learning due to COVID-19. Check back often as this page will be updated with new information as it becomes available.
Please note that the list of resources below is not all inclusive, so we encourage members of our community to consult other sources like the United Way, YMCA, universities, and local faith-based communities. Please continue to consult these resources and reach out in your local communities to ask questions and find more information about supports.
Click the links for each section:
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COVID-19 Task Force & National Office Staff (see below)
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Fall Update 2023
Your AMTA COVID-19 Task Force remains available to support and serve the professional and student community. We welcome messages or calls to action related to COVID-19 as we continue to monitor the needs of our greater music therapy community. We have reviewed and maintained our collection of resources by content area on AMTA’s “COVID-19 Resources for Music Therapists and Students” https://www.musictherapy.org/about/covid19_resources/ including links to:
· Service provider resources: https://www.musictherapy.org/about/covid19_resources_service_provider_resources/
· Infection prevention and control: https://www.musictherapy.org/about/covid19_resources_infection_prevention_and_control/
· Self care resources: https://www.musictherapy.org/about/covid19_resources_selfcare_resources/
As the Coronavirus becomes endemic and conditions change in each locality where music therapists practice, it may be helpful to develop a decision-making process to balance client needs, risks and safety of everyone involved.
AMTA members are encouraged to consider the Risk Mitigation Decision-Making Model ( https://academic.oup.com/mtp/article-abstract/41/1/93/7146541?redirectedFrom=fulltext ) for a resource to assist in making the best decisions related to service delivery given changing circumstances.
There does not seem to be updated information regarding the impact of singing on the spread of COVID-19 beyond what we learned early in the pandemic. There is more information emerging about the treatment of respiratory/pulmonary issues and vocal recovery related to infection and long COVID. Music therapists may benefit from this knowledge both for their own application and to promote the use of music therapy in treatment for those who may be experiencing these illnesses.
The following articles provide information relevant to vocal health and singing after COVID-19 infections and treatment, and how to re-engage in singing activities after illness. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/resp.14424 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9666372/
The Scottish Opera has resources for using breath and singing to help with recovery of long COVID. https://www.scottishopera.org.uk/join-in/breath-cycle/
This scoping review examined the use of singing interventions in pulmonary rehabilitation (not only COVID-19), and gives recommendations for developing singing interventions. https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/20/2/1383
Continue to follow the CDC website to keep up to date on recommendations for safety and prevention, particularly in your clinical settings. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/prevention.html
Vaccine updates
This fall is a good time to update your flu and Covid vaccines. Even if you are not at risk for serious illness, getting vaccinated helps to protect the vulnerable people around you, including those you work with.
The CDC now recommends a new Covid booster for everyone ages 6 months and older. Read more details at cdc.gov.
An annual influenza vaccination is also recommended for everyone ages 6 months and older. Read more from the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases.
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On Tuesday, March 18, 2020, the AMTA Board of Directors approved the creation of a COVID-19 Task Force to coordinate and support regions, members, music therapists, and students during the healthcare emergency presented by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The COVID-19 Task Force is chaired by Seneca Block, MA, MT-BC and includes individuals with a background in trauma informed care, disaster response, healthcare administration, and music therapy private practice. We recognize that both the situation and local, state, and federal responses are continually developing, so we will post information via AMTA social media platforms as regularly as possible. We also recognize that much support is needed, and we want to assure you that we are responding as quickly and effectively as possible. If you have questions, please reach out to Seneca Block at Seneca.block@uhhospitals.org. Please continue to check AMTA social media platforms for additional updates.