Sigma Alpha Iota

sai-national.org • Spring 2026 21 Music Therapy music therapy's power to heal added an additional layer to her lifelong musical journey. Prior to becoming a therapist, her career included advertising, music arranging, and performing residencies in the United States and abroad. As an accomplished guitarist, vocalist, and fiddle player, she was able to see how the language of music connected people across cultures. Her twenty-three years of clinical practice focused on behavioral science and treating those with developmental challenges. A rewarding moment for her was when a young child with autism said "I love you" to his mother—his first words—when leaving a music therapy session. Additionally, she is passionate about working with Brave Women Veterans Retreats, which provides music therapy to veterans who have experienced military sexual trauma and sexual assault while serving in the armed forces. Her meaningful work at these retreats has resulted not only in helping these women to heal, but has empowered survivors to become advocates for music therapy because of its role in their recovery. Amelia Glass came to the music therapy and Sigma Alpha Iota organically. From her early childhood she was raised with both influences and began playing the violin by age seven. It was an easy career decision for her, and she looked for university programs that offered both music therapy and had an active SAI chapter. She transferred schools to complete her education and found herself affiliating with the Milwaukee Alumnae chapter, providing presentations to her sisters in Wisconsin about her work and clinical experiences. While in a session treating a young boy with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and autism, he experienced emotional dysregulation and his behavior became erratic and unsafe. He loved dinosaurs and Jurassic Park, and her quick thinking had her flipping over a buffalo drum and placing him inside, moving it around and simulating being chased by a dinosaur. Her Capstone project, Integration of Gestalt Theory in an Adult Day Program was an excellent example of EVP/ Evidence-Based Practice, the hallmark of the field of music therapy. She will be completing her clinical internship at Manning Family Children's Hospital in New Orleans in 2026. All three agree that ongoing advocacy and educating the public are, and will remain, central to their professional identity. Each has been active in the Tennessee Music Therapy Task Force, advocating for increased access to services and working toward legislation for state recognition. Speaking directly with legislators, testifying in House and Senate subcommittees, and having consumers and their families sharing the benefits of music therapy resulted in the passage of Senate Bill 0898, which regulates the practice of music therapy in Tennessee. Yvonne is the chair of the professional music therapy advisory committee as appointed by Governor Bill Lee, and she and the committee are the "architects" of the standards of practice that will govern music therapists providing services in the state. To date, twenty states have gained licensure/ certification, providing title protection, regulating that only board- certified music therapists are able to provide services to consumers in these states. While the healing power of music has always been at the epicenter of practice, the education and training has changed significantly during the time these clinicians have treated individuals. In the US education system, steeped in a tradition of Western-European music, one of the most exciting advances is the assimilation of multicultural music, practices, and research to music therapy curriculum and ongoing education. Additionally, international collectives such as the World Federation of Music Therapy encourage cross-cultural sharing of research and practice around the globe. The triennial World Congress of Music Therapy, presented by the WCMT, will be held in Bologna, Italy in July 2026. Look for the report of SAI sisters in attendance: in addition to taking part in several panel presentations, Yvonne and Amelia will proudly represent the US and Sigma Alpha Iota with their session Following in Our Footsteps: When Our Children Also Become Music Therapists. "ongoing advocacy and educating the public are, and will remain, central to their professional identity." The World Federation of Music Therapy (WFMT) is hosting the 18th World Congress of Music Therapy (WCMT 2026) in in Bologna, Italy, from July 7–12, 2026. This much-anticipated congress invites the global music therapy community to come together once again to connect across cultures, share knowledge, and celebrate the potential of music in therapy. Under the theme Connecting Borders, the 18th WCMT will highlight innovation, clinical practice, and research that bridge cultures and strengthen the shared mission of music therapists worldwide. Registration is open online until June 28, 2026, or onsite the day of the event. For more information, visit wcmt2026.org

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