Spring has just about Sprung!

Are you feeling a burst of creative energy like I am?

Because of the great feedback we’ve received, plus multiple requests, I’ve put together Round 2 subscriptions for the Teen and Attention Elevate Packages.

This means MORE creative ideas + MORE CMTEs.

The Round 2 Teen Package includes so many goodies:

• The Soundtrack of Your Life…this one is always a crowd favorite
• Song Exploration & Discussion…multiple examples and ideas for extension are included
• Accordion Poetry & Songwriting…this one is so cool
• Creative Movement Cards
• Auditory Perception Training with Pop Songs…THIS is where you can easily incorporate any and all of your clients’ favorite songs to engage them
• Rap Writing & Rapping…step by step instructions are included to walk you through the process, as well as ideas to get the creativity flowing

The Round 2 Attention Package does too:

• Creative Listening Experiences…with an added art component
• Pop Song Listening Guides
• Music & Relaxation Experiences…with suggestions for exactly which pop songs to use
• Music & Movement Ideas…choreography provided, as well as multiple holiday & theme ideas
• Auditory Sequencing with Pop Song Ideas…a great way to incorporate movement into your auditory attention & perception experiences
• Themed Rhythmic Combos…THIS is how you incorporate your clients’ preferences into your musical activities, whether it’s video games, Star Wars, baseball, or Taylor Swift

The Round 2 Combo Pack (most popular!) =
Round 2 Teen Package + Round 2 Attention Package

All the ideas are brand NEW, plus you can earn 10 CMTEs per individual package; 20 for the Combo Pack.

The rate for each package will be discounted through next Tuesday, March 31, 2026!

If you’re on the fence –

Here’s what Bri Walstra, MT-BC had to say about Elevate –

“I thought the email portion was helpful! I actually really like the creativity worksheets because it forces me to sit down and think about the six ways to adapt one intervention. I think as music therapists we often get so busy and we read about intervention ideas but never figure out how we can implement them best.”

And Ashley Lewis, MT-BC shared this with me:

“I, of course love your resources and I think you are brilliant. Your work needs to be celebrated and I’ve told my friends about your website and how awesome your resources are.

The support I get from your resources makes my planning so much easier and less stressful. I am huge fan of yours and I can’t wait to see what you come up with next bc I will be buying it! I can’t wait for the next E-Book, keep crushing it over there!!”

The post MORE Creative Ideas + MORE CMTEs appeared first on Wholesome Harmonies, LLC.

I just love St. Patrick’s Day, and finding ways to incorporate that theme into my music therapy sessions with children with autism and adults with developmental disabilities.

There are so many fun ways to work leprechauns, shamrocks, and Irish music into our sessions to target therapeutic goals.

Check out this post, creatively titled “St. Paddy’s Day Session Ideas,” to learn how to play the crowd favorite game I created called “Irish…or Not Irish?” There is a FREEBIE in that post, so you can download the materials and use this game in your sessions right away! In this post you’ll also learn how to “play a rainbow” using your rainbow colored instrument sets.

In the also cleverly-titled post, “MORE St. Paddy’s Day Session Ideas,” you will get just what it says – more creative ideas to implement this week and next. You’ll learn how to incorporate Irish music into your sessions – both up tempo jigs and more mellow piano tunes.

In addition, I share about my FAVORITE instrument to use to enhance my St. Paddy’s Day Sessions.

It is the oh so versatile…..

Duck quacker.

I use the duck quacker to be the sound of the leprechaun laughing! This instrument has been, across the board, for the past 20 years, one of the most engaging instruments for my clients.

Any time they hear the sound, they stop what they’re doing, perk up, and listen.

So, I use the novelty and interesting sound of the instrument to engage my clients so they can work on their therapeutic goals.

In the post, you’ll learn about the game I play called “Where is the leprechaun?“, how I utilize the canary stick, and what goals can be targeted.

And if you want even more creative inspiration, check out Elevate.

Elevate is an email idea subscription designed to help you infuse creativity and FUN into your sessions with school-age & teen clients with autism & related disabilities.

You’ll earn 10 pre-approved CMTE credits per package.

These resources will super charge you and get you ready for your music therapy sessions and classes this Spring.

There are three packages to choose from: the Teen Package, the Attention/Perception Package, the Holidays & Themes Package, and the popular Combo Pack.

Each package is approved by the Certification Board for Music Therapists (CBMT) for 10 continuing education credits.

You’ll receive an email with new musical experience ideas in your inbox each month for six months.

Check everything that’s included in Elevate HERE.

The post Use This Fun Instrument to Enhance Your St. Patrick’s Day Sessions appeared first on Wholesome Harmonies, LLC.

I’m so excited, and I just can’t hide it 🎶

The MT Biz 101 E-Course is now open for enrollment, this week only, Feb 1-8, at a discounted rate and with added bonus material!

I have a few questions for you –

Are you looking to start your own music therapy business, but don’t know where to begin?

Do you want to start a side hustle offering creative resources to bring in passive income, but feel overwhelmed with the tech side of things?

I can relate.

Starting a music therapy business can feel overwhelming. There are taxes, licenses, and registrations. There are NPIs and EINs, and everything varies by state!

As someone who likes clear, step-by-step instructions for how to do things, but couldn’t find this kind of information when I was starting my business, I wanted to create this for other music therapists.

​MT Biz 101 is an E-Course designed to shorten the learning curve and show you in simple, concrete steps how to launch and grow a successful music therapy business.

It is pre-approved by CBMT for 8 CMTE credits for the Basic Package, and 20 for the Pro Package.

The course is open for enrollment one week only, Feb 1-8, at a discounted rate AND with extra biz tip bonus material!

Katelyn Yanovitch, MT-BC shared this after completing the course:

“Amy is very thorough, engaging, and articulate. I left each video with new insights and skills to use towards starting my own business.”

Do not let the overwhelm or uncertainty stop you.

Having a successful music therapy business has changed my life for the better and it will change yours too.

You get to create a schedule that works for you (Want a Mon – Thurs work week? No problem. Want to finish your work day by 3pm? You got it).

You get to choose the work that lights you up the most, whether it’s creating E-Books, doing direct client service, or managing a team of therapists.

And, you get to set your rates, take control of your finances, and make a great living doing what you love.

The MT Biz 101 E-Course will take you through the steps needed to launch and grow your business.

Here are some kind words from participants who have completed the MT Biz 101 E-Course:

“I would recommend this course to everyone – not just people who want to start a business, but also those who are simply interested in learning about the business side of music therapy.

“I loved the worksheets! I liked how they walked you through everything step by step and broke things down. I can get too excited about a project and miss some details, so this was good for me to help me slow down and focus on every aspect of brainstorming.

Thank you for making this course engaging. In my opinion, there are music therapy courses that are too information focused and can get boring or redundant.”​
– Katelyn Yanovitch, MT-BC

“I would recommend this course because it provides a great perspective on music therapy businesses. I enjoyed the worksheets because it truly helped me start thinking and brainstorming about details of a business that I hope to start in the future.”
– Emily K, MT-BC

And some kinds words on other CMTE courses I’ve created:

“It was THE best course I have taken!! I love how she gave it to you in words, then SHOWED you!! It was perfect. Please teach another course! I love your style and would love to see more from you!” – Amanda White, MT-BC

“I think this was the most organized and clearly presented online music therapy course I have ever taken. Thank you for so much for the valuable and useful information. I really appreciated the amount of specific, practical, and useful ideas.” – John Kneip, MT-BC

I would love to see you over in the course!

Check out the packages being offered, and how you can work with me one-on-one to get personalized business coaching (+ 20 CMTEs) – something I’ve never offered before.

Click here to learn more and ENROLL!

The post Are You Ready To Launch Your Music Therapy Business and Take It To the Next Level? appeared first on Wholesome Harmonies, LLC.

It’s a brand new year – the perfect time to give your music therapy business – or side hustle – a boost.

Maybe you have some client intake forms, but know you need more comprehensive intake paperwork in place.

Maybe you have several clients, but would love to bring on more of your dream clients.

Maybe you have an idea for an E-Resource you’d like to offer, and would like to finally launch it.

Here are some resources to get you inspired to give your biz the boost it needs this new year.

First, and most importantly, a few reads on the WHY behind all of this –

Why It’s Amazing to Be a Music Therapy Business Owner 

and

How To Run the Music Therapy Business of Your Dreams

Next, are a few sneak peeks into the MT Biz 101 E-Course – the course designed to shorten the learning curve and show you in simple, concrete steps how to launch and grow a successful music therapy business.

Launch & Grow Your Music Therapy Biz With This E-Course

Take a Sneak Peek Inside the MT Biz 101 E-Course

Take a Sneak Peek Inside the MT Biz 101 Pro Package

The E-Course will be opening up for enrollment February 1, 2026 at a discounted rate and with extra bonus material. Be sure to mark your calendar so you can take the steps needed to launch and grow your business.

The Basic E-Course package allows you to earn 8 pre-approved CMTE credits, and the Pro Package (which includes one-on-one business coaching) allows you to earn a whopping 20 CMTEs!

Katelyn Yanovitch, MT-BC, a Board Certified Music Therapist had this to say about the course:

“I would recommend this course to others! Amy is very thorough, engaging, and articulate. I left each video with new insights and skills to use towards starting my own business.

I would recommend this course to everyone – not just people who want to start a business, but also those who are simply interested in learning about the business side of music therapy. Thank you for making this course engaging. In my opinion, there are music therapy courses that are too information focused and can get boring or redundant.”

And Emily K, MT-BC, a Board Certified Music Therapist, shared this:

“I recommend this course because it provides a great perspective on music therapy businesses. I enjoyed the Business Brainstorming worksheets because it truly helped me start thinking and brainstorming about details of a business that I hope to start in the future.

I enjoyed taking and learning from your course, and I feel even more inspired to start my own music therapy business one day!”

Be sure to hop on the wait list here so you’ll have access to the discounted rate and bonus material I’ll be offering:

The post Give Your Music Therapy Business (or side hustle) a Boost with These Resources appeared first on Wholesome Harmonies, LLC.

🥁🪇 Children ages 5-12 of all abilities are welcome, and will rotate through three groups: Music Therapy | Art | Yoga

This is a drop off event. Parents are invited to a session on nurturing creativity with your child, followed by coffee at a local shop to connect with other parents. Co-hosted with my friends and colleagues at Tonality Music Therapy.

Sunday, February 8, 2026 from 1:00-4:00pm at 123 Baltimore Street, Suite 208 in Gettysburg

We cannot wait to come together as a community to make music, move, and create art!

Reach out via our contact form or email Amy@WHmusictherapy.com for more information and to register your child!

The post Kids Creativity in Gettysburg, PA appeared first on Wholesome Harmonies, LLC.

Hear me out though.

I’ve started working with some new clients in Pennsylvania who have funding through the PA Waiver Program.

This allows adults with intellectual disabilities to receive music therapy services free of charge.

Being a waiver provider means my documentation and reports will be checked to ensure compliance and to ensure there is a continued need for service.

To help keep things crystal clear for myself as I am session planning, documenting, and writing service notes, I do color-coded goals and objectives.

Each goal and corresponding objective is assigned a color. The musical experience in my session plan that addresses that objective is given the same color.

Here’s an example from a session I led this past week:

I’m a visual learner through and through, so this helps me clearly see how I am actively addressing each goal and objective in my session.

This has made my service note writing and report writing much easier and more clear.

I have supervised practicum students and interns for almost my entire 20 year career. I think this technique could be very beneficial for students (especially if they are visual learners!)

If you are in Pennsylvania (in the Gettysburg, Hanover, or Fairfield areas), Maryland (in the Emmitsburg, Thurmont, or Frederick areas), or South Florida (Miami-Dade, Broward, or Palm Beach counties) and are looking for in-home music therapy services or lessons, reach out to me at Amy@WHmusictherapy.com or using our website contact form here.

The post Color Coded Goals & Objectives appeared first on Wholesome Harmonies, LLC.

When I first started offering music therapy privately, way back in 2006, the only option for funding music therapy was private pay / paying out of pocket.

Fast forward almost 20 years and we now have multiple funding sources that allow individuals of all ages to have access to music therapy services.

In Pennsylvania (where I reside and provide services), I am a proud provider for the Pennsylvania Waiver Program through the Department of Human Services. We accept the following:

Consolidated Waiver

Community Living Waiver

Person/Family Directed Support Waiver

These waivers allow individuals with an intellectual or developmental disability, or autism to receive music therapy.

In Florida (where the other music therapists on my team reside and provide services), we are providers for CMS Sunshine Health and the Family Empowerment Scholarship for Unique Abilities from Step Up for Students.

Both cover our services at 100%, the family pays nothing out of pocket, and we take care of billing. So children with autism and other developmental disabilities can receive music therapy services for free.

If you are interested in learning more about the in-home music therapy services provided by our board certified music therapists, reach out to me via our contact form or email: Amy@WHmusictherapy.com.

The post Music Therapy for FREE! Funding Sources for Music Therapy in Pennsylvania and Florida appeared first on Wholesome Harmonies, LLC.

I am on a mission!

A mission to figure out how to use those “not-so-therapeutic” client-preferred songs and artists purposefully in our sessions.

So far, I’ve shared how you could use those songs during Name That Tune with a Twist and during Pop Music Relaxation experiences.

Today, I’m sharing an idea I came up with during covid when all my sessions were virtual.

I had to figure out how to connect with my tween and teen clients across the computer screen.

So, I started coming up with Mini Musical Bios and turned them into a game of Guess Who.

I started with a list of a few of my clients’ favorite singers and bands.

For each one, I created a PDF with pictures and factoids about that singer or band – one factoid and picture per page.

I made them large and colorful and visually appealing.

Each factoid was a clue to see if my clients could guess who the singer or band was.

I tried to include a mix of basic info, such as “I am a singer-songwriter, filmmaker, and former professional surfer” and little known facts that might stump even the biggest fans, such as “I’m an environmentalist and care deeply about the world’s oceans.”

At the end of the PDF, I’d ask my clients to try to guess who the singer or band was.

Click here to download a FREE PDF Mini Musical Bio for Meghan Trainor!

This was a great way to encourage communication skills amongst my clients.

Following this, we would move into a musical experience that included a song by that singer or band. It could be music and movement, singing, instrument playing, etc – the possibilities are endless!

This was a great way to keep my middle and high school music therapy clients engaged and excited about coming to our sessions.

Did this idea help or spark something for you?

Keep that spark alive! Now through August 31, 2025, you can sign up for Elevate at a discounted rate AND with some awesome bonus material.

Elevate is an email idea subscription designed to help you infuse creativity and FUN into your sessions with school-age & teen clients with autism & related disabilities. You’ll earn 10 pre-approved CMTE credits per package.

These resources will super charge you and get you ready for your music therapy sessions and classes this Fall.

There are three packages to choose from: the Teen Package, the Attention/Perception Package, or The Holidays & Themes Package.

Each package is approved by the Certification Board for Music Therapists (CBMT) for 10 continuing education credits.

You’ll receive an email with new musical experience ideas in your inbox each month for six months.

Click here to sign up for Elevate now through August 31st, so you can take advantage of the discounted rate AND bonus material: Keeping Things Cool for Your Teen Clients in Music Therapy.

In this bonus PDF, you’ll get:

• Where to hang out to find new music for teens
• Great pop songs for movement with teens (2025 edition!)
• How to keep things age appropriate and cool
• Why & how to use client preferred music

The post Using Not-So-Therapeutic Songs Therapeutically: Mini Musical Bios (+ FREEBIE!) appeared first on Wholesome Harmonies, LLC.

I am on a mission to figure out how to use “not so therapeutic” songs therapeutically.

I know for me, it is really tough when my clients or students like songs that are not necessarily “appropriate” for school, or seem to me to have little therapeutic value due to the content and lyrics.

But it’s important to me to learn how to use these songs in our sessions as a way to: a) validate my clients’ musical taste (therefore validating THEM!), and b) better engage them to work on their goals and objectives.

My brain LOVES this creative challenge, so I am sharing what I’ve come up with in this blog series.

In last week’s post, I shared how to facilitate Name That Tune with a Twist – it’s a simple way to work in those songs that you don’t know how to otherwise use purposefully.

(And to work on attention perception skills).

Today, I’m sharing another way to use not-so -therapeutic songs therapeutically: use them in relaxation experiences.

I play most of the music used in my sessions live, but for relaxation experiences I’ll often use recorded music. This way, my hands are free to model movements.

Here are some of my favorite songs to use during relaxation experiences:

• “A Thousand Years” from Twilight – Piano Guys version
• “Perfect” by Ed Sheeran – Conkarah Reggae cover
• “Meant to Be” by Bebe Rexha on violin
• “Someday” from Disney’s Zombies ballad or reprise  – karaoke track
• “Bird Song” by The Wailin’ Jennys (I use this in my Spring-themed sessions)
• “America the Beautiful” (for my patriotic-themed sessions)
• “Buchanan Mist” by Paul Machlis (for St. Paddy’s day sessions)
• “Wintersong” by Ingrid Michaelson & Sarah Bareilles (for winter-themed sessions)

These songs are familiar to my tween and teen clients, so there is instant engagement, but they also lend themselves to stretching, breathing, and winding down at the end of a session.

Here’s how to make this super customized for YOUR unique clients:

Search for the instrumental versions of their favorite songs (like “Meant to Be” on violin) or the karaoke track of their favorite songs (like “Someday” karaoke).

If this idea has helped or sparked something for you, keep that spark alive! Now through August 31, 2025, you can sign up for Elevate at a discounted rate AND with some awesome bonus material.

Elevate is an email idea subscription designed to help you infuse creativity and FUN into your sessions with school-age & teen clients with autism & related disabilities. You’ll earn 10 pre-approved CMTE credits per package.

These resources will super charge you and get you ready for your music therapy sessions and classes this Fall.

There are three packages to choose from: the Teen Package, the Attention/Perception Package, or The Holidays & Themes Package.

Each package is approved by the Certification Board for Music Therapists (CBMT) for 10 continuing education credits.

You’ll receive an email with new musical experience ideas in your inbox each month for six months.

Click here to sign up for Elevate now through August 31st, so you can take advantage of the discounted rate AND bonus material: Keeping Things Cool for Your Teen Clients in Music Therapy.

In this bonus PDF, you’ll get:

• Where to hang out to find new music for teens
• Great pop songs for movement with teens (2025 edition!)
• How to keep things age appropriate and cool
• Why & how to use client preferred music

The post Using Not-So-Therapeutic Songs Therapeutically: Pop Music Relaxation appeared first on Wholesome Harmonies, LLC.

We are just about to roll into the new school year.

(How is that even possible when it feels like summer was just starting?!)

Nevertheless, a new school year is right around the corner.

So, I wanted to share some fresh ideas for your music therapy sessions and classes with school-age children and teens.

But not just any ideas!

Ideas for how to use not-so-therapeutic songs therapeutically. 

Many of the songs that are popular now have content and lyrics that aren’t appropriate for use in our sessions (due to restrictions from a school or facility) or that make it difficult to figure out how to possibly use them in a therapeutic manner.

But client preferred music is the gold standard, right?

So what do we do when our clients prefer music that has inappropriate language or content?

I am here to share several ways you can use client-preferred and popular music in a therapeutic way, even if that may seem impossible at first.

This is a creative challenge that my brain LOVES, so I put together a little mini-series on the topic.

First up – Name That Tune with a Twist.

The twist is playing the song on your primary instrument or a symphonic instrument (which for me is clarinet!)

You could also pull up a recorded version on YouTube such as “Havana” by Camila Cabello on flute or “Ocean Eyes” by Billie Eilish on saxophone.

These exist – look them up for yourself!

I prefer to present using live music, but YouTube does have some very creative options.

Name That Tune is a great musical game to work on social communication skills in a group setting or auditory perception and listening skills in a one-on-one setting.

And, to the point of this blog post, it’s a great way to work some of those not-so-therapeutic songs into your sessions.

When your client recognizes a song by their favorite artist, it will light them up, excite, and engage them. It lets them know that you value them and their musical preferences.

So, they are more likely to participate for the duration of the musical experience, and more likely meet their goals and objectives.

If this idea has helped or sparked something for you, keep that spark alive! Now through August 31, 2025, you can sign up for Elevate at a discounted rate AND with some awesome bonus material.

Elevate is an email idea subscription designed to help you infuse creativity and FUN into your sessions with school-age & teen clients with autism & related disabilities.

These resources will super charge you and get you ready for your music therapy sessions and classes this Fall.

There are three packages to choose from: the Teen Package, the Attention/Perception Package, or The Holidays & Themes Package.

Each package is approved by the Certification Board for Music Therapists (CBMT) for 10 continuing education credits.

You’ll receive an email with new musical experience ideas in your inbox each month for six months.

Click here to sign up for Elevate now through August 31st, so you can take advantage of the discounted rate AND bonus material: Keeping Things Cool for Your Teen Clients in Music Therapy.

In this bonus PDF, you’ll get:

• Where to hang out to find new music for teens
• Great pop songs for movement with teens (2025 edition!)
• How to keep things age appropriate and cool
• Why & how to use client preferred music

The post Using Not-So-Therapeutic Songs Therapeutically: Name That Tune with a Twist appeared first on Wholesome Harmonies, LLC.