**If you haven’t already, please go to the membership page to fill out the form and pay dues for the 2023-2024 season.**
Welcome
2023-2024 Season
The Massachusetts Music Therapy Alliance (MMTA) is pleased to announce our upcoming 2023-2024 Mini-Conference Series:
Strike a Vocal Cord: Topics in Voicework and Authentic Expression
DATES: September 30th, December 2nd, February 3rd
We hope you will join us for a three-part series all about voicework. Over the course of the season we will discuss clinical techniques, explore our relationship with our voice, and join together in song. Stay tuned for more info!
We are glad to announce that all three meetings will take place IN PERSON at our traditional meeting spot at
the Congregational Church of Weston. There will be an option to join a virtual livestream via Zoom as well.
Mini-Conference #1: Community Meeting
We will begin our exploration of voicework by coming together in MMTA’s first ever pop-up community choir!
Special thanks to Carol Smolenski, MT-BC, MA, MSEd who will be leading us in vocal warm-ups and a
conversation about vocal health before we break out into song.
DATE: Saturday, September 30, 2023
TIME: 9:30 welcome, 10am-12:30pm meeting
LOCATION: The Congregational Church of Weston, 130 Newton St, Weston, MA
LIVESTREAM: https://zoom.us/j/4706524376
MODERATOR: Hannah Shefsky, MT-BC, LMHC
Mini-Conference #2: Introduction to Voice Movement Therapy with Mali Sastri, VMT-R
Voice Movement Therapy (VMT) is the only expressive arts modality that focuses on the unique capacity of the human voice to act as a vehicle for therapeutic self-expression and expansion. In this part-presentation/part-workshop, registered VMT practitioner Mali Sastri will give a brief overview of the history and founding, as well as core components, of this expressive arts discipline. Through guided imagery, voice and movement exercises, and improvisatory games, participants will get an experiential “taste” of this powerful work, which seeks to ground us in our bodies and breath, develop our own embodied, flexible vocal instrument, and deepen our connection to the words and sounds we sing and speak. For more info, visit Mali's website: https://malisastri.com/voicework/
DATE: Saturday, December 2, 2023
TIME: 9:30a welcome, 10-12:30pm meeting
LOCATION: The Congregational Church of Weston, 130 Newton St, Weston, MA
LIVESTREAM: https://zoom.us/j/91218238575
MODERATOR: Andrew Krahn, MA, MT-BC, Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapist
Mini-Conference #3: Panel on Queer and Transgender Identity in Voicework
To round out this season's exploration of voicework, we will be joined by three wonderful panelists to share their perspectives and expertise around the theme of Queer and Trans Identity in Voicework. We will explore topics like voice modification, gender-affirming vocal techniques, and the interplay between the voice and personal identity and expression.
Our panelists are:
kei slaughter, MFA, PLPC, MT-BC; Sound Artist, Music Therapist, and Community Activator: www.keislaughter.com/
Barbara Worth, MS CCC-SLP; Speech-Language Pathologist and former Music Therapist (formally on the MMTA board!):
https://robbins-center.com/meet-the-staff/
Soren Austenfeld; Voice Educator and Music Director (First Parish in Malden, Universalist): www.sorenaustenfeld.com/
With guest appearance from:
Maevon Gumble, MMT, MT-BC; Music Therapist, Pre-licensed Counselor, Singer-Songwriter, Voice Teacher, and
Gender-Affirming Voicework (GAV) Founder/Trainer: https://www.becomingthroughsound.com/
DATE: Saturday, February 3, 2024
TIME: 9:30a welcome, 10-12:30pm meeting
LOCATION: The Congregational Church of Weston, 130 Newton St, Weston, MA
LIVESTREAM: https://zoom.us/j/98814606169
MODERATOR: Kim Johnson, LMHC, MT-BC