Course Description
Developed by Dr. Concetta Tomaino and IMNF staff, and based on the book "Music Has Power® in Senior Wellness and Healthcare", this on demand certification series bridges the gap between music therapy and everyday care, empowering practitioners with the knowledge, skills, and resources needed to harness the therapeutic power of music effectively. Drawing on over 40 years of clinical and research expertise, Dr. Tomaino—a pioneer in the field—offers invaluable insights for music therapists, healthcare leaders, clinicians, and caregivers alike.
Earn your certification and become a leader in music-based senior care.
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NCTRC approved 9.5 credit hours (0.95 CEUs)
- CBMT approved 10 credits
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NAB approved 9.75 credits
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NYSED approved 10 credits
*Master’s level MT-BC’s interested in a certificate as an Advanced Senior Care Music Therapist (ASCMT) can complete this course along with a specialized in person training at IMNF in Mount Vernon, NY. Contact us for more information.
*The Senior Care Music Specialist certification does not grant board certification as a music therapist.
Included in This Course
When you enroll in Best Practices from Music Therapy for Using Music in Senior Wellness and Healthcare, you’ll receive:
- One-Year IMNF Membership: Access complimentary courses, research updates, guides, and best practices for using music therapeutically.
- Referral Listing: Be featured on our website, connecting you with individuals and organizations seeking practitioners.
- Guidance and Support: Get help using music effectively. Support is offered via phone, email, or Zoom, during business hours.
- Community Access: Join a network of passionate practitioners to share ideas and experiences.
Enroll today and join a community dedicated to enhancing senior wellness through music!
"This course is incredibly valuable for those who want to incorporate music into caregiving and senior care. It is informative, engaging and is filled with meaningful content. The course gives thoughtful, practical and easy to follow ideas for bringing music into various health settings."
~Molly Carpenter, Gerontologist and Recreation Therapist.
Course Content
Introduction
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after you enroll
Module 1: What is Music Therapy?
Available in
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after you enroll
- Introduction
- Section 2: Understanding "Music" and "Therapy"
- Section 3: Therapeutic Benefits of Music
- Section 4: A Simple Definition (3:16)
- Section 5: Applications Across the Lifespan
- Section 6: Evidence-Based Practice
- Section 7: Broadening the Definition (4:19)
- Section 8: Types of Music Interventions
- Section 9: Music Therapy Goals
- Section 10: Benefits, Risks, and Outcomes
- Module One: Learning Assessment
Module 2: An Introduction to Music Interventions: The Therapeutic Drumming Circle
Available in
days
days
after you enroll
- Introduction
- Section 1: What Happens in a Therapeutic Drumming Circle? (24:23)
- Section 2: What Does Therapeutic Drumming Tell Us About Music Interventions in General?
- Section 3: Leading Activities for People with Dementia: Tips on Getting Attention—and Keeping It
- Section 4: How to Mount a Therapeutic Drumming Circle in Your Senior Care Community
- Section 5: Therapeutic Drumming: “It’s the Number One Interdisciplinary Team Vitamin!”
- Module Two: Learning Assessment
Module 3: Bringing Music Therapy Best Practices to Your Organization
Available in
days
days
after you enroll
- Introduction
- Section 1: Champions for Music Therapy
- Section 2: Person-Centered Care
- Section 3: A Music-Rich Environment
- Section 4: About You
- Section 5: Creative Aging Approach
- Section 6: Moving it Forward: Implementing Your Plan
- Section 7: Cost-effectiveness: Can We Make the Case?
- Section 8: Engaging a Music Therapist as a Consultant, Trainer, or Member of the Healthcare Team
- Section 9: Developing a Training Program
- Section 10: Adding Musician Volunteers to Your Therapeutic Music Program
- Section 11: A Community Leader Takes Action: Judy’s Story
- Module Three: Learning Assessment
Module 4: Music for Mental Health and Wellness
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days
days
after you enroll
- Introduction
- Section 1: About You: Measure Your Level of Loneliness
- Section 2: Social Prescribing and Music Interventions
- Section 3: Health, “Mental Health,” and Wellness: What Are Our Goals?
- Section 4: Music-based Groups for Mental Health and Wellness
- Section 5: Getting Started with a Music-Based Group
- Section 6: A Model: Music-based Groups with a Focus on Social Wellness
- Section 7: Variations on the Model: Music-based Groups with a Focus on Mental Health and Emotional Wellness
- Section 8: Applications in Senior Care Settings
- Section 4: Musical Improvisation
- Section 9: About You: Music and Mood Management
- Section 10: Dealing with Unexpected Emotional Responses
- Section 11: Moving to Music to Reduce Depression Symptoms (0:32)
- Section 12: Music-based Groups for Well Seniors
- Module Four: Learning Assessment
Module 5: Music for People Living with Dementia
Available in
days
days
after you enroll
- Introduction
- Section 1: Music to Meet the Social and Emotional Needs of People with Dementia (4:24)
- Section 2: The Music-Based Dementia Group: Singing and Playing and Listening to Familiar Songs
- Section 3: Using Pre-recorded Music: Personalized Playlists (7:28)
- Section 4: Music for Relaxation
- Section 5: Music to Enhance Cognition
- Section 6: Music for Physical and Motor Issues
- Section 7: Therapeutic Drumming Circles for People with Dementia (3:28)
- Section 8: Choruses for People with Dementia and Their Caregivers
- Section 9: Familiar Songs—Yes, It’s Brain Science!
- Section 10: My Soundtrack with Glen Campbell—By Kim Campbell
- Module Five: Learning Assessment
Module 6: Music for Everyday Care of People with Dementia, and Others
Available in
days
days
after you enroll
- Introduction
- Section 1: About You: Do you use music as part of your daily routine?
- Section 2: Background: Caregiving and Music Over the Lifespan
- Section 3: Using Music to Meet the Challenges of Dementia Care (5:45)
- Section 4: Why Music Interventions Work: It’s About Rhythm
- Section 5: Selecting Music for Caregiving (8:01)
- Section 6: Caregiver Singing
- Section 7: Singing as Communication—Why It Works (0:55)
- Section 8: Music to Prevent Agitation and Distress
- Section 9: About You: Reducing Your Own Agitation
- Section 10: Music to Manage Pain and Physical Distress (5:08)
- Section 11: Applications to Dining and Sleeping
- Module Six: Learning Assessment
Module 7: Music Therapy and Movement Rehabilitation
Available in
days
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after you enroll
- Introduction
- Section 1: Music Therapy for Movement Disorders: The Basics (1:08)
- Section 2: What Research and Experience Tells Us: The Example of Parkinson’s Disease (2:29)
- Section 3: Dancing with Parkinson’s: Pamela’s Story
- Section 4: Stroke: An Introduction
- Section 5: Music Therapy and Stroke
- Section 6: Music-making with Adaptive Musical Instruments
- Section 7: Specialized Electronic Music-making Devices—Piezo Triggers and More
- Section 8: “We Are Musicians”: Voices of IMNF Patients Using Adaptive Music Instruments in Rehabilitation
- Section 9: Music Therapy for “Visual (or Spatial) Neglect”
- Module Seven: Learning Assessment
Module 8: Music Therapy and Speech Rehabilitation
Available in
days
days
after you enroll
- Introduction
- Section 1: Music Therapy for Aphasia: Why it Works
- Section 2: Expressive Aphasia (also called non-fluent aphasia or Broca’s aphasia)
- Section 3: Music Therapy Approaches to Expressive Aphasia: An Introduction (1:42)
- Section 4: “This Little Light of Mine:” The Story of Gabby Giffords
- Section 5: A Music Protocol for People with Expressive Aphasia and Their Care Partners
- Section 6: Other aphasias
- Module Eight: Learning Assessment
Module 9: Technology and Virtual Programming: Expanding Access to Music Therapy and Music Programming
Available in
days
days
after you enroll
- Introduction
- Section 1: A Music Therapy Perspective on Music Technology
- Section 2: Expanding Access: A Core Value
- Section 3: Virtual Music Therapy: Bridging the Distance
- Section 4: Expanded Options for In-person Music Interventions in Care Settings
- Section 5: Leveraging Tablets for Music Engagement Sessions
- Section 6: Access to Training
- Section 7: Partnering with Patients and Care Partners to Increase the Impact of Music Therapy
- Module Nine: Learning Assessment
Course Evaluation
Available in
days
days
after you enroll