Joyful Music Therapy

01/29/2026

This is so important to ensure music therapy services are provided by board certified music therapists in our state AND to reach to the communities that need services 🌞

SUPPORT HB 829/SB 478 MUSIC THERAPY LICENSURE ACT!
Why music therapy licensure matters:
1. Protects Consumers from Harm a Distress
Music therapists work with some of our most vulnerable populations, including children, older adults, individuals with disabilities, and patients with complex medical and mental health needs. Music is a powerful clinical tool, but when used improperly it can cause real harm, including hearing damage, neurological dysregulation, emotional distress, and
overstimulation.

2. Ensure a High Standard of Care
Licensure establishes consistency, accountability, and public trust across healthcare, education, and community settings. Importantly, this legislation does not prohibit other professionals from using music within their scope of practice. It simply ensures that when services are advertised or delivered as music therapy, they are provided by appropriately trained and credentialed professionals.

3. Increase Equitable Access to Care
Licensure will improve access to music therapy for more Floridians as it will meet
provider qualifications required by state programs. Service access will increase as Florida healthcare and special education facilities will be able to identify and employ licensed music therapists who are held to high standards of ethics and professional practice, and demonstrate competency through board certification and continuing education activity.

We urge our Florida Legislators to stand with the music therapy community of therapists, consumers, and their families, and support HB 829/SB 478! Additionally, we urge our music therapy community to sign our coalition of support. Visit the FL MT Task Force link tree in our bio to learn how you can support music therapy licensure in the state of Florida.

[ID: gold-toned graphic titled “Why Music Therapy Licensure Matters” with key reasons to support music therapy licensure - HB 829/SB 478]

01/19/2026

CALL TO ACTION: ACCOUNTS OF HARM/NEGATIVE OUTCOMES FROM NON-CREDENTIALED EXPRESSIVE THERAPY PROVIDERS

The Florida Music Therapy Task Force is currently gathering anonymous, first-hand accounts related to harm or negative outcomes experienced by families who received expressive services from non-credentialed providers.

We are specifically seeking:
• Stories from families willing to share experiences where services resulted in harm or concern
• Situations where parents felt the provider did not have appropriate training or competency, or did not know how to effectively work with their child
• Reports may also come from providers quoting parents, though first-hand family reports are preferred

All reports will remain completely anonymous. No individuals or providers will be named. Language used will reflect aggregate data (e.g., “we received reports of…”).

If you or a family member you work with may be willing to contribute, please message Amelia at amelia.lane@adventhealth.com

Similarly, if you were an MT-BC denied vendorship by MTM because of its closure of new applications due to marketplace saturation, please reach out.

This reporting window will close Tuesday, 1/20/2026 @11:59pm, and time is of the essence. Thank you for helping protect families and uphold safe, ethical, and qualified expressive services in Florida.

[ID: Yellow-orange flyer from the Florida Music Therapy Task Force announcing a time-sensitive call to action seeking anonymous accounts from families harmed by non-credentialed expressive service providers and from MT-BCs denied MTM vendorship. Includes contact information and a January 20 deadline.]

01/12/2026

A House vote is coming that could change the future of Music Therapy in Florida.

Licensure means protection, standards, and access for the people who rely on this care every day.

Please take a moment today to contact your representatives.

A few minutes from you can make a lasting difference.

https://view.flodesk.com/emails/6965567f9ec92a3db72a3cd2

01/12/2026

MUSIC THERAPISTS ARTICLE FEATURE: TAMELA PONDER & KIMBERLY SENA MOORE!

On December 17 2025, Central Florida Public Media released an article about an individual’s experience with music therapy, statistics about populations and ages music therapists in Florida serve, and the ongoing funding challenges music therapists in Florida are experiencing. Thank you Tamela Ponder, MT-BC and Kimberly Sena Moore, PhD, MT-BC, for sharing your experiences and advocating for music therapy licensure! To read the article and learn about our music therapy licensure bills, HB829/SB4780, visit our linktree: www.linktr.ee/flmusictherapytf

01/10/2026

🎶Joyful Voices still has slots available this coming Monday at 4:30pm!🎶
This group is for ages 13+ who love to sing and shine! Each week, we’ll build vocal skills, breath support, articulation, range, rhythm and grow confidence on and off the stage! 🎤
Sign up here: https://forms.gle/GH4W1L6WaaNCmf1E7

01/09/2026

THANK YOU REP. DARYL CAMPBELL FOR CO-SPONSORING HB829!

There's still more that can be done! Contact your local and state representatives and tell them to support this bill! 📣 Let them know the importance of music therapy to you 🎵

THANK YOU REP. DARYL CAMPBELL FOR CO-SPONSORING HB829!

HB829/SB4780 will create a much-needed state license for board-certified music therapists to:
1. Protect consumers from harm & distress,
2. Increase equitable access to care, and
3. Ensure a high standard of care.

To read more and track the bill’s progress, visit our Linktree or track here: https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/829

Thank you, Rep. Daryl Campbell, for your support of music therapy state licensure!

01/07/2026

Let your voices be heard! 📢
Contact your local state representatives and ask them to support HB 829: Music Therapy Licensure Act 🎼

SUPPORT HB 829: MUSIC THERAPY LICENSURE ACT!

On Thursday, 12/18/2025, Rep. Dr. Anna Eskamani filed legislation to establish licensure for music therapists. Families across the state of Florida recently lost insurance coverage for music therapy, partly due to the lack of professional licensure. The legislation would establish a licensure framework under the Florida Department of Health, define educational and certification standards, and create a Music Therapy Advisory Committee to support implementation. It also provides clear scope-of-practice protections to ensure coordination with other licensed professionals where necessary, while preventing unqualified individuals from misrepresenting themselves. Licensure would be effective beginning January 1, 2027, with a transition period for recent graduates.

Thank you, Rep. Dr. Anna Eskamani, for your support of music therapy state licensure!

01/04/2026

📣Let your voices be heard! Contact your local and state representatives and tell them to support this bill! 📣
Thank you and Representative Anna V. Eskamani

01/03/2026

There's still time to sign up for our group classes!
This Spring we're offering 4 group classes: Music Together, Joyful Percussion, Joyful Voices & Drums Alive! There's something for every age range!
Sign up today and come make joyful music with us 🎶
https://forms.gle/Yg5rUPig4uPyACgN7

12/30/2025

Thank you so much Sen. Carlos Guillermo Smith & Representative Anna V. Eskamani for supporting music therapy licensure!

📣Let your voices be heard! Contact your local and state representatives and tell them to support this bill! 📣

THANK YOU SEN. CARLOS GUILLERMO SMITH & REP. DR. ANNA ESKAMANI FOR SUPPORTING MUSIC THERAPY STATE LICENSURE!

Sen. Carlos Guillermo Smith and Rep. Dr. Anna Eskamani filed Senate Bill 478/House Hill 829 to set up the Music Therapy Advisory Committee within the Department of Health.

“The move toward licensure is supported by families, providers, and advocates who say it will prevent future coverage gaps, increase oversight, and ensure that Medicaid and other payers can more reliably reimburse qualified professionals,” Smith and Eskamani said in a press release.

Read more about the legislation at the links in our bio.

We are so grateful for & ‘s support!

12/22/2025

Happy Holidays from the JMT team! ❄🎶