Music Therapy PA State Task Force

07/23/2025

Take a look at Elizabethtown College Professor Emily Frantz and music therapy students advocating for music therapy licensure at our most recent hill day. We are so thankful for their talents, energy, and time given to support our advocacy efforts.

Although you may not be able to participate at an in-person hill day, a simple way you can participate is by completing a VoterVoice form to send an automated message to your legislator. And guess what? Anyone and everyone can do it!!! Your family, friends, students, colleagues, co-workers, or enemies can quickly complete this form in less than three doom scrolls or 2 minutes.

https://www.votervoice.net/AMTA/Campaigns/125751/Respond

07/17/2025

Help us reach our goal of 120 people sending an automatic message to their PA Senator urging them to review our music therapy licensure bill by 07/25/25!

Here is how you can help us reach our goal:
1) Click the link below
https://www.votervoice.net/AMTA/Campaigns/125751/Respond
2) Once the link opens, insert your name and address in the boxes (Address can be your workplace or residential. Depending on the zip code, different senators may represent these locations. Address is only used to send the message to the Senator serving your area.)
3) In the text body, fill in the xx marks with the option that best suits you. If you aren't a music therapist, just type in "I'm a concerned constituent"
4) Click Send
5) Share this post with all of your friends, families, fellow colleagues/classmates, coworkers, etc. and have them send a message.

Stay tuned as we continue to update our progress with fun statistics.
P.S. Way to go Pittsburgh zip code area friends for sending the most messages last week. Which region will send the most messages this week?

07/15/2025

In less than 2 minutes, you can submit a pre-written message to your PA Senator!
1) Click on the link below

2) Fill in your name and address (Address only utilized to automatically send a message to the Senator that represents your location)

3) SHARE THIS POST AND LINK WITH ANYONE THAT KNOWS YOU! They can send their own message urging their PA Senator to support the bill. EVERYONE can fill out the link and send a message to their Senator. We need all people and voices.

https://www.votervoice.net/AMTA/Campaigns/125751/Respond

07/11/2025

"I don't have time to advocate." "I don't know what to say."
WE HAVE THE PERFECT SOLUTION!!

By using this link: https://www.votervoice.net/AMTA/Campaigns/125751/Respond

You can insert your full name and address to your current residence, workplace, or university into the template and it will send a message to the Senator representing that area. What will the message include? It will include a brief summary about why board-certified music therapists want licensure and asking Senators to vote on Bill 579. There is power in numbers and we want as many people to send forms to senators. It's time to urge our senators to move our bill to a vote.

07/10/2025

Dear Sen. Senator Carolyn Comittaa
Your unwavering support for SB 579, the licensure bill for music therapists, is truly appreciated. The Pennsylvania State Task Force for Music Therapy acknowledges and values your dedication to safeguarding the presence of Pennsylvania-trained board-certified music therapists. Your commitment ensures that individuals in Pennsylvania receive high-quality therapeutic services from licensed music therapy professionals. Thank you for championing this crucial cause.

77% of New Jersey music therapists were educated in PA
80% of Maryland music therapists were educated in PA.
87% of Ohio music therapists were educated in PA.

Pennsylvania is home to the largest number of higher education programs in the country for music therapy.

But why are our highly trained music therapists leaving the Commonwealth for neighboring states?

Because Pennsylvania doesn't offer them professional licensure!

Senate Bill 579, which I've sponsored with Elder Vogel Jr. , would change that.

Read More: https://www.pasenatorcomitta.com/vogel-comitta-introduce-legislation-to-license-music-therapists-in-pa/

07/10/2025

77% of New Jersey music therapists were educated in PA
80% of Maryland music therapists were educated in PA.
87% of Ohio music therapists were educated in PA.

Pennsylvania is home to the largest number of higher education programs in the country for music therapy.

But why are our highly trained music therapists leaving the Commonwealth for neighboring states?

Because Pennsylvania doesn't offer them professional licensure!

Senate Bill 579, which I've sponsored with Elder Vogel Jr. , would change that.

Read More: https://www.pasenatorcomitta.com/vogel-comitta-introduce-legislation-to-license-music-therapists-in-pa/

07/08/2025

Your voice counts and Pennsylvania Senators need to hear from you.
By using the following link (included below) you can contact your Senator to urge them to bring Senate Bill 579 to a vote! Simply click on the link, add your name and address to the template, use the automated message or add your own details, and hit send. By including your home, work, and/or university address, it automatically sends your message to the senator within that region.

Link to use:
https://www.votervoice.net/AMTA/Campaigns/125751/Respond

Thank you for your help and advocacy.

[Description of image: Black background, large green and blue text in the center "your voice counts", at bottom of image is white text that says "with one click, your name, and address, you can contact your district senators urging them to support licensure for board-certified music therapists."

06/24/2025

Music therapy advocacy in action in PA!

SRU faculty member Nicole Hahna is a leading advocate for music therapy in Pennsylvania which has a recent development: Newly proposed legislation introduced by State Sens. Elder Vogel Jr. , R-47th, and Senator Carolyn Comitta , D-19th, would create a new music therapy license in PA and be a major boost for the profession and the more than 600 music therapists practicing in the state.

Learn more: https://news.sru.edu/nicole-hahna-is-a-leading-advocate-for-music-therapy-licensure/

06/18/2025

A new study shows that music therapy is as effective as cognitive behavioral therapy at helping cancer patients and survivors heal emotionally.

06/10/2025

The PASTF is so grateful to have had so many students attend the PA Music Therapy Advocacy Hill Day last week. Thank you Elizabethtown College Director of Music Therapy Emily Frantz for sharing the importance of advocacy with your students and legislators!

06/10/2025

Thank you Eric J. Weaknecht, State Representative for meeting with your constituent, music therapist and Elizabethtown College Music Therapy Director Emily, as well as PA professional music therapists, and PA music therapy students during our Hill Day to discuss HB 563 on music therapy licensure!

06/09/2025

Thank you PA State Rep. Tom Mehaffie for meeting during our Hill Day to discuss HB 563 on music therapy licensure!