Association for Music Therapy (Singapore) AMTS
The Association for Music Therapy (Singapore) AMTS was formed on 19/9/2007. This is the pioneering batch of 11 all-female professional Music Therapists who have helped make AMTS possible:
Audrey Ruyters, Patsy Tan, Chen Hsueh-lien, Ng Wang Feng (President), Loi Wei Ming (Treasurer), Clara Chong, Pamela Fisher, Melanie Kwan (Secretary), May Clulee, Tan Xueli and Daphne Phua.
As of Dec 2008, we also have members from Australia, New Zealand/Taiwan and Malaysia. Eleven of our current 14 members are based locally.
We are committed to educating the Singapore public about music therapy and clearing up misconceptions about the field. We also aim to serve as an organizational agency for locally-based Music Therapists. We are keen to get in touch with fellow music therapists, particularly Singaporeans based locally OR overseas, AND foreign music therapists based locally. Drop us a line!
We can also be found on http://singaporemusictherapy.page.tl/.
We welcome professional music therapists to join us. Please download a copy of our membership-application-form-updated.
We’ll continue to post updates on this blog. Thank you for your interest in Music Therapy.
peace, Ng, W.F. (2007)
last updated Dec 15 2008
Kenneth Ng said,
December 12, 2007 at 9:32 am
Hi,
Am a social worker working in a nursing home for about 3 years. I have specialised in the area of Gerontology and am very interested to work with the elderly persons or persons challenged by physical disability. Am also a part time piano teacher for 7 years (holding LTCL). Have read quite a few articles on how music therapy could be carried out to help elderly persons suffering from dementia cope better with their symptoms and got very interested in this area of therapeutic work. I have recently applied to University of Queensland (UQ) for Master of Music Therapy and am still waiting for their conditional offer.
As the course is rather costly, i would like to enquire (trying to exhaust all possibilities here) whether are there any organisations in Singapore who would sponsor future students in this area of study and provide them with a bond when they return from their studies (hoping to get proper mentoring upon return)? I am currently looking into NCSS scholarships (but may be bonded back to my current agency, which i don’t intend to as I don’t see myself growing with this organisation *oops*) and the scholarships provided by UQ. I would like to seek more advice from established / experienced people like you all on this matter and study related issues.
Hope to hear from you.
Cheers!
Kenneth
May said,
February 7, 2009 at 10:52 pm
Hi!
Working in a preschool and is keen to pursue specialisation in an area that can help children with special needs. Music therapy is one area that I would like to explore. Unfortunately, I have no formal training in music. I hold an honours degree in Applied Science and diploma in preschool teaching only. Is there any organisation that I can apply to take up professional training in music therapy? Please advise. thanks!
singaporemusictherapy said,
July 9, 2009 at 11:53 am
Hi May,
Yes, in order to be a music therapist, you will need to attend a MT training programme! Currently there is no local training available, but hopefully soon, that will change. Hence, for now, please consider US/UK/Australia for more info on MT for training:
US- http://www.musictherapy.org/handbook/career.html
UK- http://www.apmt.org/MusicTherapy/ANewCareer/tabid/71/Default.aspx
You might be interested in the 8-week class at Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts taught by 2 AMTS members. We do not teach how to practise music therapy, but will give an introduction on using music with special needs children: http://www.nafa.edu.sg/in_courses/parttime/2009/ce/contents.htm
best wishes, WF
ruijie said,
August 24, 2009 at 3:20 pm
Hi!
Ever since I heard about Music Therapy I have been very very interested! It seems to be an area of high potential and I bet it is a meaningful career! Too bad professional training is not available in Singapore… Or is there already at time of writing? Could you tell me more about the pre-requisites as well as the career options available for music therapists in Singapore?
Best Wishes, SK
singaporemusictherapy said,
August 30, 2009 at 12:44 am
Hi Ruijie, thanks for your interest in music therapy. Professional training is not yet available in Singapore, but we hope that in the near future, this will be possible! As for pre-requisite to be a music therapist: must have formal music training (need to audition with principal instrument); be genuinely interested in helping people; be patient; be creative; etc. The job of a music therapist is gruelling in many ways, therefore one should be resilient physically and psychologically. Please read the “MT in Singapore” page – it gives a good idea about the career options currently available. Since MT still remains an emerging profession in Singapore, there are still many possibilities to be explored! Do check out the workshops offered by AMTS members for more information. Best, WF
Melissa W. said,
September 30, 2009 at 9:50 am
Congratulations on starting a successful AMTS! It’s wonderful that you’re raising awareness of music therapy in Singapore.