The following 12 expert endorsements appear with permission from the AMTA.

Oliver Sacks, MD
Professor of Neurology
Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York
Author of The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat and Awakenings

"I regard music therapy as a tool of great power in many neurological disorders—Parkinson's and Alzheimer's—because of its unique capacity to organize or reorganize cerebral function when it has been damaged."

Dr. Sacks reports that patients with neurological disorders who cannot talk or move are often able to sing, and sometimes even dance, to music. Music therapy also can help ease the trauma of grieving, lessen depression and provide an outlet for people who are otherwise withdrawn.

Karl H. Pribram, MD, PhD
Professor Emeritus, Stanford University
The James P. and Anna King Distinguished Professor, Radford University
Eminent Scholar, Commonwealth of Virginia

"Music is one of the most profound human achievements. It compliments human linguistic ability and enters deeply into the human emotional experience. As such it is a tremendous contribution to healing when used by trained professionals."

Dr. Clive Robbins
Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy Clinic
St. Louis Post Dispatch

"Almost all children respond to music. Music is an open-sesame, and if you can use it carefully and appropriately, you can reach into that child's potential for development."

Nordoff-Robbins uses music therapy to help 100 handicapped children to learn, to relate to, and to communicate with others.

Mathew M. H. Lee, MD
Acting Director
Rusk Institute, New York

"Music therapy has been an invaluable tool with many of our rehabilitation patients. There is no question that the relationship of music and medicine will blossom because of the advent of previously unavailable techniques that can now show the effect of music."

Fadi Joseph Bejjani, MD, PhD
Research Professor and Director
Human Performance Analysis Laboratory, New York University
President MEDART USA

"Having worked extensively with music therapists for the last few years, I have learned to appreciate their professionalism, research, and clinical abilities. I strongly believe that they should have a prominent role in health care delivery."

Kenneth E. Bruscia, PhD, MT-BC
Past President of the American Association for Music Therapy

"Music therapy is a systematic process of intervention wherein the therapist helps the client to promote health, using music experiences and the relationships that develop through them as dynamic forces of change."

Harry Reid
Democratic Senator, Nevada
Reuters, August 1, 1991

"Music therapy is much more complicated than playing records in nursing homes. Therapists are trained in psychology, group interaction, and the special needs of the elderly. Simply put, music can heal people. Music helps all types of people to remain forever young."

He noted that Congress had never before "directly addressed the question of music" as preventive medicine and as "a therapeutic tool for those suffering from Alzheimer's disease and related dementias, strokes and depression."

Michael Greene
President and CEO of NARAS–1997 Grammy Awards

"When we look at the body of evidence that the arts contribute to our society, it's absolutely astounding. Music therapists are breaking down the walls of silence and affliction of autism, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease."

Mickey Hart
Drummer for Grateful Dead rock band
Superior, WI Telegram, August 14, 1991

"(Rhythm) is there in the cycles of the seasons, in the migrations of the birds and animals, in the fruiting and withering of plants, and in the birth, maturation and death of ourselves," Hart told a Senate panel studying music therapy.

Barbara Crowe, MM, MT-BC
Past President of the National Association for Music Therapy

"(Music therapy) can make the difference between withdrawal and awareness, between isolation and interaction, between chronic pain and comfort—between demoralization and dignity."