MISSION
The Music Therapy Neurology Network (MTNN) is a virtual network which aims to bring people together who are interested in using music to improve life for people with neurological disorders. One of its main purposes is to share information and resources between music therapists working in neurology. It also aims to provide information for people affected by neurological disorders who wish to know more about how music can help them improve their health and well-being. Lastly, it invites membership from those interested in music therapy in neurology from related fields such as neuroscience, medicine, health sciences and music psychology in order to advance music therapy research and practice with neurological populations.
The network operates at an international level with members from 22 countries around the world (as at September 2008). It is an inclusive network, open to professionals from wide ranging disciplines, as well as to people whose lives are affected by neurological illness. In particular, the network aims to reduce the isolation of lone music therapy clinicians working in this field which is often the case for reasons of geography or difficulty accessing information. The network provides a contact point between clinicians interested in and working in neurology, and those who are researching music and neuroscience.
The primary aim of the MTNN is to develop music therapy in neurology through improving access to knowledge of clinical practice, empirical research and specialist training, thereby improving awareness of music therapy and its impact with neurological populations.
MEMBERSHIP
The MTNN provides information for those working with clients with neurological diagnoses resulting in disabilities stemming from acquired brain damage to the brain, such as the following conditions and diagnoses;
· Stroke or cerebral vascular accident (CVA)
· Head injury
· Alzheimer’s Disease
· Multiple Sclerosis
· Parkinson’s Disease
· Motor Neurone Disease
· Brain damage caused by anoxia, infection or trauma
· Huntington’s Disease
· Vegetative State
· Minimally Conscious State
· Locked-in Syndrome
There may be other rarer conditions which have not been included in this list.
RESOURCES
Through an interactive exchange of members, the MTNN provides information about existing resources useful for music therapy clinicians, trainers and researchers, and those in related professions such as medicine, rehabilitation, neuroscience, health sciences and music psychology. This will include
· Websites
· Published books
· Published articles in peer-reviewed journals
· Training events
· Seminars
· Conferences
· Unpublished research such as PhD and Masters dissertations
· Related networks and associations
It is hoped to also provide an on-line library of published research and clinical papers from peer-reviewed journals.
