Resolutions for Music Therapists

New Years is routinely a time for reflection of the year gone by, and anticipation of the year to come.  In our personal lives, we spend this time dreaming up goals for the new version of ourselves as the year starts.  Whether or not these goals are accomplished, the stroke of inspiration that comes with the stroke of midnight can be motivating for kickstarting new habits and hobbies.

As any music therapist knows, goals come in all shapes and sizes.  We may plan personal goals for the new year, but we can also consider  professional or clinical goals, too.  Set and maintained goals can help us stay  motivated and inspired throughout the year, so here’s a few New Years Resolutions for MT-BCs.

 

1. Amp Up the Advocacy

Advocacy is important, but can be overwhelming with so many ways to advocate; setting tangible goals for advocacy can make this umbrella term feel more approachable.  In college or internship you likely heard the repeated advice of “develop your elevator pitch”.  If you’re looking to start small, 2026 could be the year you give your elevator pitch a tune up, practicing in everyday conversation with non-music therapist colleagues, friends and family members, and other professional connections.  Think about how long you want it to be (think 30-90 seconds), how you might adapt it for your audience, and what clinical examples you might include to help paint a picture.

If you’re looking for another small but mighty way to practice or increase your advocacy, try bringing the conversation online through social media platforms.  This could look like engaging with other MTs in online community spaces, creating your own resources to be shared on social media, writing a blog post (how meta), and sharing resources that advocate for music therapy and clients/patients alike.

For those looking to increase their face-to-face advocacy, look for community events near you.  Here are some event types you can be on the lookout for in your community, as well as some examples from MTSP:

1. Tabling Events
   1. This can be a great experience to connect with other professionals in related fields (we got to meet some great SLPs at this event!), connect with potential clients or contracts, and establish yourself as a resource in the community.

1. Walks
   1. Walks for a cause are held far and wide, and for a variety of diagnoses.  Participation in walks can look like joining a team for a specific individual, hosting a booth, or sponsoring your own team!  Walks are a great way to connect with individuals in … and often can be sources of information to learn more about the people we work with and how to serve them.

1. Community Events
   1. This year, MTSP was invited to participate in St. Petersburg’s annual Halloween on Central as a part of the sensory area.  While not a traditional tabling event, this allowed us to connect with other professionals in related fields, inform members of our community about music therapy, make music with our community, and connect with potential clients.

1. Host an Open House
   1. If you have your own clinic space, this can be a great way to bring in potential new candidates for music therapy, get to know other professionals, and open your doors to your community.  Drop flyers off or email related professionals to help get the word out and establish further community connections.
   2. If you do not have your own clinic space, this concept can still work, just in a different way.  You can hold a virtual open house that serves as a space for other professionals or potential clients to get to know you and music therapy.  If you already work with other modalities, this could look like an inservice, refreshing your colleagues on the benefits and purpose of music therapy.
2. Music Therapy Hill Day
   1. Music Therapy Hill Day is a great way to advocate for the field across your state.  This day provides chances to talk to legislators, connect with other music therapists across the state, and make your voice heard regarding issues affecting the field.  Check with your state’s task force for more information on these events!
   2. Florida's task force can be found here.

2. Get moving!

One of the most popular new years resolutions every year is to get more exercise, and 2026 is no exception (News Week)! If this is one of your goals, why not find a way to bring it to your practice?

1. Walks
   1. A great two in one goal, hitting both movement and advocacy, participating in a walk is a great way to get outside and move and show support to communities in your area!  In 2025, MTSP was invited to participate in Tampa Bay’s Walk for Apraxia.  Check out our reel to see how it went!
2. Incorporate more movement interventions!
   1. This can look like stretching, dancing, prolonged drumming, as well as functional movement goals.
3. Take your sessions outside!
   1. While this may not work for everyone, if you find yourself on a sunny day, why not meet up at a park or sit in a client’s yard instead of their room?

 

3. Build Community

Community helps to nourish our drive and passion, and building community can take many different forms.  It could look like meeting up with other MTs in your area or joining virtual MT groups.  It could look like connecting with other professionals in related areas.  Try seeking or providing supervision.  At MTSP, we make an effort to host a team jam once a month; this serves as a time for our team to meet in a casual setting and make music together for the sake of it, outside of the work day.  Community can be found just about anywhere, and now more than ever is the time to seek each other out and lift each other up.

 

4. Learn a New Instrument

Foster the student in you and learn something new this year.  You can start with transferable skills (know guitar? Try picking up the bass or the banjo!  Or dive into something brand new!  While learning an instrument can be a great goal for you, it doesn’t hurt that it can bring some new skills to your practice as well.

If you’d prefer to brush up your chops on an instrument you already know, check out this FREE course on stylistic playing from Tia Mae Frostrom, MT-BC.  Learn some repertoire outside of your comfort zone.  Ask colleagues for tips or repertoire recommendations.  Learn a song you’ve always loved, but never took the time to sit down and perfect.

 

5. Earn some CMTEs

Continuing Music Therapy Education credits are a requirement for all music therapists looking to renew their Board Certification; working them into your goals can help make them more approachable (and they add up faster then you think!).  There are plenty of low-cost and free ways to acquire CMTEs, and you may be able to double dip with some of the other goals on this list:

• • Providing intern supervision or practicum supervision
  • Peer-reviewed and non-peer reviewed articles
    • Not sure where to publish? 

• Fermata, MusicMED’s free online publication, is currently accepting submissions for their Contributor’s Series. “We publish articles and opinion pieces related to music therapy, healthcare, and business. Because Fermata has an editorial board (though it isn’t peer-reviewed), any article accepted through our editorial review process qualifies for 10 CMTEsunder CBMT’s recertification credit chart.”

• • CBMT Reference 

• • Submission Guidelines 

• Imagine Magazine is an online early childhood music therapy magazine, publishing since 2010.  Submissions open January 15 for their next issue!

• Write and produce a song.
  • Double dip with a movement-based song or a new instrument!
• Read and review a relevant music therapy publication.
• Present on music therapy in a number of ways: make a legislative testimony, round table discussions, specialized digital media, or present to a group of professionals!
• Keep an eye out for free or low cost events!
  • The University of Louisville hosted an “Un-Conference” in both 2024 and 2025, free of cost, and free CMTEs!
  • CBMT offers up to 5 free CMTEs through their online webinar series.

 

Check out this link for full details of what qualifies for a CMTE:

https://www.cbmt.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/CBMT-CMTE-Options-Overview-20251.pdf 

 

https://www.cbmt.org/certificants/cmte-opportunities/ 

 

6. Take care of you!

One of my favorite things to tell our MTSP interns is that we are people first, music therapists second.  You’ve likely heard the phrase “you can’t pour from an empty cup”; in a field that serves others day in and day out, making sure you find time to care for yourself only strengthens your ability to care for your clients.

1. Continue to nurture your hobbies.
   1. Be intentional about the time you make for the things that bring you joy.  Seek out communities that help to foster your hobbies.
   2. Try out that hobby that’s always interested you!  Allow yourself time to learn and take off the pressure to be perfect on the first try.
2. Engage with music for you.
   1. Take time to play music that is just your own.
   2. Revisit nostalgic favorites through playlist creation.
   3. Journal while listening to new or favorite music.  This can help you find time to be mindful and feel more immersed in the music.
   4. Go to live music events.  Whether it’s an orchestra performance or live music at your local coffee shop, take some time to participate in the audience.
3. Set your work/life boundaries.
   1. Keep strong guidelines for yourself!  Allow yourself to stop work at a certain time or once you leave the office.  Give yourself true breaks during the day where you are allowing your mind and body to rest.
4. Celebrate your wins!
   1. Be they personal or professional, finding a way to acknowledge your own hard work and accomplishments can be helpful in times of doubt or unsuredness.  Remind yourself of the growth you’ve had in the field and in your own life.  Save kind words from clients and their families, write down moments you are proud of, treat accomplishments outside of work with the same gravity as professional accomplishments.

 

Whether you stick to your resolutions or not, setting goals for yourself at the start of the new year can be a great spark of motivation.  Remember, you can always leave and come back to your goals.  Happy resolution setting and Happy New Year!