Each year, AMTA provides over $25,000 in scholarship and grant opportunities to qualified AMTA members to support the education of music therapy students and continuing education for professional music therapists.
Learn about AMTA Scholarships and Grants: Rebecca Preddie, AMTA Scholarship and Grant Coordinator, shares details about AMTA scholarships available for undergraduate students, graduate students, and interns, as well as AMTA scholarships and grants for music therapy professionals.
To learn more about a specific scholarship program and its selection criteria, scroll down or click on the link in the table of contents below to go directly to the desired program. For application instructions, see the How to Apply section.
Student, Intern, and Graduate Student Level Scholarships:
Applications for some student level scholarships require nominations. Nominations may be student- or faculty-initiated; please see descriptions of the nomination process. To nominate a student, please use the nomination form. To apply for a scholarship, please use the application form.
See also: eligibility requirements for Student Level Scholarships
Professional Level Scholarships & Grants:
See also: eligibility requirements for Professional Level Scholarships & Grants
Student Scholarship Eligibility
All undergraduate, undergraduate equivalency students and graduate students enrolled in a college or university program in music therapy approved by the American Music Therapy Association. All interns in clinical training are considered eligible through their parent academic institution. Student status will be verified through that institution prior to awarding the prize. Applicants must be current Student Members of AMTA in the year in which they apply AND the year in which the award is granted.
- Only AMTA-Approved Program Faculty may nominate students for indicated awards.
- A Nomination form must be completed and submitted by the Nominations deadline.
- Those nominated will be notified electronically of any nominations no later than one (1) week after nomination deadline.
- Those nominated must then submit an application and follow the process indicated below.
Professional Scholarship Eligibility
Those considered eligible must be a music therapist with a current credential of MT-BC or current professional designation of ACMT, CMT, or RMT, and, Professional member in good standing of AMTA. Applicant must maintain both of these criteria for the course of the scholarship/grant.
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Complete the Scholarship Application form (and Nomination form if required). This must be submitted with your application. Only complete applications that follow the application guidelines and format will be considered.
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Any submitted narrative must be double-spaced, 1-inch margins, in 12-point font. Your narrative must be written for blind review, without specific reference to your name or place of employment.
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All applications must be submitted electronically to the AMTA National Office at: scholarships@musictherapy.org
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Application must be submitted electronically as a Microsoft Word document. Additional materials – if required – must be submitted as Microsoft Word or .pdf documents.
- **In your email, please include the name of the scholarship for which you are applying and the application year in the subject line.**
Applicants will receive an email confirming the receipt of their application materials once all required materials have been received.
AVAILABLE SCHOLARSHIPS:
(*Undergraduate Students, Undergraduate Student Interns, & Undergraduate Equivalency Students are eligible to apply for this award. Graduate Equivalency Students are NOT eligible to apply for this award. )
Sponsored by the American Music Therapy Association in cooperation with the Student Affairs Advisory Board. Papers on any topic relevant to the music therapy profession using the philosophical, historical, descriptive, qualitative, mixed methods or experimental mode of research are invited.
Award: A cash award of $500 to the winner(s) and an opportunity to have the paper reviewed for possible publication in the Journal of Music Therapy.
Requirements: Papers may be individually or jointly authored. Only one paper per entrant. Papers may be any length up to 3,000 words and shall have a title page indicating the author's name, academic institution, and academic advisor's name. No identifying information found on the title page is to be found on any page of the text. Papers are to be submitted in the most recent edition in the Publication manual of the American Psychological Association. For historical or philosophical papers, Chicago (Turabian) style is also accepted. Papers must be previously unpublished. Proposed studies and stand-alone literature review are not acceptable manuscript types for this award.
Selection Procedure: Judging will be done on the basis of originality, organization, clarity of writing, relevance of content to the music therapy profession, literature documentation and adherence to the APA style. In the event that the criteria is not met or the judges feel that no paper is worthy, the award will not be presented. Judging will be done by a clinician, an academician, and a non-music therapist in a related field.
Application Deadline: All entries must be received by 6:00 pm EST June 23, 2017 without exception.
Nomination for this award is required
After decades of watching the profession of music therapy grow from the early years to its present prominence, Mrs. Edwina Eustis Dick graciously donated funds to establish a scholarship program for music therapy interns.
Award: Two cash scholarships of $500 will be available for interns each year.
Requirements / Scoring:
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Completed Scholarship Application Form, signed and dated - 0 points
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Personal, community and college activities - 10 points
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College transcript (student copy) - 15 points
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Letters of recommendation - 15 points **must be submitted by author
a. from a music therapy professor
b. from a professional familiar with the applicant's clinical skills
c. another person of the applicant's choice
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Participation in AMTA, conferences, AMTAS, committees, presentations, publications - 20 points
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Short essay (800 words) on long-term professional goals - 20 points
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Brief essay (400 words) on how AMTA can impact the profession of music therapy - 20 points
Selection Procedure: Nominations due - February 9, 2018 6:00 pm EST
Application deadline: All entries must be received by 6:00 pm EST March 9, 2018 without exception.
Nomination for this award is required
The Brian and Cathy Smith Memorial Fund was established by AMTA member Alice Avigal and the Smith family in memory of Brian Smith, a young man who valued music in his life and died in a drug-related accident. The scholarship is for music therapy interns pursuing training in chemical dependency or in adolescent programs. In 2006, the fund was renamed to include Brian's mother, Cathy, who passed away in 2005.
Award: One cash scholarship of $500 will be available each year.
Requirements / Scoring:
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Completed Scholarship Application Form, signed and dated - 0 points
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Personal, community and college activities - 10 points
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College transcript (student copy) - 15 points
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Letters of recommendation - 15 points **must be submitted by author
a. from a music therapy professor
b. from a professional familiar with the applicant's clinical skills
c. another person of the applicant's choice
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Participation in AMTA, conferences, AMTAS, committees, presentations, publications - 20 points
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Short essay (800 words) on long-term professional goals - 20 points
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Brief essay (400 words) explaining why the applicant is pursuing training in chemical dependency or adolescent programs - 20 points
Selection Procedure: Nominations due - February 9, 2018 6:00 pm EST
Application deadline: All entries must be received by 6:00 pm EST March 9, 2018 without exception.
Nomination for this award is required
The Christine K. Stevens, MT-BC Professional Development Scholarship has been established by Remo, Inc., in Christine's honor for her pioneering work and is offered through AMTA to support music therapy students in their efforts to expand their training in the use of percussion-based strategies through continuing education opportunities with the research-based HealthRHYTHMS Group Empowerment Drumming program.
Award: Two full tuition scholarships for HealthRHYTHMS training (valued at $599 each) will be awarded annually.
Requirements: The application narrative should be a maximum of one (1) page. Statement of need and potential professional development should be addressed within your narrative.
Selection Procedure: Nominations due - February 9, 2018 6:00 pm EST
Application deadline: All entries must be received by 6:00 pm EST March 9, 2018 without exception.
(*Undergraduate Students, Undergraduate Student Interns, & Undergraduate Equivalency Students are eligible to apply for this award. Graduate Students are NOT eligible to apply for this award. )
Theodore Michael Meyer (August 9, 1982 - January 17, 2013) was a music lover and a student of guitar. He started playing guitar when he was a young teenager in Raleigh, NC and spent much of his free time 'jamming' with friends and playing gigs at local venues. In 2007, Theo received his Bachelor's Degree in Music Composition from the College of Charleston in South Carolina. Due to a biking accident, Theo suffered from chronic pain throughout most of his 20s. Theo benefited from Music Therapy as part of his treatment and considered going back to school to study Music Therapy to help others. Theo's family hopes that this scholarship will go to a student interested in helping individuals with mental health and/or addiction issues find a path to wellness and inspiration through the joy of music.
Award: One cash scholarship of $1000 will be available each year.
Requirements: Students will provide two (2) short essays: one essay detailing their interest in mental health and addiction and a second essay describing their long-term professional goals. Each application narrative should be a maximum of two (2) pages.
A final written report is required and must be submitted to AMTA within 60 days of the end of the award period. The report will include a summary of the anticipated impact this scholarship will have on the recipient's career. Winners will also be required to submit a handwritten thank you note to the Meyer family within this timeframe.
Application Deadline: All entries must be received by 6:00 pm EST April 7, 2017 without exception.
The Anne Emery Kyllo Professional Scholarship of the American Music Therapy Association has been established in Anne's memory by the Emery and Kyllo families through The Denver Foundation to support professional music therapists in their efforts to expand their training and professional interactions through participation in continuing education opportunities
Award: Three (3) cash scholarships of $500 each will be awarded annually for use towards CMTE credits.
The award may be used for national and/or regional conferences, CMTE (continuing music therapy education) courses, and/or other continuing education courses that meet the Educational Activity guidelines as established by the Certification Board for Music Therapists (CBMT). CBMT guidelines state that educational activities must be at least five contact hours in duration, and must relate to the CBMT Examination Content Outline, as published in the CBMT Recertification Manual. The award may not be used for undergraduate coursework. The award may be used for post-undergraduate coursework as it relates to the clinical practice of music therapy. The award is for one calendar year. All funds must be used within 12 months of the award. If not used, the balance must be returned to AMTA. A final written report is required and must be submitted to AMTA within 30 days of the end of the award period. The report will include a summary of the continuing education activities, the impact these activities made on the recipient's career and clients, and a financial accounting of the award funds. Award winners may not reapply for a period of 5 years. AMTA Executive Board members, review committee members, and AMTA National Office staff are not eligible to apply.
Requirements: The application narrative should be a maximum of two (2) pages. Statement of need, potential professional development and client impact, and strength/appropriateness of continuing education goals and opportunities should be included.
Application Deadline: All entries must be received by 6:00 pm EST June 23, 2017 without exception.
The Florence Tyson Grant to Study Music Psychotherapy of the American Music Therapy Association has been established in Florence's memory by Michael G. McGuire, MM, MT-BC, to support professional music therapists in post-undergraduate training in music psychotherapy, music and psychotherapy, or psychotherapy.
Award: The Tyson Grant provides free registration to attend the upcoming Annual AMTA Conference and attend a CMTE. Continuing education credits selected should focus on training in music psychotherapy, music and psychotherapy, or psychotherapy (if available).
The award is not transferable and may not be redeemed for cash or for any other continuing education activity. A final written report is required and must be submitted to AMTA within 30 days of the end of the award period. The report will include a summary of the continuing education activities, the anticipated impact these activities will have on the recipient's career and clients. Award winners may not reapply for a period of 5 years. AMTA Executive Board members, review committee members, and AMTA National Office staff are not eligible to apply.
Requirements: The application narrative should be a maximum of two (2) pages. Briefly describe how the study of music psychotherapy, music and psychotherapy, and/or psychotherapy is important to your work as a music therapist. Statement of need, potential professional development and client impact, and strength/appropriateness of continuing education goals and opportunities should also be included.
Application Deadline: All entries must be received by 6:00 pm EST June 23, 2017 without exception.
Conference Scholar awards are designed to help support AMTA members cover the cost of attending the AMTA annual conference. Conference Scholar monies are donated by AMTA, while Past Presidents' Conference Scholar monies are thanks to generous donations by former presidents of national music therapy organizations. Conference Scholar awardees are chosen from the same pool of applicants, so if you apply for the conference scholar program, your application will be considered for both categories (i.e., you do not need to submit two applications).
The AMTA Conference scholar will receive: $500 cash for conference expenses at the upcoming AMTA National Conference, free conference registration, and free participation in CMTE courses and Institutes.
Award: Up to five (5) scholars will be selected.
Requirements: The application narrative should be a maximum of one (1) page. Statement of need and potential professional development should be addressed within your narrative. (Your narrative should be submitted for blind review)
Application Deadline: All entries for the 2017 conference must be received by 6:00 pm EST July 7, 2017 without exception.
The AMTA Student Conference scholar will receive: $250 cash for conference expenses at the upcoming AMTA National Conference, free conference registration, and free participation in CMTE courses and Institutes.
Award: Two (2) scholars will be selected.
Requirements: The application narrative should be a maximum of one (1) page. Statement of need and potential development should be addressed within your narrative. (Your narrative should be submitted for blind review)
Application Deadline: All entries for the 2017 conference must be received by 6:00 pm EST July 7, 2017 without exception.