Developing Music Therapy as a Professional Allied Healthcare Discipline: The Task Ahead for the Association for Music Therapy, Singapore

Abstract

The founding of the Association for Music Therapy, Singapore (AMTS) in September 2007 marked a new chapter in the formalization of the profession in Singapore. Although music therapy (MT) had been available locally since 1963, it took another forty-four years to gather eleven pioneering members together in order to establish a professional society. In the ensuing six years, AMTS' efforts to create awareness via annual MT Days and themed symposium workshops have increased visibility for the field of music therapy. The purpose of this paper, then, is to detail the historical background, current challenges and future directions of music therapy in Singapore.