Dear colleagues,Last year, the WFMT Council decided to look into updating the WFMT definition of music therapy to reflect contemporary music therapy in a comprehensive and concise way. A workgroup led by Anja Tait, RegionalLiaison for Australia/New Zealand, searched for multiple definitions of music therapy from the following sources a) WFMT’s organizational member websites, b) scholarly publications, and c) open source searches in Wikipediaand Google. Members of the workgroup found sixteen definitions in English language. Analyzing these definitions, the workgroup identified keywords and core concepts, which have been embedded in a new definition proposed to the WFMT Council. Discussing the content and matching the definition with WFMT’s goals and our worldwide perspective, the WFMT Council agreed and approved the following definition:“Music therapy is the professional use of music and its elements as an intervention in medical, educational, and everyday environments with individuals, groups, families, or communities who seek to optimize their quality of life and improve their physical, social, communicative, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual health and wellbeing. Research, practice, education, and clinical training in music therapy are based on professional standards according to cultural, social, and political contexts” (WFMT, 2011).Rose Fienman, our Executive Assistant assisted in getting the definition translated in 12 languages (see Info Cards for download). Some of our translators also recorded the definition, which we make available as mp3/mp4 files for you.My thanks and appreciation goes to all who contributed to the new definitions. Great teamwork everyone!Petra KernPresident of WFMT
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