{"id":279,"date":"2017-09-20T18:48:26","date_gmt":"2017-09-20T18:48:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/john-j-cali-school-of-music\/?page_id=279"},"modified":"2026-01-02T09:20:05","modified_gmt":"2026-01-02T14:20:05","slug":"music-therapy","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/john-j-cali-school-of-music\/about-the-cali-school\/faculty-leadership\/music-therapy\/","title":{"rendered":"Music Therapy"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>

\nBrian Abrams<\/strong>
\nProfessor of Music
\nMusic Therapy
\nGraduate Coordinator
\n973-655-3458
\nChapin 344
\nabramsb@montclair.edu<\/a>
\n
Bio<\/div>
\n

Brian Abrams<\/strong> (He\/Him), Ph.D., MT-BC, LCAT, Analytical Music Therapist and Fellow of the Association for Music and Imagery, has been a music therapist since 1995, with experience across a wide range of clinical contexts. Prior to his current position at Montclair State University as Professor of Music and Graduate Program Coordinator of Music Therapy, he served on the faculty at Immaculata University (2004-2008) and Utah State University (2001-2004). He has published and presented internationally on a wide range of topics such as music therapy in cancer care, music psychotherapy, music therapy and transgenerational trauma, humanistic music therapy, and the interdisciplinary area of Health Humanities, including his role as one of five authors of a 2015 book by that title. He has also contributed to the establishment of several medical music therapy programs. He has served on the editorial boards of numerous journals, such as Music Therapy Perspectives, the Nordic Journal of Music Therapy, and Voices: A World Forum for Music Therapy. From 2005 to 2011, he served on the Board of the Mid-Atlantic Region of the American Music Therapy Association (AMTA), including as President from 2007-2009. From 2005 through the present, he has served on the AMTA Assembly of Delegates, including as Assembly Representative on the AMTA Board of Directors from 2010-2013 (including as Assembly Speaker from 2012-2013), and as an Assembly Representative Alternate from 2020-2023.
\n<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/p><\/div><\/p><\/div>\n

\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>

\nMichael Viega<\/strong>
\nAssociate Professor of Music
\nUndergraduate Coordinator
\nMusic Therapy
\n973-655-5408
\nChapin 328
\nviegam@montclair.edu<\/a>
\n
Bio<\/div>
\n

Michael Viega, Ph.D.,<\/strong> LCAT, MT-BC, is an Assistant Professor of Music Therapy at Montclair State University, and a Fellow in the Association of Music and Imagery. He has published and presented internationally on a wide range of topics such as Hip Hop and music therapy, arts-based research methodologies, therapeutic songwriting and adverse childhood experiences, and music therapy and adolescent development. As a music therapy clinician, he has worked extensively with children and adolescents who have experienced childhood adversity and trauma. He serves on the editorial board for the Journal of Music Therapy<\/em>, Music Therapy Perspectives<\/em>, and Voices: A World Forum for Music Therapy<\/em>. He is currently the President of the Mid-Atlantic Region of the American Music Therapy Association (MAR-AMTA). Some of his recent publications include “From orphan to sage: The hero\u2019s journey as an assessment tool for Hip Hop songs created in music therapy” (Journal of Genius and Eminence<\/em>); “Remixing identity: Creating meaning from songs written by patients recovering from a spinal cord injury” (With F.A. Baker, Journal of Applied Arts & Health<\/em>); and “What\u2019s in a song? Combining Analytical and Arts-based Analysis for Songs Created by Songwriters with Neurodisabilities” (With F.A. Baker, Nordic Journal of Music Therapy<\/em>).
\n<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/p><\/div><\/p><\/div>\n

\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>

\nAmy Clarkson<\/strong>
\nAdjunct Professor
\nMusic Therapy
\nclarksona@montclair.edu<\/a>
\n
Bio<\/div>
\n

Amy L. Clarkson,<\/strong>\u00a0MMT, LCAT, MT-BC, TEP (she\/her) is a board-certified music therapist and certified trainer, educator and practitioner of psychodrama, sociometry and group psychotherapy. She received her music therapy training at Montclair State University and Temple University and she has been an adjunct faculty member at the Cali School since 1998. \u00a0In addition to teaching, Amy currently serves as clinical training associate, coordinating the practicum training placements for the music therapy program. She also provides music therapy services at Montclair State University\u2019s Ben Samuels Children\u2019s Center, supporting child development and social-emotional well-being through musical engagement.\u00a0 Amy has 30 years of experience as a music therapy clinician, with a focus on working with children and families impacted by domestic violence and with people who are neurodiverse.\u00a0 She currently has a private practice in central New Jersey, where she provides music therapy and psychodrama training, supervision and services for children, teens and adults.\u00a0 She has presented at local, regional and national conferences, and has published on the topics of songwriting and identity, music therapy for children with autism, the integration of the creative arts therapies in helping children heal from trauma, and the music therapy treatment process.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/p><\/div><\/p><\/div>\n

\n
\"Tara<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>

\nTara Davis<\/strong>
\nAdjunct Professor
\nMusic Therapy
\ndavist@montclair.edu<\/a>
\n
Bio<\/div>
\n

Tara Davis<\/strong> is a board-certified music therapist and adjunct professor at Montclair State University, where she teaches both undergraduate and graduate courses in music therapy. She earned her Master of Arts in Music Therapy from Montclair State in 2017, completing her clinical internship under Dr. Joanne Loewy at the
\nLouis Armstrong Center for Music and Medicine.<\/p>\n

Tara has extensive experience as a full-time clinical music therapist in New Jersey, working across diverse healthcare settings including acute behavioral health, physical rehabilitation, substance use recovery, adolescent care, geriatric populations with Alzheimer\u2019s and Parkinson\u2019s, and hospice and palliative care.<\/p>\n

In addition to her clinical work, Tara is passionate about mentoring future music therapists. She has supervised practicum students at Robert Wood Johnson and Clara Maass Medical Centers, and currently at Fellowship Senior Living Health Center, where she established a music therapy internship site that continues to support student training.<\/p>\n

Tara previously served as Vice President of the New Jersey Association for Music Therapy. Her undergraduate training includes a BFA in Musical Theatre from The Boston Conservatory of Music. She also brings years of professional experience as an actor and theater director, with specialized training in improvisational theater.
\n<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/p><\/div><\/p><\/div>\n

\n
\"Jasmine<\/figure>\n<\/div>

\nJasmine Edwards<\/strong>
\nAdjunct Professor
\nMusic Therapy
\nedwardsja@montclair.edu<\/a>
\n
Bio<\/div>
\n

Jasmine Edwards<\/strong> (she\/her\/hers) is a creative arts therapy coordinator working as a music therapist within a pediatric medical setting in New York City. Jasmine holds a Bachelor of Music in music therapy from Florida State University, and a Master of Arts in music therapy from New York University. She has experience working in private practice, outpatient, school-based, and medical settings, and is trained in NICU-MT, First Sounds: Rhythm, Breath, Lullaby, and Austin Vocal Psychotherapy. Jasmine has a vested interest in integrating the tenets of cultural humility into music therapy clinical practice and pedagogy. She also has served as an adjunct faculty member at Howard University, New York University, and Nazareth College.
\n<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/p><\/div><\/p><\/div>\n

\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>

\nStacey Hensel<\/strong>
\nAdjunct Professor
\nMusic Therapy
\nhensels@montclair.edu<\/a>
\n
Bio<\/div>
\n

Stacey Hensel<\/strong> MA, MT-BC, LCAT, NRMT is a Licensed and Board-Certified music therapist. She has extensive experience as a clinician working with a wide range of ages, developmental levels and social-emotional needs. She received her BA in Music Therapy at West Texas A&M University and graduated from New York University\u2019s Master\u2019s degree program in Music Therapy. She completed the post-graduate advanced clinical training at The Nordoff-Robbins Center at NYU and advanced certification in Vocal Psychotherapy at the Music Psychotherapy Center in NYC. Stacey is the Supervisor of Music Therapy at The Rebecca School in NY, NY. She has presented at numerous regional and national Music Therapy conferences as well as internationally at the European Music Therapy Conference. Her presentations have included case studies on Nordoff Robbins Music Therapy, DIR \u00ae and Creative Music Therapy, In addition she has provided experiential workshops, and taught continuing education courses on clinical improvisation and using music in supervision. Stacey is the founder and Director of Innovative Music: Creative Arts Therapy Services, PLCC.
\n<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/p><\/div><\/p><\/div>\n

\n
\"Alyssa<\/figure>\n<\/div>

\nAlyssa Mannarino
\n<\/strong>Adjunct Professor
\nMusic Therapy
\nmannarinoa@montclair.edu<\/a>
\n<\/strong>
Bio<\/div>
\n

Alyssa Mannarino<\/strong>, MA, MT-BC, received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Vocal Performance from Muhlenberg College and her Master of Arts degree in Music Therapy from Montclair State University. She currently works in home hospice care as a music therapist, and has been part of the development of an interdisciplinary pediatric hospice team at her organization. Alyssa also serves as a faculty member at a non-profit performing arts center in NJ. She has presented at Montclair State University’s Music Therapy Symposium on navigating pediatric hospice telehealth visits during COVID-19. Alyssa has supervised a number of practicum students and is passionate about providing safe educational spaces for future music therapists to grow and learn.
\n<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/p><\/div><\/p><\/div>\n

\n
\"Beth<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>

\nBeth Robinson
\n<\/strong>Adjunct Professor
\nMusic Therapy,
\nrobinsonb@montclair.edu<\/a><\/strong>
\n
Bio<\/div>
\n

Beth Robinson, MT-BC (they\/them), has been a board-certified music therapist since 1996. They began their career after graduating from the University of Missouri-Kansas City, where they worked as a music therapist until relocating to San Francisco in 2000. In San Francisco, Beth established a private practice serving children through adults of all abilities, later founding and directing\u00a0Rainbow Music Therapy LLC<\/strong>, a small agency that employs music therapists in California and continues to support their ongoing clinical work in Northern New Jersey.<\/p>\n

In 2023, Beth moved to Northern New Jersey and joined Montclair State University as an Adjunct Professor. They also served as a fieldwork supervisor and guest lecturer with the University of the Pacific from 2015\u20132023. Their clinical experience spans private practice, hospitals, mental health settings, schools, and community-based programs.<\/p>\n

Beth has published and presented nationally on topics related to best practices for supporting LGBTQ+ clients and LGBTQ+ music therapists. They are deeply committed to equity, inclusion, and advocacy within the music therapy profession.<\/p>\n

Outside of their professional work, Beth enjoys playing drum set, spending time with family and being in\u00a0nature.<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n
\n
\"Andres<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>

\nAndrew Rossetti<\/strong>
\nAdjunct Professor
\nMusic Therapy
\nrossettian@montclair.edu<\/a>
\n
Bio<\/div>
\n

Andrew Rossetti<\/strong> MMT, LCAT, MT-BC, is a clinical music psychotherapist, researcher, and coordinator of the multi-site music therapy program in radiology oncology at Mount Sinai Beth Israel. He is a visiting professor at the University of Barcelona and has lectured throughout the world. He received his master’s degree in Music Therapy from the Facultad de Psicologia Blanquerna (Ramon Llull University,Barcelona Spain). He has developed music therapy programs in hospitals in the United States and Spain, and serves as a consultant in the Palliative Care Unit of the Hospital del Mar, Parc de Salut (Barcelona). His publications include articles in the book Music and Medicine: Integrative Models in the Treatment of Pain<\/em>, the International Journal of Radiation Oncology Biology and Physics<\/em>, and co-authorship of the NICU Compendium: Rhythm, Breath & Lullaby, a comprehensive guide to music psychotherapy in neonatal intensive care units<\/em>. He is interested in further development of Environmental Music Therapy in fragile environments, and in using music psychotherapy to address trauma and the challenges of cancer treatment. His work has been highlighted in such venues as National Public Radio\u2019s Science Friday, CBS News NY, and the New York Psychoanalytic Society\u2019s Helix Center Roundtable Series. Andrew is the president of the International Association of Music & Medicine.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>


\nKatie Van Loan<\/strong>
\nAdjunct Professor
\nMusic Therapy
\nvanloank@montclair.edu<\/a>
\n
Bio<\/div>

\nBio to come soon.
\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n
\n
\"Annalissa<\/figure>\n<\/div>

\nAnnalissa Vicencio<\/strong>
\nAdjunct Professor
\nMusic Therapy
\nvicencioa@montclair.edu<\/a>
\n
Bio<\/div>
\n

Annalissa Vicencio,<\/strong> MA, LCAT, MT-BC, is a native Bronxite serving her home community as a Licensed Creative Arts Therapist \u2013 Music Therapist at Montefiore Medical Center<\/a>, where she co-founded\/co-facilitates the Montefiore Melodies Choir<\/a> for those with a neurologic-related communication disorder, their caregivers, and the community. Annalissa has worked with all ages in psychiatric\/addiction, medical, rehabilitation, and education settings and has given myriad presentations at creative arts therapy conferences and at the Society for Neuroscience. Annalissa is a doctoral student in the Rehabilitation Sciences PhD program at NYU Steinhardt where she also received her MA in Music Therapy; she holds a BA in Biology-Neuroscience from Manhattanville College. She is a Neurologic Music Therapist, an Austin Vocal Psychotherapist, and trains in Psychodrama, Sociometry, and Group Psychotherapy and Drama Therapy (Alternative Training). Annalissa is also a Health and Wellness Coach. As the founder of Whole Health Power<\/a>, she empowers others toward sustainable lifestyle changes. Her related research interests integrate the creative arts, coaching, and holistic health initiatives to address systemic oppression and inequalities in healthcare.
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