Dr. Amy Clements-Cortes, Alumna and Faculty

 

Dr. Amy Clements-Cortes is currently Past-President, CAMT; the newly elected President and Clinical Commissioner, WFMT; Co-Editor of the 40^th Anniversary Edition of the Canadian Journal of Music Therapy; and member of the editorial review boards for Music Therapy Perspectives, Voices and the WFMT journal. In June 2014 Amy chaired the 40^th Anniversary CAMT Conference http://www.camtconference2014.ca/  held in Toronto and will also co-chair the IAMM conference that follows http://www.iammcanada.com/.

 

She also served on several other conference committees including the World Federation of Music Therapy Congress: Scientific Committee and Conference Proceedings, and the Room 217 Board of Directors and Music Cares Conference committee. Dr. Clements-Cortes won the 2014 Outstanding Health Discipline Teaching Award, Baycrest Centre.

 

 

Dr. Clements-Cortes continues to work on several research studies. The Buddy’s Glee Club multi-phase study, which began in 2010 has successfully all three phases and data analysis for phase three is currently underway. Phase three took another innovative and novel approach to studying singing for health and wellness. Older adults diagnosed with moderate cognitive impairment were invited to participate in a weekly choral session led by a music therapist (UWindsor graduate Chrissy Pearson) along with one of their family members, friends or private health care worker. The study focused on the benefits of participating in the choir with a significant other in terms of anxiety, mood, pain, and socialization.

 

Dr. Clements-Cortes also began a study in 2013 focusing on music therapy clinical internship and has invited participation from music therapy students from all undergraduate Canadian University programs. Giving Back Music Therapy Mentors Rebecca Wright and Christina Shum were instrumental in getting this study off the ground and data analysis will begin in the next few months.

 

At present Dr. Clements-Cortes in involved in a collaborative study on Rhythmic Sensory Stimulation and Alzheimer’s Disease. This project is led by the Music and Health Research Collaboratory (MaHRC) in collaboration with Baycrest Centre, and the Conrad Institute for Music Therapy Research at Laurier University. The specific aim of this study, is to evaluate the effects of 40 Hz Rhythmic Sensory Stimulation (RSS) in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) with the intent of informing the parameters of a larger proof of concept study followed by a clinical trial. The purpose of this study is to test 40-Hz sensory stimulation as a means of improving alertness, clarity, and short-term memory in AD.

 

 

This past year, Dr. Clements-Cortes wrote blogs, was interviewed by and reported in media including:

Cancer Knowledge Network (2014). Imaging for Wellness: Guided Imagery and Music

Journal on Active Aging (2014). Music for wellness: Innovative ways to bring music to your clients. www.icaa.cc

AlzTunes (2014). Glee Club at Baycrest Hospital. http://alztunes.org/archive/featured-program-glee-club-at-baycrest-hospital/

CBC Ontario Today (2013). Music therapy makes a difference. http://www.cbc.ca/player/AudioMobile/Ontario%2BToday/ID/2423441106/

Canadian Jewish News (2013). Glee club brings joy to Baycrest residents Glee club brings joy to Baycrest residents. http://www.cjnews.com/arts/glee-club-brings-joy-baycrest-residents

North York Mirror (2013).  Baycrest glee club strikes right note for seniors with cognitive concerns. http://www.insidetoronto.com/news-story/4250638-baycrest

 

Music Heals (2013). Guest Blog: Musical endings: Music therapy in palliative care.

 

City Life Magazine (2013). Guest Editor Health: Soothing sounds. http://www.citylifemagazine.ca/health/amy-clements-cortes-notes-by-amy/14709

Dr. Clements-Cortes participated in 17 national and international peer-refereed conferences and invited academic presentations this past year. She also had a number of publications including:

 

Bartel, L, & Clements-Cortes, A. (2014). Dying Healthy: Music in places of palliative care, In

G. J. Andrews, P. Kingsbury, & R. A. Kearns, (Eds.). Soundscapes of Wellbeing in Popular Music. Burlington, VT: Ashgate. http://www.ashgate.com/isbn/9781409443599

Clements-Cortes, A. (2014). Adultos en Cuidados Paliativos y Hospicio. In J. Allen (Ed.). Guia Para la Practica de la Musicoterapia con Adultos Bajo Atencion Medico. New Braunfels TX: Barcelona.

Clements-Cortes, A. (2013). Adults in palliative/hospice care, In J. Allen, (Ed.). Guidelines for

Music Therapy Practice in Adult Medical Care (pp. 295-346). New Braunfels TX: Barcelona.

 

Clements-Cortes, A. (2013). Burnout in music therapists: Work, individual, and social factors, Music Therapy Perspectives, 31(2), 166-174.

 Clements-Cortes, A. (2013) Buddy's Glee Club: Singing for Life, Activities, Adaptation & Aging, 37(4), 273-290, DOI: 10.1080/01924788.2013.845716

Gordon, M., & Clements-Cortes, A.  (2013). Music at the end of life: bringing comfort and

saying goodbye through song and story. Annals of Long-Term Care: Clinical Care and Aging, 21(11), 24-29. http://www.annalsoflongtermcare.com/content/music-end-life-song-story#sthash.H5Muf5JG.dpuf

Clements-Cortes, A. (2013). Freeing the voice within. Canadian Music Educators Journal, 55(1), 19-24.

 Clements-Cortes, A. (2013). Luba’s theme. Imagine, 40(1), 70-73.

Clements-Cortes, A. (2013). Music as medicine for interdisciplinary team self care and stressmanagement in palliative care, In C. L. McLean (Ed.). Creative Arts in Humane Medicine, Edmonton, Alberta: Brush.

Clements-Cortes, A. (2014). MaHRC: Synergy and Collaboration to Promote a Healthy World

through Music. Canadian Music Educators Journal, 55(3), 41-42.

Clements-Cortes, A. (2014). Getting A Grip on Vocal Disorders, Ensemble, 40(1), 13-16.

Clements-Cortes, A. (2013). Vocal disorders, injuries, and conditions: Considerations

for music educators. Canadian Music Educators Journal, 55(2), 35-37.

Clements-Cortes, A. (2013). Vocal psychotherapy: Connecting to the self via the voice.

            Canadian Music Educators Journal, 55(1), 39-41

Clements-Cortes, A. (2013). High-tech therapy: Music technology in music therapy. Canadian

            Music Educators Journal, 54(4), 37-39.

Clements-Cortes, A. (2013). A reflection on being a music therapist in intimate spaces.

            Ensemble, 39(1), 12.

Clements-Cortes, A. (2013). HealthRHYTHMS: Adolescent drum protocol project with at-risk

            students. Canadian Music Educators Journal,54(3), 54-57.

 

Dr.  Clements-Cortes recorded

Buddy’s Glee Club: Growing Older, Singing Better, CD produced from Glee one research study participants in Adult Day Centre, Baycrest, Sept 2013.

Honouring the Passage, Voices from Hospice Music Therapy & Beyond, Various Artists, CD Baby, 2014.  http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/carolynkoebel