MISSION STATEMENT
The European Music Therapy Confederation was founded in 1990, as a forum for exchange between music therapists in Europe.
The EMTC is a confederation of professional music therapy associations, working actively to promote the further development of professional practice in Europe, and to foster exchange and collaboration between member countries.
The overall purpose of the EMTC is to nurture mutual respect, understanding and exchange between music therapists in Europe.
EMTC county delegates in Vienna 2011
The EMTC
The European Music Therapy Confederation was founded in 1990, as a forum for exchange between music therapists in Europe. Since this time regular meetings have been held, at conferences, within smaller working groups, and through email exchange. While the theoretical basis, methods and concepts of music therapy training are different within each country, the overall purpose of the EMTC is to nurture mutual respect, understanding and exchange.
We consider it timely to actively foster and improve international cooperation to a level that is more operational, and therefore has more influence. This is essential for the further development of the profession world-wide. Consistency of a high professional level of practice is vital, in a way that maintains individuality of approach, philosophy and specialism.
Current status
In May 2004 the EMTC achieved official AISBL status at EU level in Brussels, as a non-profit making, international, professional organisation, according to Belgian law. This new EMTC has a Constitution, By Laws and a Code of Ethics. It is managed by an administrative infrastructure consisting of a Core Board (President and 2 vice Presidents: General Secretary and Treasurer), a Board (3 regional country coordinators).
EMTC Membership
The EMTC is a confederation of professional music therapy associations (i.e. associations of qualified, practising music therapists). Member countries have a single representative. This representative is voted by the member associations (the professional association(s) within each country). The country representative is responsible to the national associations who are members of the EMTC.
Today, membership includes music therapists from all 25 EU countries, from EU candidate countries in Eastern and Central Europe. Member countries are currently: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxemburg, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK, Serbia, and Israel (observing member). see more
European Conferences
Every three years the EMTC organises a European Conference – a forum for professional exchange with a clinical, professional and research focus. These important events have taken place since an initial conference in the UK in 1989, as follows:
1992: Spain
1995: Denmark
1998: Belgium
2001: Italy
2004: Finland
2007: The Netherlands
2010: Cadiz/Spain
2013: Oslo/Norway
2016: Vienna/Austria
EMTC MUSIC THERAPIST REGISTER
The most important current focus for the EMTC is the Europe Music Therapist Register (EMTR). We are setting up the structure of the EMTR via the Registration Commission and collaboration with the membership. We aim to pilot the EMTR in 2010 and to make it operational during 2011-2012. see more
The present and the future
In the future the EMTC will continue to work actively to promote the further development of professional practice in Europe, and to foster exchange and collaboration between member countries.
A current and future priority is the setting up of the European Music Therapy Register (EMTR), a development that is linked to the higher education standards of bachelor and master level qualifications (i.e. this accredited standard is required by the EC, following the Bologna Treaty). At this moment there are 60 official training courses throughout Europe: 19 in the South, 22 in the Middle and 19 in the North. 30 of these are accredited at MA, with 11 on BA level. The EMTR will therefore both support professional practice in each country and have implications for future work. This is an exciting time for music therapy in Europe and for the EMTC.