Introduction
Facing complex and long-lasting challenges in areas such as mental health, education, and social cohesion, it is crucial to acknowledge and value individuals and groups who, leveraging their ingenuity, knowledge, and organizational skills, pave innovative paths towards change.
The Rise of the Mexican Association of Music Therapists (AMME)
The Mexican Association of Music Therapists (AMME) stands out as the first organization with legal status in Mexico, established in 2018, that has been building community, legitimacy, and awareness around music therapy.
Music Therapy: A Scientific Discipline
Music therapy is not an alternative technique or entertainment disguised as therapy. It’s a scientifically-backed discipline with international recognition, applied in diverse fields such as mental health, neurorehabilitation, special education, and community development.
Under the leadership of Juan Carlos Camarena, AMME has not only established a robust network of committed professionals but also positioned Mexico as an emerging international reference in this field.
International Recognition
The 1st International Music Therapists Encounter in 2022, held for free and virtually, allowed mass participation from experts across various countries. More recently, from July 3 to 5 of this year, the 9th Latin American Congress of Music Therapy organized by AMME and CLAM (with BUAP’s support) gathered representatives from over 10 countries, offering more than 80 activities including workshops, therapeutic concerts, and roundtable discussions.
Inclusive and Accessible Approach
Contrary to an elitist approach, these gatherings prioritize accessibility, diversity, and regional commitment.
Patricia Zárate, CLAM’s vice-president and Berklee College of Music professor, has been instrumental in connecting Latin America with its diaspora, making music therapy an increasingly plural, political, and powerful field.
The Future of Music Therapy in Mexico
Today, we need professional practices that connect body, emotion, and thought; those that don’t separate art from health or science from the soul.
AMME embodies this intersection, where knowledge becomes action and music transforms into a form of care, transformation, and belonging.
If Mexico wants to envision a future where mental and emotional health is not a privilege for the few but a common right, it must start by listening to those, like AMME, who have honed their healing vocation through sound, rhythm, and human connection.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is music therapy? Music therapy is a scientifically-backed discipline with international recognition, applied in diverse fields such as mental health, neurorehabilitation, special education, and community development.
- Who is the Mexican Association of Music Therapists (AMME)? AMME is the first organization with legal status in Mexico, established in 2018, that has been building community, legitimacy, and awareness around music therapy.
- What achievements has AMME accomplished? Under the leadership of Juan Carlos Camarena, AMME has established a robust network of committed professionals and positioned Mexico as an emerging international reference in music therapy. They’ve organized events like the 1st International Music Therapists Encounter and the 9th Latin American Congress of Music Therapy, gathering experts from over 10 countries.
- How does AMME promote inclusivity and accessibility? AMME prioritizes an inclusive and accessible approach, focusing on diversity and regional commitment. Patricia Zárate, CLAM’s vice-president, has been key in connecting Latin America with its diaspora.
- Why is music therapy important for Mexico’s future? If Mexico wants mental and emotional health to be a common right, it must listen to those who have honed their healing vocation through sound, rhythm, and human connection, like AMME.
