|   | 
      
      
        |   | 
      
      
        | 
           		
			 | 
        
          R E S O L U T I O N
         | 
      
      
        | 
           		
			 | 
               WHEREAS, The practice of music therapy has been effectively  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        used to promote healing and enhance the physical, mental, and  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        emotional well-being of countless individuals; and | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               WHEREAS, A clinical, evidence-based discipline, music  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        therapy is defined as the application of music by an accredited  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        professional for the purpose of achieving therapeutic goals; music  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        therapy is used to treat persons of all ages and abilities in a  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        variety of settings, and it is shown to be a safe and cost-effective  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        method of health care due to its capacity to address multiple  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        patient concerns without the need for medication; and | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               WHEREAS, Research has found music therapy to be successful in  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        helping patients with Alzheimer's disease to improve their  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        cognitive functioning, children with autism to better communicate,  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        and victims of stroke to regain their speech and mobility;  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        moreover, music intervention has been a valuable tool for many  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        clients in controlling chronic pain and managing anxiety and  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        depression; and | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               WHEREAS, More than 40,000 Texans receive services from music  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        therapists each year; certified practitioners must complete a  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        degree in music therapy at a college or university approved by the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        American Music Therapy Association and are credentialed by the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Certification Board for Music Therapists; and | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               WHEREAS, Degrees in music therapy are offered at a number of  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        institutions of higher learning in Texas, and many graduates of  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        these institutions go on to become contractors and operate small  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        businesses that contribute to the economies of their community and  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        state; and | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               WHEREAS, Texans from all walks of life have benefited  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        immeasurably from the techniques used by skilled music therapists,  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        and it is a privilege to join in commending them for the innovative  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        services they provide; now, therefore, be it | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Legislature hereby recognize February 3, 2015, as Music Therapy Day  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        in Texas and extend sincere best wishes to music therapists across  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        the Lone Star State for success with their important work. |