University of Toronto homepage
Photo of Amy Clements-Cortes

Amy Clements-Cortes

Associate Professor

Faculty of Music

Orcid identifier0000-0002-5855-4802
  • Associate Professor
    Faculty of Music
  • 519-897-3613 (Mobile)

BIO

Dr. Amy Clements-Cortés PhD, RP, MTA, MT-BC is an Associate Professor, Faculty of Music, University of Toronto; Credentialed Music Therapist, Registered Psychotherapist and a Fellow in the Bonny Method of Guided Imagery and Music, and Neurologic Music Therapy.

Amy has extensive clinical experience working with clients across the life span, with a specialty in mental health, dementia and palliative care. Her research contributions have had a significant impact in the understanding of understudied phenomenon, resulting in excelled treatments provided by professionals in music and medicine. This includes: relationship completion for individuals at end-of-life, vibroacoustic therapy and singing protocols for persons diagnosed with dementia, as well as experiences in music therapy internships. The impact has been recognized by publication in high impact factor journals and media attention from CBC News, CTV News, City TV News, Rogers TV and the Globe and Mail newspaper, all covering stories about the vibroacoustic pilot study for persons with Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), the Glee Club studies and her overall contributions to the field. She has authored 50+ peer reviewed journal articles, multiple book chapters, co-edited 2 books, including “Relationship Completion in Palliative Care Music Therapy”, and provided 250 conference and/or invited academic presentations. Her work has been cited by over 800 scholars. As a researcher, she has secured over $5 million dollars in research funds as a co-investigator and collaborator, as well as $375,000 as the Primary Investigator for clinical and education grants.

In 2020, she received the World Federation of Music Therapy Clinical Impact Award honoring a music therapist who has had a long-term impact on advancing the knowledge and practice of music therapy within a specific clinical area or population through the publication or presentation of his or her work. She has also won outstanding health discipline teaching awards, Educator of character and outstanding service awards.

With an International Reputation Amy is part of multiple Special Interest groups to advance understanding in music for pain, dementia, community music, caregivers, palliative care and most recently is leading a group of International scholars to work on advancing Telehealth music therapy.

Amy is the Managing Editor of the Music and Medicine Journal and Research and Ethics Chair of the World Federation of Music Therapy (WFMT). She is a former President of the World Federation of Music Therapy and the Canadian Association for Music Therapists, and serves on the editorial review boards for 9 International journals including the Journal of Alzheimer’s disease.

Media availability: TV, Radio, Print/Online

ACADEMIC POSITIONS

  • Sessional Instructor, Music Therapy
    University of Windsor, Windsor, Canada2012 - 2016
  • Assistant Professor & Co-ordinator, Music Therapy
    University of Windsor, Windsor, CanadaSep 2010 - Apr 2016
  • Sessional Instructor, Music Therapy
    University of Windsor, Windsor, CanadaJul 2012 - Apr 2016
  • Assistant Professor
    University of Toronto, Music & Health Sciences, Toronto, Canada2013 - present
  • Instructor Interdisciplinary Studies
    Toronto Metropolitan University, Chang School of Continuing Education, Toronto, Canada2014 - present
  • Contract Academic Faculty
    Wilfrid Laurier University, Music Therapy & Community Music, Waterloo, Canada2012 - present

NON-ACADEMIC POSITIONS

  • Practice Advisor/Senior Music Therapist
    Baycrest Centre2000 - 2019
  • Program Coordinator, Adult Day Care
    Baycrest Centre1997 - 2000
  • Owner & Director
    Notes by Amy: Music Therapy & Psychotherapy Services1995 - present
  • Performer
    Freelance1995 - present
  • Program Worker, Recreational Music/Therapeutic Recreation
    Baycrest Centre1996 - 1997

DEGREES

  • Doctor of Philosophy in Music Education
    University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada2006 - 2009
  • Master of Music
    University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada2003 - 2005
  • Bachelor of Music Therapy
    University of Windsor, Windsor, Canada1989 - 1995

CERTIFICATIONS

  • Cognitive Behaviour Therapy
    Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, Canada2020 - present
  • Registered Psychotherapist, (RP)
    College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario2015 - present
  • Music Therapist, Board Certified, (MT-BC)
    Certification Board for Music Therapists2012 - present
  • Music Therapist Accredited
    Canadian Association of Music Therapists2000 - present
  • Neurologic Music Therapy Fellow
    Academcy for Neurologic Music Therapy
  • Fellow in the Association for Music and Imagery
    Association for Music and Imagery
  • Montreal Cognitive Assessment, Certificate
    Montreal Cognitive Assessment Test Inc., Canada2021 - present
  • Dialectical Behaviour Therapy Skills, Certificate
    Behaviour Tech Research, United States2021 - present

AVAILABILITY

  • Collaborative projects
  • Masters Research or PhD student supervision
  • Media enquiries

TAGS