Resonating Realities: Music therapy as evidence-based practice

LASALLE is proud to host Resonating Realities: Music therapy as evidence-based practice, a one-day interdisciplinary academic conference that explores how music therapy is being positioned as an essential part of Singapore’s evolving healthcare and well-being landscape.

The conference aims to demystify music therapy through the lens of evidence-based and practice-based integration, showcasing its diverse applications across medical, mental health and community settings.

It welcomes as its keynote speaker Associate Professor Dr Lori Gooding, immediate past president of the American Music Therapy Association (AMTA) and Fulbright Specialist. She will be joined by faculty and students from LASALLE’s MA Music Therapy programme, alongside other local leaders and practitioners.

Join us as we explore how rigorous evidence and real-world practice can work in harmony—and help shape a more compassionate and effective future for healthcare in Singapore and beyond.

Download full programme schedule here.

Key conference themes

• Evidence- and practice-based integration
• Clinical and medical music therapy
• Community and mental health applications
• Healthcare systems and cultural contexts (Singapore)
• Leadership, legacy and future-oriented innovation

About the keynote speaker
Associate Professor Dr Lori Gooding, PhD, MT-BC, is the Department Chair and Area Coordinator of the music therapy programme at Florida State University (FSU), a distinguished Research 1 institution in the United States. Dr Gooding is an internationally recognised leader in music therapy, with a career dedicated to advancing evidence-based research, clinical practice and education within the field.

At this conference, Dr Gooding will deliver a keynote session and lead series of targeted workshops at LASALLE, designed to support the MA Music Therapy programme’s aspirations to promote the integration of advanced, evidence-based practices in music therapy. Her sessions aim to empower emerging music therapists to contribute meaningfully to the growing body of scientific knowledge that shapes the profession worldwide.

Dr Gooding is the immediate past president of the American Music Therapy Association (AMTA), the foremost professional organization representing music therapists globally. Under her leadership, AMTA has continued to set international standards for clinical excellence, research innovation, and professional development. FSU’s highly regarded music therapy programme has been recognised by AMTA since 1954.

Before joining FSU in 2015, Dr Gooding established and directed music therapy academic and clinical programmes at the University of Kentucky and taught at Charleston Southern University. Her scholarship centres on the application of music therapy in mental and physical healthcare, emphasising biopsychosocial approaches, patient- and family-centred care and progressive music therapy education. Her research has been widely published in leading journals such as Journal of Music Therapy, Music Therapy Perspectives and Medical Problems of Performing Artists.

Dr Gooding is the editor of Medical Music Therapy: Building a Comprehensive Program and co-author of Procedural Support Music Therapy: A Guide to Evidence-Based Practice and Program Development. She is a respected member of the editorial board for the Journal of Music Therapy and has received prestigious research grants from institutions including AARP, the National Institute on Aging, The Awesome Foundation, and the Florida Division of Cultural Affairs. She was awarded a Fulbright grant to conduct research in Malaysia as well as support the development of music therapy work in the region. 

Her academic journey began with a Bachelor of Music Education from the University of South Carolina, followed by both her Master of Music and PhD degrees from Florida State University. Dr Gooding’s work continues to inspire and influence the global music therapy community through her commitment to rigorous research, clinical innovation, and education.