2020 Annual Conference
of the Music-Thanatology Association, International
The 2020 MTAI conference, On the Threshold, will be held virtually – on Zoom – the weekend of October 24-25. Sessions include a presentation on recent developments in palliative medicine and the field’s future in the Covid-19 era, a discussion of adaptation for music-thanatologists impacted by Covid-19, a memorial tribute, and panels on racial inequities in the health-care system, and diversity and cultural outreach within the field of music-thanatology. There will also be music, ritual and breakout rooms for small-group conversation.
The conference is open to all MTAI members, except the 90-minute Annual Business Meeting on Saturday afternoon, which is open only to Full and Retired members.
Please proceed to the Dues & Fees page to complete your registration.
Below is a draft of the conference schedule as of 9/14/2020.
Expect changes and refinements:
*Please note: All times listed below are in Pacific Time.
Saturday, October 24th, 2020
| 8:00am | Welcome | Conference Planning committee |
| 8:05am | Intro to IT resources/housekeeping | Michael Olmos |
| 8:20am | Waiting at the Threshold | Dia Walker |
| Competency: Musical and Personal | ||
| 8:30am | Opening Ritual & Conference Attendee Introductions | TBD |
| 9:45am | Break | |
| Musical Offering | TBD | |
| 10:00am | COVID-19 Discussion: Professional Impacts | All |
| Competency: Professional/Clinical | ||
| 11:30am | Lunch | |
| 12:30pm | Moving within the Threshold | Dia Walker |
| 12:45pm | MTAI Business Meeting (full & retired members only) | Kieran Schnabel |
| Competency: Professional/Clinical | ||
| 2:15pm | Break | |
| Musical Offering | TBD | |
| 2:30pm | PalliativeCare: Developments & Future | Dr. Elise Newman |
| Competency: Medical/Thanatological & Professional/Clinical | ||
| 4:00pm | Break | |
| Musical Offering | TBD | |
| 4:15pm | Memorial Tributes Loraine McCarthy & Patricia Hurdle | TBD |
| 5:00pm | Dinner | |
| 6:00pm | Evening Musical Activity | All |
Sunday, October 25th, 2020
| 8:00am | Housekeeping & Announcements | |
| 8:05am | Playing within the Threshold | Dia Walker |
| Competency: Musical & Personal | ||
| 8:30am | Break | |
| Musical Offering | TBD | |
| 8:45am | Exploring Racial Disparities within Healthcare | TBD |
| Competency: Professional/Clinical | ||
| 10:15am | Break | |
| Musical Offering | TBD | |
| 10:30am | Cracking Open the Paradigm: Addressing Racial & Cultural Issues within M-Th | TBD |
| Competency: Professional/Clinical | ||
| 12:00pm | Lunch | |
| Musical Offering | TBD | |
| 1:00pm | Open Conversation Reflecting on Diversity Panel Sessions | All |
| 1:00 – 1:10 Guidelines for break-out discussions | Panel Moderators | |
| 1:10 – 2:00 Break-out room discussions | All | |
| 2:00 – 2:30 Reconvene in the larger group to share major takeaways | All | |
| Competency: Professional/Clinical | ||
| 2:30pm | Closing Ritual | TBD |