Amy began
her professional music career as an elementary music education specialist in
Itasca, Illinois. After eight years teaching music in the Illinois public
schools, Ms. Hourigan took time off to raise her two children, Joshua and
Andrew. During this time she saw how certain therapies (and therapists) had a
profound affect on their clients’ progress. Amy became interested in music
therapy as a means to help people meet their goals through music. She
earned her degree in music therapy from Eastern Michigan University. During her
time at Eastern Michigan, she provided services to children, teenagers and
adults in a variety of settings. Amy is
certified through the Certification Board of Music Therapists and is the
owner/operator of Music Therapy Connections, LLC in Muncie, Indiana. Ms. Hourigan is also an adjunct faculty
member at Ball State University teaching a music education course for
elementary education majors.
Amy is
the co-author of “Teaching Music to Children with
Autism: Understandings and Perspectives”, Music Educators Journal, September 2009. Ms. Hourigan is also a contributing author to
Teaching Music to Students with Special Needs: A Label Free Approach by Alice
Hammel and Ryan Hourigan. In addition, Amy has presented nationally at conferences
including Indiana, Virginia and Kentucky Music Educators’ Association
Conferences.