"title="Debi Kret-Melton, MM, MT-BC, NMT" width="300" height="240" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-156" />Debi Kret-Melton, MM, MT-BC, NMT has been a music therapist since 1996 and became board certified (MT-BC) in January 1997. She completed her Neurologic Music Therapy (NMT) certificate through Colorado State University in 2000 and received her Master of Music in Music Therapy (MM) in May 2010 from Arizona State University. She has been a clinical training director for university interns through the Arizona State University Music Therapy Program since 2004. Debi has provided music therapy for
individuals and groups of all ages and stages of life.
Debi loves reading almost as much as she love music so it came naturally for her to set books to music for use during her music therapy groups. Her favorite author is Dr. Seuss and every year on “Read across America day” Debi sings “Green Eggs and Ham” opera style!
During her graduate work Debi’s cognate areas were Autism and Special Education. Her graduate clinical project was titled “Addressing Language and Literacy Goals in the Music Therapy Group.” This paper described many of the original songs and music interventions that were developed during more than ten years with Scottsdale Unified School District special education students. This material is included in the complete curriculum based on thematic units used in early-intervention pre-schools. “Mind-Full Music: A Multi-Sensory Approach for Therapeutic Interventions” is in the publication process and will be released by October 2011. It will include a CD of original music and artwork. Although primarily geared toward early childhood the book contains suggestions to modify the activities for use with older children.
Kret-Melton has had extensive experience in presenting music therapy-related topics to large and small groups. She has provided in-service workshops for teachers and para-educators in the Scottsdale Unified School District. She has worked with small and large groups of ASU pre-clinical students. Debi has also traveled to Manila, Philippines where she engaged parents, teachers, and therapists in singing and dancing at a workshop for the Autism Society of the Philippines. In China, she trained special educators working in two orphanages about the importance of music and play in early childhood.
Mind-Full Music Therapy Services was started by Debi Kret-Melton in 2010 to provide private music therapy services and workshops as an independent contractor and delivers both individual and group services for children and adults with developmental delays. Current contracts include Baio Enterprises, therapy services for children with developmental delays and autism; Ensign Group, long-term care and rehabilitation facilities; and Yavapai Elementary School PANDA early intervention pre-school. The affiliation with the Arizona State University Music Therapy program continues through the current mentorship of two interns.