Faculty
All MHTP Faculty are Certified Music Practitioners (CMPs) and highly-trained specialists in their field, passionate about teaching the art and science of therapeutic music. Many have both medical and musical education and experience, which they combine in their MHTP teaching. As CMPs, they each have an active independent therapeutic music practice in their home locations. Each teacher has been rigorously qualified by MHTP to teach one or more specific modules, via extensive module observation and team-teaching with one or more veteran MHTP faculty members.
Module 1: Patient Assessment for Live Therapeutic Music | Injury Prevention for Music Practitioners
Melinda Gardiner, CMP, RN, has an extensive background in Integrative Healing modalities and has been teaching in the field since 1970 in Boston, Massachusetts. She taught Therapeutic Touch and other holistic therapeutic modalities at Columbia-Greene Community College, Hudson, New York, from 1985 to 1995. Melinda began playing the harp in 1987 and participated in Don Campbell's Sound School in the 1990s. Melinda has conducted workshops and retreats in integrating spirituality and music since 1994 and has taught for MHTP since 1997. She graduated from MHTP in 1998 and since then has worked as a CMP in hospitals, nursing homes, and hospices. She was President of the Board from Fall 1998 until 2003, and Executive Director of MHTP from 2004 to Spring 2017.
Amy Lauback, CMP, graduated with an Applied Studies in flute and theory/composition dual major from Ohio Northern University in 2014. She is a 2017 graduate of MHTP and has worked in hospice and several hospitals in Michigan and Ohio. In addition to flute, she is also certified on violin, recorder, and harp.
Sam Vandiver, CMP, is the Arts Programming Coordinator for the Gifts of Art program at the University of Michigan Health System. He also works at UofM hospital as a writer-in-residence for Story Studio, a unique program where he works with patients to record and produce stories. Sam also does contract work as a CMP at various other hospitals in Southeast Michigan.
In addition to being a guitarist, Sam has taken multiple courses abroad in field recording and spends long hours immersed in natural settings to capture their sound. He studied under renowned recordist, Chris Watson, who regularly works with David Attenborough and the BBC. He has since released 3 albums of his field recordings of his travels in India and Nepal.
Module 2: Music as a Language
Catherine Maglaras, CMP, MS, is a veteran music educator for Baltimore County Public Schools and the Howard County Public School System, with a BS and MS in Music Education from Towson University. As a CMP since 2006, Cathy provides therapeutic music at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore, Maryland. As an experienced violin, viola, Celtic harp, and piano teacher, Cathy maintains a private studio and she performs professionally in the Baltimore/Washington DC area. Cathy has taught for MHTP since 2008.
Matt Peroutka, CMP, has a passion for playing guitars, and he has been doing that for more than 50 years. In high school and college he played bass in a rock band, moved on to jazz, and eventually developed his fingerstyle guitar playing. Most recently he has studied classical guitar. Matt became a Certified Music Practitioner in 2011, and began working at the University of Maryland Medical Center soon after that. He now works at this hospital and Medstar Georgetown University Hospital. He has also pursued a successful career as a meteorologist, from which he has retired. Matt lives in Woodstock, Maryland, with his wife, Mary. He has taught for MHTP since 2015.
Module 3: Music, Sound, and Healing | Paradigms of Healing
Melinda Gardiner, CMP, RN, (see Module 1 faculty).
Ami Sarasvati, CMP, is the author of the books and online courses, Learn to Play the Native American Style Flute, Musician’s Heart Journey, and Musician's Practice Journal. She teaches people how to play the Native American style flute online and trains people how to construct their ideal music practice (on any instrument) through her Musician's Practice Journal method. As a CMP since 2016, she is experienced in playing bedside for the ill and dying in a hospital setting and senior living communities. As a group facilitator, she conducts engaging activities for senior living communities, particularly in the area of dementia. Ami is also Accredited T’ai Chi Chih® Instructor, Certified Aromatherapist and Reiki Master Teacher.
Carol Spears, CMP, MS, has taught college-level courses in the biological sciences, and for 28 years worked as an educator and trainer for the National Park Service. Carol is a Reiki Master and teacher, and also has taught meditation techniques and Reiki since 2000 in her private practice and for local hospitals, including the Cleveland Clinic. Since graduating from MHTP in 2002, she has worked extensively as a CMP, and she is a past Board Director and President of MHTP. Carol is currently the CEO of MHTP. In 2005, Carol started teaching Module 3 for MHTP, using her knowledge, skills, and experiences as a science teacher and as a practitioner of several complementary healing modalities.
Module 4: Etiquette and Independent Practicum | Profession of Music Practitioner
Heather Donovan, CMP, has a BA and MA in music. She became certified on harp through MHTP in 2017 and became an advisor in 2018. Heather teaches private piano and harp lessons at her home studio in Washington state and is also a professional harpist for weddings and events. She also works as a CMP at a local hospital, with two hospices, and with the local VA nursing facility.
Stephanie Miller, CMP, VAHTP, VAHTP, graduated from the Music for Healing and Transition program in 2008, with a certification in harp and later became certified in flute. In 2009, she became a Vibroacoustic Harp Therapy Practitioner. She is also a composer and a performer. Her original music has been featured in two documentaries: Discover Ireland: A Literary Adventure (2005) and in Bethany’s Story: The Power from Within (2013). Stephanie enjoys working as a Certified Music Practitioner at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Children’s Hospital and also at the H. John Heinz III Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center.
Cheryl Zabel, CMP, was originally certified in voice with MHTP in 2007, adding harp in 2011. She has also served on the Board of Directors from 2013 - 2017, including time as the MHTP Treasurer. Prior to her therapeutic music work, Cheryl worked for over 30 years in outside business-to-business sales, primarily in industrial rental laundry services. She has been working as a full-time CMP since 2010, serving in hospitals, hospice, skilled nursing, memory care, and adult family group homes.
Module 5: Care of the Dying | Alterations in Health | Independent Practicum
Mark Tulga, CMP, MM, was certified on flute and clarinet in 2017 and added piano keyboard in 2021. Mark works as a CMP at Sutter Medical Center in Roseville, California, UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento, California, and also plays for skilled nursing, memory care, and hospice patients. Mark earned his MM degree in music performance at the Eastman school of music in Rochester, New York. Mark has focused his career on teaching instrumental music at the middle, high school and university levels and also works as a professional musician and woodwind doubler, playing in stage orchestras and pit orchestras for touring plays and shows.
Lynn Wetherbee, CMP, earned her BA from University of Pennsylvania in 1997 and her Master’s in Theology from Palmer Seminary of Eastern University in 2007. She completed 4 units of Clinical Pastoral Education (Interfaith Hospital Chaplaincy training) in 2008-2010. Lynn has served as a chaplain at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, and in several hospices in the Philadelphia area. Lynn currently works full time as a CMP independent contractor, primarily in home hospice and skilled nursing facilities.