Concetta M. Tomaino
| Concetta M. Tomaino | |
|---|---|
Dr. Concetta M. Tomaino, D.A., MT-BC, LCAT
|
|
| Born |
July 30, 1954 New York City, U.S |
| Residence | New York City, U.S |
| Employer | Institute for Music and Neurologic Function |
| Known for | Music Therapy |
| Spouse(s) | Walter Barrett |
Dr. Concetta M. Tomaino, D.A., MT-BC, LCAT (born July 30, 1954), is a music therapist in the field of music therapy for individuals suffering the effects of stroke or other brain trauma or are afflicted with such degenerative neurological diseases as Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s. Tomaino is the executive director and co-founder of the Institute for Music and Neurologic Function and senior vice president for music therapy at CenterLight Health System, formerly Beth Abraham Family of Health Services.
Born and raised in New York City (the daughter of a green-grocer and what was then called a 'stay-at-home' Mom), Concetta Tomaino made her connection to music early, adopting the trumpet as her instrument of choice (as it remains to this day, though it is joined by the piano and accordion, her main choice for therapy). The first girl in her family to attend college, Concetta enrolled at Long Island’s Stony Brook University in 1972 as a biology major, but, by her junior year, a continuing passion for music moved her to change her major to music.
Forming a synaptic-like connection between music and medicine, Concetta turned her energies to music therapy, creating independent study courses because there was no music therapy program at Stony Brook. Concetta Tomaino graduated from Stony Brook University in 1976 with a Bachelor of Arts in Music Performance and minors in psychology and sciences and an abiding interest in the emerging field of music therapy.
By 1980, Concetta Tomaino had joined Beth Abraham as the only music therapist (then part of the facilities department of recreation) and began to notice patients in the dementia unit responding positively and in some cases with remarkable speed, to music. She delved deeper into the neurological underpinnings as it became clear that music therapy had more to offer patients than a mere diversion from their everyday existence.
...
Wikipedia