Welcome
A to G Music Therapy & Instruction was inspired and born truly out of needs presented by the community we serve. In 2015, while serving as the Program Specialist for an adult day program, Debra Cotterall, MA, MT-BC learned about the need for providing more adaptive music instruction for ALL individuals with a desire to learn. This prompted to humble beginnings, providing individual piano and voice lessons to individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder. In 2018, an elementary school in South Philadelphia was looking for a music therapist to work with Autistic Support and Multiple Disability Support classrooms and the Penrose Elementary Music Therapy program, run by A to G, was born and continues to this day. The following school year, a program run by the Office of Specialized Services within the School District of Philadelphia, brought in A to G to work with middle school students in emotional support classes. Again, the program was a success for the 2018-2019 school year! A to G specializes in program development, within school settings to meet the unique needs of all students, in accordance with Individualized Education Plan Outcomes. A to G also desires to meet the needs of adults within the special needs community, in accordance with Individualized Support Plans. A to G is working toward becoming an Approved Provider under the adult services waivers in Pennsylvania, for music therapy services. From the beginning, individual music therapy has been provided in-home for several individuals, of all ages, throughout the Greater Philadelphia area to meet individualized, therapeutic goals.
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Meet Miss Debbie!
Debra Cotterall
B.M. Music Performance /
M.A. Creative Arts in Therapy / MT-BC
Debra Cotterall, MA, MT-BC is a graduate of Drexel University's Creative Arts Therapy Department and has served as a graduate clinical supervisor for the department, since 2015. Debra's clinical work focuses on working with children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Known to many as "Miss Debbie," she has experience as a music therapist in co-occurring mental health/D&A day programming, inpatient adult & adolescent psych, adult intellectual and developmental disability day programming, child & adolescent extended assessment, behavior specialist consulting, mobile therapy, post-acute child medical settings, school-based therapy, and adaptive music instruction. A 2011 AmeriCorps, City Year Greater Philadelphia alum, she has a passion for creating stronger educational environments in the Greater Philadelphia area. Miss Debbie believes that all people desire and are capable of connections with others if we are willing to meet them in ways where communication is accessible. As trained classical vocalist, Miss Debbie is enthusiastic about every single person's ability to create and engage in music! In 2018, she helped create the Music Therapy Program at Penrose Elementary School and the IU26 program through the Philadelphia Office of Specialized Services. Miss Debbie is a recipient of the 2010 City Year Discipline Award, 2011 Segal Education Award, and the 2013 Excellence in Music Therapy Thesis Award from Drexel University. She has presented at the regional and national level American Music Therapy Association's conferences regarding her trauma-focused, resilience-based work with children in a temporary shelter setting.
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Our Mission
A to G Music Therapy & Instruction is an organization dedicated to promoting the physical and emotional health of all clients and students through the experience of music and music-making. The musical alphabet includes the letters A to G, similarly, all are welcomed to be a part of A to G Music Therapy & Instruction. We believe in the power of music to help individuals achieve their goals and become the best version of themselves!
