Sound and Music Alliance (SAMA)

Mission Statement

Sound and Music Alliance
First SAMA Symposium, Wisdom House, Litchfield, CT - April 2010

  • SAMA is an interdisciplinary alliance that promotes our mutual interests in the intentional use and transformative power of sound and music throughout the full spectrum of life cycles.
  • SAMA affirms the diversity of disciplines that utilize sound and music and advocates its use in health, education, research, technology, science, and the holistic arts.
  • SAMA advances harmonious collegial relationships, ethical behaviors, and multi-disciplinary competencies.
  • SAMA promotes the professional development and welfare of its members.
  • SAMA upholds a code of ethics applicable to its membership.
  • SAMA recognizes reputable and responsible sound and music disciplines, educational programs, practitioners, and products.
  • SAMA affirms the value of both qualitative and quantitative research.
  • SAMA serves its members, the public, institutions, employers, and policy makers through its support of excellence in education, practice and research.
  • SAMA develops educational objectives, programs, curricula and/or continuing education events, in support of our 501(c) 6 status, to provide learning opportunities for those working with music and sound.
  • SAMA acknowledges the timeless bond between sound and life, and honors the indigenous, traditional, historic, scientific and aesthetic wisdom from which sound and music methods, practices, and knowledge evolve.

Membership

Join SAMA as a Professional, Allied, Student, or Supporting Member.

Options for joining SAMA have been crafted to honor the diversity of our respective fields and the growing interest and support of our various professional competencies. There are three levels of SAMA Membership from which to choose. Professional Membership is offered to qualified individuals and organizations incorporating the intentional use of sound and music in their work. Allied members are individuals and organizations not primarily focusing on sound and music and are interested in these fields. Student Members are studying to become professionals in the field. SAMA also welcomes those who choose to become "Supporters" of our association.

Professional Members

You may become a professional member as an individual, an organization, or as a product producer if your primary work directly uses intentional sound and music. SAMA professionals are dedicated voting members who can experience the personal satisfaction of knowing that through their involvement and their vote, they are shaping the future of the Sound and Music Alliance in a vital and engaging way. Professional membership requires a formal application.

Three Categories of Professional Membership:

Allied Members

If you are a professional working in a related field and interested in intentional music or sound practices, come bring your expertise and gain new perspectives.

Two Categories of Allied Membership:

Student Members

Any individual involved in an active study, oral or written, formal or informal may apply for a Student Membership. Download Application

SAMA Supporting Members

If you do not fit into the Professional or Allied membership designations, SAMA offers the opportunity for you to join as a SAMA Supporting Member. Under this category, you will learn about the new innovations in intentional sound and music. SAMA Supporting members receive advance notice of news, announcements and educational/outreach events. SAMA Supporting members do not receive membership benefits or a listing in the membership directory. - Download Application

There are two additional SAMA categories that are bestowed.

  • Emeritus - These individuals are chosen based upon their distinguished service to SAMA.
  • SAMA Luminaries - This lifetime distinction and membership is extended by the SAMA Board of Directors to publicly recognize the sustained services and commitments of honored individuals.

All SAMA members agree to abide by and uphold the SAMA Code of Ethics.

Charter Campaign Contributors receive discounted or free membership (must meet membership qualifications) as a contributor benefit. Support the SAMA Charter Campaign now and save on your membership.

Professional Ethics

SAMA was formed for the purpose of promoting and supporting the professional use of intentional sound and music throughout the spectrum of life, in all possible settings and applications. To further this goal, and to honor the diversity of our respective fields, SAMA recognized the need for an inclusive Code of Professional Ethics encompassing all aspects of the field - including clinical practice, education, research standards, product claims, and more.

The Ethics Committee of SAMA formulated a code that encompasses the traditional tenants of professional behavior, while also approaching ethical issues from a place of vision and intention. SAMA is in a unique position to incorporate the principles and standards of practice from many diverse fields that utilize the transformative power of sound and music. SAMA also chooses to develop this code in light of newer, emerging approaches that avoid sterile legalism and instead, highlight the potential and subtlety of relationship, exchange, interconnectedness, holism, etc.

Overview of the Code

The SAMA Ethical Principles and Code of Conduct (hereinafter referred to as the Ethics Code) consists of five sections:

  1. Introduction
  2. Preamble
  3. Mission Statement
  4. General Principles
  5. Ethical Standards

The Introduction discusses the intent, organization, and scope of application of the Ethics Code.

The Preamble and General Principles are aspirational; they provide broad guidelines for ethical decision-making. In contrast, the Ethical Standards are expected and mandatory provisions.

Most of the Ethical Standards are written broadly, in order to apply to intentional sound and music providers in varied roles, although the application of an Ethical Standard may vary depending on the context. The Ethical Standards are not exhaustive.

The SAMA Code of Ethics integrated a variety of approaches to ethics and ethical behavior to create a new synergy that supports the basic intention of "do no harm." The code addresses issues of professional behavior in a number of areas, including:

  • Professional Competence
  • Integrity
  • Social Awareness
  • Respect for People's Rights and Dignity
  • Education and Training
  • Professional and Scientific Responsibilities
  • Social Responsibility
  • Concern for Others'Welfare
  • Relationships and Boundaries
  • Social Awareness
  • Integrity in Practice
  • Education and Training
  • Research
  • Announcing Services
  • Products
  • Enforcement

View the complete SAMA CODE OF ETHICS (also available as a downloadable PDF).