Founder, Director, Board-Certified Music Therapist, Flute Teacher, Adaptive Music Teacher, and Musician for Hire

Maria Ramey, MS, MT-BC, NMT

Maria Ramey holds a Master of Science degree in Music Therapy from Indiana University Indianapolis and a Bachelor of Arts in Music Therapy from California State University, Northridge. She has completed additional music therapy training and certification in memory care, special education, disorders of consciousness, and early childhood music, and is certified in Neurologic Music Therapy. Maria is also authorized to administer the MATADOC assessment for individuals with disorders of consciousness, the SEMTAP for Individualized Education Program (IEP) services, and the IMCAP-ND for neurodevelopmental disorders. She currently serves as an adjunct faculty member at Fitchburg State University, where she teaches Fundamentals of Creative Arts Therapies and Applied Flute Lessons.

Before establishing her private practice, Maria developed a music therapy program at a residential psychiatric hospital and provided music therapy to adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in an arts-focused day program. Her work with this community inspired her first book, Group Music Activities for Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, published by Jessica Kingsley Publishers. She has been recognized as a Past President’s Scholar and has presented at conferences for the American Music Therapy Association and Western Region American Music Therapy Association.

Maria’s therapeutic approach is Humanistic and Integrative, believing that every person has their own strengths and potential for growth. She values getting to know each person as an individual, honoring their unique needs, perspectives, and goals. She has been privileged to work with individuals and groups through music therapy since 2010.

Music is a central part of Maria’s life both professionally and personally. She holds principal flute positions with the Firebird Pops Orchestra and the Gateway Symphony Orchestra and piccolo with the Boston Civic Symphony Orchestra. Audiences have described her flute playing as “warm,” “soulful,” and “rich,” with a style marked by “intense musicality and passion” and a sensitivity to both the music and her audience.

Maria has performed throughout the country in a wide variety of settings, from Walt Disney Concert Hall and New England Conservatory’s Jordan Hall to orchestral stages, musical, ballet, and opera pits, live radio and television broadcasts, outdoor weddings, and other eclectic venues. She has performed with numerous ensembles including the New England Film Orchestra, Concord Symphony Orchestra, Brockton Symphony Orchestra, and orchestras throughout California. She also enjoys performing in musical theater pits and with flute orchestras. Maria regularly performs on the full family of flutes—including piccolo, concert, alto, bass, and contrabass flute—as well as world flutes such as pennywhistles, dizi, recorders, and others called for in film and musical theater music.

With nearly three decades of teaching experience, Maria takes a student-centered approach that honors each learner’s individual strengths, interests, goals, and learning style. In addition to teaching at Ramey Music and at Fitchburg State University, she directs Flutephoria, Ramey Music’s flute orchestra, in-residence at Fitchburg State University as part of their community music program. She previously taught flute at the Thayer Conservatory and Atlantic Union College.

Across her work as a music therapist, educator, and performing musician, Maria is passionate about creating opportunities for people to connect, grow, express themselves, and discover their own relationships with music.