Sounding Joy Music Therapy

What Sounding Joy Music Therapy does

Sounding Joy Music Therapy, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in September 2002 and headquartered in Honolulu, Hawaii. It is the first and only nonprofit organization in the State of Hawaii dedicated to promoting music therapy, operating as a clinical service provider employing Board-Certified Music Therapists (MT-BCs) who deliver evidence-based therapeutic interventions across behavioral, social, psychological, physical, communicative, sensory-motor, and cognitive domains. Core services include individual and group music therapy sessions, intake/assessment, Music for You adaptive music lessons (piano, voice, guitar, ukulele, percussion), seminars and continuing-education conferences, plus an internship site for music therapy students. The organization also retails a catalog of therapeutic books and CDs (e.g., Learn With The Classics, Health & Wellness Collection, Island Sounds Healing Heart) at $12-$50 price points.

The organization serves a diverse client base including children and youth in Special Education through the Hawaii Department of Education and Department of Health, at-risk youth and families via Department of Human Services grants, adults with medical and mental health conditions, seniors with dementia, individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Parkinson's patients, NICU/pediatric populations, and corporate clients seeking workplace wellness. It has cumulatively served more than 2,700 individuals and families, educated over 51,000 people, and collaborated with 100+ local agencies across schools, hospitals, nursing facilities, daycare centers, correctional facilities, and homeless shelters.

Revenue is generated through a hybrid of program fees (sliding scale based on Federal Poverty Level), Medicare/Medicaid/private insurance reimbursement (Medicare participating provider since September 2005), grants from foundations (C.T.C. Ching, Harry and Jeanette Weinberg, Parkinson's Foundation, Nadao & Mieko Yoshinaga Family Fund, NEA, Autism Speaks), government appropriations (State Foundation on Culture and the Arts, Department of Human Services, Hawai'i Tourism Authority, City and County of Honolulu), individual donations, and a small e-commerce store. The organization employs 1-10 staff led by Founder & Education Director Keiko Kajiwara, Clinical Director Nina C. Guerrero (Ph.D.), and Program Director Kazumi Yamaura.

Name

Sounding Joy Music Therapy

Legal name

Sounding Joy Music Therapy, Inc.

Website

https://soundingjoymt.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Sounding Joy Music Therapy is a Honolulu-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit, founded in 2002, that delivers evidence-based clinical music therapy services by Board-Certified Music Therapists to children, at-risk youth, seniors, and individuals with disabilities across Hawaii, funded by grants, Medicare/Medicaid, and sliding-scale program fees.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Music Therapy Services

NAICS

Offices of Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapists, and Audiologists (621340), Outpatient Mental Health and Substance Abuse Centers (62142), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)

akta.pro primary industry

Music Therapy (Educational/Developmental Programs) (EDAMANAK)

Keywords

• Music therapy services
• Clinical music interventions
• Adaptive music lessons
• Therapeutic music programs
• Music therapy education

Headquarters

HQ city

Honolulu

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Program Fees: Fees charged to organizations for music therapy services when they request services for their clients. Small fees charged to individuals who self-refer, based on income using a sliding fee scale according to Federal Poverty Level guidelines.
2. Grants and Donations: Funding from foundations including C.T.C. Ching Foundation, Nadao and Mieko Yoshinaga Family Fund, Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, State Foundation on Culture and the Arts, National Endowment for the Arts, Hawai'i Tourism Authority, and individual donors.
3. Medicare Reimbursement: Medicare participating provider since September 2005. Music therapy covered under Partial Hospitalization Programs with HCPCS Code G0176 when prescribed by a physician and meeting specific criteria.
4. Medicaid and Insurance: Hawaii offers waiver programs covering music therapy. Private insurance reimbursement available on case-by-case basis from Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Humana, Great West Life, Aetna, Metropolitan, and Provident.
5. Product Sales (Books & CDs): Sale of books and CDs including Learn With The Classics ($30), Health & Wellness Collection 2-CD ($25), Classical Rhythms ($20), Baby Go To Sleep CD ($25), Island Sounds Healing Heart CD ($20), and various other wellness products. Proceeds benefit music therapy services in Hawaii.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Sounding Joy Music Therapy delivers clinical music therapy services through Board-Certified Music Therapists (MT-BCs) via individual and group sessions conducted in its Honolulu office and on-site at partner locations including schools, hospitals, senior care homes, daycare centers, correctional facilities, and homeless shelters across Hawaii. The organization also provides adaptive music lessons (Music for You), continuing education seminars, and public education/outreach programs. It supplements its mission with a small retail storefront selling therapeutic music CDs and wellness books, with proceeds supporting Hawaii music therapy services.

Product overview

Sounding Joy Music Therapy is a non-profit organization offering music therapy services in Hawaii. The organization provides clinical music therapy services including individual therapy, group therapy, intake/assessment, and adaptive music lessons (Music for You). Additionally, it operates a retail store selling therapeutic music recordings (CDs) and wellness books, including titles like Learn With The Classics, Health & Wellness Collection, Classical Rhythms, Island Sounds Healing Heart, and Soul Wisdom books. The organization also offers seminars, conferences, education programs, and serves as an internship site for music therapy students. The product portfolio consists of core therapeutic services supplemented by retail products that support health, wellness, and learning.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Music Therapy Services Clinical music therapy services including consultation, assessment, treatment planning, evaluation, and individual/group therapy sessions conducted by Board-Certified Music Therapists. Services address behavioral, social, psychological, physical, communicative, sensory-motor, and cognitive functioning across healthcare, educational, mental health, correctional, and early intervention settings.
• Music for You (Adaptive Music Lessons) Adaptive music lessons for piano, voice, guitar, ukulele, percussion, and more, customized to fit each individual regardless of ability. Designed for individuals with disabilities or special needs who want to learn music.
• Seminars and Conferences (Continuing Education) Music therapy seminars and conferences including continuing education credit opportunities targeted to specific populations, groups, and topics. Sounding Joy is an approved Continuing Education provider by the Certification Board for Music Therapists (CBMT) since 2005.
• Education and Outreach Programs Public education, in-services, presentations, community resources fair participation, and volunteer/fieldwork/internship opportunities for music therapy students. Sounding Joy also serves as an internship site for music therapy students and related fields.
• Wellness Books and Music CDs Retail Store Online store selling therapeutic music recordings (CDs) and wellness books with proceeds benefiting music therapy services in Hawaii. Includes titles such as Learn With The Classics, Health & Wellness Collection 2-CD, Classical Rhythms, Baby Go To Sleep / Stops Crying CD, Island Sounds Healing Heart CD, Nine Wonderful by Masaaki Band, Best of Masaaki Band, Soul Mind Body Medicine, Soul Communication, Soul Wisdom I, and Mina's Star + Peace on Earth CD. Price points range from $12 to $50.

Quantifiable outcome

• Served more than 2,700 individuals and families with music therapy and educated more than 51,000 people in Hawai'i
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Hawai'i Parkinson AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal partner supporting Parkinson's programs. Sounding Joy participates in their annual symposium events.
• Department of EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProviding music therapy through the Department of Education for Hawaii's children and youth in Special Education since establishment.
• Department of HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProviding music therapy services through the Department of Health for children and youth in Special Education.
• Hawai'i Pacific UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated in 2014 to establish the first music therapy introductory course in Hawai'i.
• Certification Board for Music Therapists (CBMT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerApproved Continuing Education provider since 2005. CBMT certifies music therapists who hold the MT-BC credential.
• Aloha United WaycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAUW Non-Profit Partner Agency (Agency code: 70920). Donations accepted through AUW's Workplace Campaign and individual donations. Volunteer opportunities listed on AUW platform.
• Foodland (GIVE ALOHA Program)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorParticipates in GIVE ALOHA Annual Community Matching Gifts Program each September. Organization ID: 78277.
• Hawaii Business MagazineminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFeatured in September 2017 issue (Nonprofit Corner: Music That Heals) covering nonprofit organizations in Hawaii.
• Star BulletinminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFeatured in July 18, 2006 issue (Vol. 11, Issue 199) with article 'Music makes good medicine'.
• Hawaii WebTVminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor contributor in media services supporting Sounding Joy's operations.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Cleveland Clinic Arts & Medicine Institute: Major health system operating a dedicated music therapy program within a broad portfolio of integrative medicine services. Comparable in delivering clinical music therapy within healthcare settings, but embedded in a much larger system.
• American Music Therapy Association: The national professional association that defines the music therapy profession, accredits programs, and certifies MT-BC credentials. Comparable as the umbrella body governing the field in which Sounding Joy operates.

Direct peers

• Nordoff-Robbins Center for Music Therapy: Major nonprofit music therapy center based at NYU offering clinical music therapy services, training, and research. Directly comparable as a nonprofit clinical music therapy provider serving diverse populations with similar credentialed MT-BC staffing model.
• The Music Therapy Center of California: California-based nonprofit music therapy practice providing individual and group clinical music therapy, adaptive lessons, and community programs. Closely comparable in service mix, nonprofit structure, and direct clinical delivery.
• Creative Arts Therapy (Music Therapy programs): Practice offering board-certified music therapy services across diverse populations (autism, special needs, mental health, seniors). Comparable clinical service model and population mix.
• Institute for Music and Neurologic Function: Nonprofit music therapy organization focused on music-based interventions for people with neurologic conditions including dementia, Parkinson's, and brain injury. Comparable population focus and credentialed clinical delivery model.

Regional players

• Bay Area Music Therapy: Regional music therapy practice serving the San Francisco Bay Area with individual, group, and adaptive music services. Comparable service mix and population focus, but operates in California rather than Hawaii.
• Pacific Northwest Music Therapy: Regional music therapy provider in the Pacific Northwest delivering clinical services in schools, hospitals, and private settings. Comparable direct-service clinical model in a different geography.

Others

• Music Together: National early-childhood music education franchise. Adjacent rather than directly comparable, but related as an organization operating music-based developmental programs for young children and families.

Emerging players

• SingFit (Musical Health Technologies): Digital platform delivering music therapy through a clinically-designed app for seniors and caregivers. Comparable end-user focus (older adults, dementia, wellness) but uses a scalable tech model rather than in-person MT-BC delivery.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/soundingjoymusictherapy
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sounding-joy-music-therapy-inc

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Sounding Joy Music Therapy