As we enter our 20th year at Roman Music Therapy Services (RMTS), we are reflecting on the partnerships that have shaped our work across the Massachusetts community. To mark this milestone, we’re sharing stories that reflect the impact of music therapy within the communities we serve.
Eight Years in Lawrence
Roman Music Therapy Services has partnered with Lawrence Public Schools since 2017. What began as a commitment to bring music therapy to students in Lawrence has grown into one of our most meaningful and enduring collaborations. For the 2025-2026 school year, RMTS provided services to over 1,200 students every week across the district.
In January 2026, we conducted a survey to better understand what this work has meant to the people closest to it: the teachers, staff, and students who experience it every week.
“Music Day is THE BEST Day”
Reflecting on their experiences with music therapy, 97% of Lawrence School District staff reported being satisfied or very satisfied with RMTS services. But the numbers only tell part of the story.
When we asked staff to describe the impact of music therapy in their own words, the responses were full of warmth and specificity, reminding us why this work matters.
“Music Day is THE BEST day here at [our school]. Our music therapist[s] are prepared, joyful, and know each and every child. We ALL look forward to music.” – Pre-K Staff Member, Lawrence Public Schools
One Pre-K team summed up the spirit of their school’s music therapy experience in just three words: “School wide JOY.” It’s hard to imagine a better measure of success.
What Teachers Are Seeing in Their Students
Beyond the enthusiasm, teachers shared something even more meaningful: tangible changes in their students. Behavioral improvements, increased engagement, and new emotional skills were among the most commonly noted shifts.
“The students are happy and able to take turns during the group time. This group provides them opportunities to appropriately take turns and also helps with expressing their emotions through music.” – Kindergarten Teacher, Lawrence Public Schools
Teachers also described students who rarely engage in other parts of the school day becoming visibly present and participatory during music therapy sessions. For children who sometimes struggle to find their footing in a traditional classroom setting, music offers a different kind of entry point – and RMTS clinicians meet them there.
Staff were particularly appreciative of the care and creativity RMTS clinicians bring to each intervention. Knowing each child by name, arriving prepared, and designing sessions around the real needs of each classroom – these are the details that build trust over time.
Joy That Travels Beyond the Session
Perhaps one of the most telling observations came from an elementary school staff member who noticed something simple and beautiful:
“Our students LOVE music and share that joy throughout the day after each visit.” – Elementary School Staff Member, Lawrence Public Schools
That’s the kind of ripple effect we hope for: music therapy that doesn’t stay contained in the session room, but moves through the school day, into conversations and interactions, into the way kids carry themselves when the music has ended.
Twenty Years of This Work
As RMTS marks 20 years of service, we are grateful for every community that has trusted us with this work, including the students and staff of the Lawrence Public School District. This partnership reflects what we believe music therapy can be at its best: consistent, creative, relational, and genuinely transformative for the people it serves.
We look forward to many more years of music, growth, and “school wide JOY.”
