Michael Thaut obtained his Master's degree in Music in 1980 and his PhD in Music in 1983, with a minor in Movement Sciences, both at Michigan State University. He also studied at the Mozarteum in Salzburg, Austria. At Colorado State University, he was a professor of music and neuroscience, co-director of the School of the Arts, and chair of the Department of Music, Theatre, and Dance from 2001 to 2010. He was also director of the Centre for Biomedical Research in Music for eleven years. Thaut has been a visiting professor at medical schools and conservatories around the world (Germany, Italy, USA, Japan) and was rector of the University System of the SRH Foundation Heidelberg from 2010 to 2012. He is currently a professor of music at the University of Toronto, with adjunct appointments in neuroscience and rehabilitation sciences. There he leads the Music and Health Research Collaboratory (MaHRC) and the master's and PhD programmes in Music and Health Sciences.
Thaut's internationally recognised research focuses on brain functions in relation to music, in particular the processing of time and rhythm, and the biomedical application of music in neurological rehabilitation of cognitive and motor functions. In 1993, he received the National Research Award and in 2001 the National Service Award from the American Music Therapy Association. He has published more than 120 scientific articles and written or edited three books. His work has been translated into German, Japanese, Korean, Italian and Spanish. His research has received widespread attention both nationally and internationally in television programmes and the written press.
As a former professional violinist in both the classical and folk genres, he has made several recordings of chamber music and folk music in the United States and Germany. He has also performed extensively in Europe with folk bands and chamber music ensembles. He has also compiled an influential anthology of Northern European and American fiddle music. In 1995, his ensemble “Folk Chamber Ensemble” gave three concerts by invitation at the Nordwestdeutsche Sommermusikfestival, under the title Folk Meets Classic. Where possible, he still performs in small chamber music and folk ensembles.
Corene P. Hurt-Thaut earned her master's degree in music therapy and her PhD at Colorado State University, with an interdisciplinary focus on music, neuroscience and statistical design. Since 1997, she has been co-founder and programme director of The Academy of Neurologic Music Therapy. She is also an assistant professor and research associate at the University of Toronto and an associate professor at the ArtEZ Conservatory (ArtEZ Academy of Music).
She is recognised both nationally and internationally for her clinical expertise in evidence-based neurological music therapy. Her practical experience includes 3.5 years as a music therapist at Wesley Woods Geriatric Hospital and the Centre for Rehabilitation Medicine at Emory University Medical School in Atlanta, 4 years as a neurological music therapist at Poudre Valley Hospital and the Centre for Neurologic Rehabilitation in Fort Collins (Colorado), and 10 years in private practice and community outreach sessions for neurological music therapy.
She has worked with a wide range of patient groups, including people with stroke, Parkinson's disease, traumatic brain injury, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, autism, and psychiatric disorders. From 2001 to 2006, she was a member and later chair of the examination committee of the National Certification Board for Music Therapy (CBMT). From 2009 to 2013, she was an elected member of the CBMT national board, and more recently, she contributed to the Practice Analysis Committee (2015) and co-authored the Self-Assessment Exam (2016). She also served as chair and vice-chair of the Midwest region of the American Music Therapy Association.
Dr. Hurt-Thaut has published numerous research articles on music and motor control and has written ten book chapters highlighting specific applications of neurological music therapy.