Music Therapists

Also called: Board Certified Music Therapist, Certified Music Therapist, Community Music Therapist, Creative Arts Music Therapist, Creative Music Therapist

Music Therapists

Varies

estimated salary

Music therapists plan, organize, direct, or assess clinical and evidence-based music therapy interventions to positively influence individuals' physical, psychological, cognitive, or behavioral status.

  • Design or provide music therapy experiences to address client needs, such as using music for self-care, adjusting to life changes, improving cognitive functioning, raising self-esteem, communicating, or controlling impulses.
  • Assess client functioning levels, strengths, and areas of need in terms of perceptual, sensory, affective, communicative, musical, physical, cognitive, social, spiritual, or other abilities.
  • Sing or play musical instruments, such as keyboard, guitar, or percussion instruments.
  • Design music therapy experiences, using various musical elements to meet client's goals or objectives.
  • Document evaluations, treatment plans, case summaries, or progress or other reports related to individual clients or client groups.
  • Communicate with clients to build rapport, acknowledge their progress, or reflect upon their reactions to musical experiences.
  • Observe and document client reactions, progress, or other outcomes related to music therapy.
  • Establish client goals or objectives for music therapy treatment, considering client needs, capabilities, interests, overall therapeutic program, coordination of treatment, or length of treatment.
  • Engage clients in music experiences to identify client responses to different styles of music, types of musical experiences, such as improvising or listening, or elements of music, such as tempo or harmony.
  • Customize treatment programs for specific areas of music therapy, such as intellectual or developmental disabilities, educational settings, geriatrics, medical settings, mental health, physical disabilities, or wellness.
  • Plan or structure music therapy sessions to achieve appropriate transitions, pacing, sequencing, energy level, or intensity in accordance with treatment plans.
  • Improvise instrumentally, vocally, or physically to meet client's therapeutic needs.
  • Confer with professionals on client's treatment team to develop, coordinate, or integrate treatment plans.
  • Integrate behavioral, developmental, improvisational, medical, or neurological approaches into music therapy treatments.
  • Communicate client assessment findings and recommendations in oral, written, audio, video, or other forms.
  • Select or adapt musical instruments, musical equipment, or non-musical materials, such as adaptive devices or visual aids, to meet treatment objectives.
  • Analyze or synthesize client data to draw conclusions or make recommendations for therapy.
  • Participate in continuing education.
  • Analyze data to determine the effectiveness of specific treatments or therapy approaches.
  • Compose, arrange, or adapt music for music therapy treatments.
  • Collaborate with others to design or implement interdisciplinary treatment programs.
  • Assess the risks and benefits of treatment termination for clients.
  • Supervise staff, volunteers, practicum students, or interns engaged in music therapy activities.
  • Identify and respond to emergency physical or mental health situations.
  • Gather diagnostic data from sources such as case documentation, observations of clients, or interviews with clients or family members.
  • Conduct, or assist in the conduct of, music therapy research.
  • Conduct information sharing sessions, such as in-service workshops for other professionals, potential client groups, or the general community.
  • Adapt existing or develop new music therapy assessment instruments or procedures to meet an individual client's needs.
  • Apply current technology to music therapy practices.
  • Apply selected research findings to practice.
Work Context
  • Face-to-Face Discussions — 82% responded "Every day".
  • Indoors, Environmentally Controlled — 88% responded "Every day".
  • Contact With Others — 68% responded "Constant contact with others".
  • Electronic Mail — 65% responded "Every day".
  • Structured versus Unstructured Work — 56% responded "A lot of freedom".
  • Physical Proximity — 59% responded "Very close (near touching)".
  • Freedom to Make Decisions — 46% responded "A lot of freedom".
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Work Activities
  • Thinking Creatively — Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
  • Assisting and Caring for Others — Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
  • Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships — Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
  • Documenting/Recording Information — Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
  • Developing Objectives and Strategies — Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.
  • Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates — Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
  • Getting Information — Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
  • Making Decisions and Solving Problems — Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
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Detailed Work Activities
  • Develop health assessment methods or programs.
  • Analyze quantitative data to determine effectiveness of treatments or therapies.
  • Analyze patient data to determine patient needs or treatment goals.
  • Evaluate patient functioning, capabilities, or health.
  • Communicate test or assessment results to medical professionals.
  • Collaborate with healthcare professionals to plan or provide treatment.
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Knowledge

Psychology
  • Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
Therapy and Counseling
  • Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.
Fine Arts
  • Knowledge of the theory and techniques required to compose, produce, and perform works of music, dance, visual arts, drama, and sculpture.
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Skills

Social Perceptiveness
  • Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Active Listening
  • Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Reading Comprehension
  • Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Service Orientation
  • Actively looking for ways to help people.
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Abilities

Oral Expression
  • The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Oral Comprehension
  • The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Speech Recognition
  • The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
Speech Clarity
  • The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
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Personality

People interested in this work like activities that include ideas, thinking, and figuring things out.
They do well at jobs that need:
  • Achievement/Effort
  • Persistence
  • Initiative
  • Leadership
  • Cooperation
  • Concern for Others
  • Social Orientation
  • Self Control
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Technology

You might use software like this on the job:

Office suite software
  • Microsoft Office Hot Technology
Music or sound editing software
  • Avid Technology Pro Tools
  • Musical instrument digital interface MIDI software
  • Virtual instrument software
Medical software
  • Electronic health record EHR software
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Education

Get started on your career:

Job Outlook

New job opportunities are very likely in the future.
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