Music Therapists

patient music social interests client treatment plan medical professional progress mental health

Board Certified Music Therapist (MT-BC), LCAT (Licensed Creative Arts Therapist), Music Therapist, Neurologic Music Therapist

What they do:
Plan, organize, direct, or assess clinical and evidenced-based music therapy interventions to positively influence individuals' physical, psychological, cognitive, or behavioral status.
On the job, you would:
  • 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.
  • Design music therapy experiences, using various musical elements to meet client's goals or objectives.
  • Sing or play musical instruments, such as keyboard, guitar, or percussion instruments.

Knowledge

Health

  • therapy and counseling

Math and Science

  • psychology
  • sociology and anthropology

Arts and Humanities

  • music, dance, visual arts, drama, or sculpture
  • English language

Business

  • customer service

Skills

Basic Skills

  • listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions
  • reading work related information

Social

  • understanding people's reactions
  • looking for ways to help people

People and Technology Systems

  • thinking about the pros and cons of different options and picking the best one
  • figuring out how a system should work and how changes in the future will affect it

Abilities

Verbal

  • communicate by speaking
  • listen and understand what people say

Ideas and Logic

  • notice when problems happen
  • make general rules or come up with answers from lots of detailed information

Attention

  • pay attention to something without being distracted

Hearing and Speech

  • recognize spoken words

Personality

People interested in this work like activities that include helping people, teaching, and talking.

They do well at jobs that need:

  • Concern for Others
  • Self Control
  • Integrity
  • Adaptability/Flexibility
  • Dependability
  • Cooperation

Technology

You might use software like this on the job:

Office suite software

  • Microsoft Office software Hot Technology

Music or sound editing software

  • Avid Technology Pro Tools
  • Virtual instrument software

Medical software

  • Electronic health record EHR software

Education

Education: (rated 4 of 5)
bachelor's degree or
master's degree
usually needed

Get started on your career:

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Job Outlook

Bright
New job opportunities are very likely in the future.
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See more details at O*NET OnLine about music therapists.