Music Therapists
Plan, organize, direct, or assess clinical and evidenced-based music therapy interventions to positively influence individuals' physical, psychological, cognitive, or behavioral status.
Also known as: Activity Therapist, Board Certified Music Therapist (MT-BC), Certified Music Therapist, Community Music Therapist, Creative Arts Music Therapist, Creative Music Therapist, Expressive Music Therapist, Home Care Music Therapist, ...
Annual Salary
Median annual wage (May 2024)
Job Outlook
Projected growth, 2024–2034 (Much faster than average)
What You'd Do
- Adapt existing or develop new music therapy assessment instruments or procedures to meet an individual client's needs.
- Analyze data to determine the effectiveness of specific treatments or therapy approaches.
- Analyze or synthesize client data to draw conclusions or make recommendations for therapy.
- Assess client functioning levels, strengths, and areas of need in terms of perceptual, sensory, affective, communicative, musical, physical, cognitive, social, spiritual, or other abilities.
- Communicate client assessment findings and recommendations in oral, written, audio, video, or other forms.
- Confer with professionals on client's treatment team to develop, coordinate, or integrate treatment plans.
- 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.
- Design music therapy experiences, using various musical elements to meet client's goals or objectives.
- 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.
- Establish client goals or objectives for music therapy treatment, considering client needs, capabilities, interests, overall therapeutic program, coordination of treatment, or length of treatment.
- Gather diagnostic data from sources such as case documentation, observations of clients, or interviews with clients or family members.
- Improvise instrumentally, vocally, or physically to meet client's therapeutic needs.
- Observe and document client reactions, progress, or other outcomes related to music therapy.
- Plan or structure music therapy sessions to achieve appropriate transitions, pacing, sequencing, energy level, or intensity in accordance with treatment plans.
- Sing or play musical instruments, such as keyboard, guitar, or percussion instruments.
- 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.
- Select or adapt musical instruments, musical equipment, or non-musical materials, such as adaptive devices or visual aids, to meet treatment objectives.
- Communicate with clients to build rapport, acknowledge their progress, or reflect upon their reactions to musical experiences.
- Document evaluations, treatment plans, case summaries, or progress or other reports related to individual clients or client groups.
- Assess the risks and benefits of treatment termination for clients.
Top Skills
Importance scale: 1 (low) – 5 (high)
Knowledge Areas
Importance scale: 1 (low) – 5 (high)
Education Level Distribution
Percentage of workers in this occupation by education level
Technology & Tools
Software and tools commonly used in this role
In-Demand Technologies
Other Tools
Work Styles
Personality traits and work styles important for this career
Key Abilities
Cognitive, physical, and sensory abilities important for this role
Importance scale: 1 (low) – 5 (high)
Work Activities
General types of job behaviors occurring on this job
Importance scale: 1 (low) – 5 (high)
Work Environment
Physical and social factors that influence the nature of work
Related Careers
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Salary data: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024. Outlook data: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034.
This page includes information from the O*NET 30.2 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license.