Searching

Career Exploration

Music Therapists

Also called: 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.
On the job, you'll need:

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

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

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

Social

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

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

Office suite software

  • Microsoft Office software

Music or sound editing software

  • Avid Technology Pro Tools
  • Virtual instrument software

Medical software

  • Electronic health record EHR software

Video courtesy of CareerOneStop.

Job Outlook

The job outlook for this position is Bright.

New job opportunities are very likely in the future. This career will grow rapidly in the next few years.

Median Annual Salary: $60,800

Education

Bachelor's degree or master's degree is usually needed.