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Music Therapist Job Description

What does a Music Therapist do?

A Music Therapist is a trained healthcare professional who uses music to improve the personal wellbeing, communication and quality of life of people of all ages who may have physical, emotional, social or cognitive challenges. As a Music Therapist, you might work with individuals or groups of people to create personalised music therapy programmes that are tailored to their specific needs and abilities. You would use a range of musical instruments, vocal techniques and music technology to facilitate therapeutic experiences that promote relaxation, emotional expression, communication and social interaction. You might work in a variety of healthcare and educational settings, such as hospitals, care homes, schools and community centres, and collaborate with other healthcare professionals, music educators and caregivers.

Our Music Therapist job description includes the Music Therapist responsibilities, duties, skills, education, qualifications, and experience.

Music Therapist Example


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If you need an example job description for a Music Therapist download the one below, alternatively we have many other Healthcare job description samples and a job description library with over 3000 job descriptions templates that you can download for free.

What does a Music Therapist do?

A Music Therapist is responsible for providing therapeutic services to individuals, families and groups using music as a therapeutic tool. They will assess their clients’ needs and develop therapy plans to address those needs. They will use music-based activities to help clients express feelings, develop self-awareness, improve communication skills and work towards achieving personal goals. Music Therapists must also be knowledgeable about the different types of music available, including how to play it, and be able to use music as a teaching tool. They must also have excellent interpersonal skills, be able to communicate effectively with clients and be familiar with the latest trends and developments in their field.

Music Therapist Role Purpose

The purpose of a music therapist in the UK is to use music to help people of all ages address physical, emotional, cognitive and social needs. Music therapists use music to help individuals improve communication, build self-esteem, manage behaviour, reduce stress, improve motor skills and facilitate socialisation, among other goals. Music therapy can also be used as a creative outlet for those going through difficult times, and as a means of emotional expression and exploration.

Music Therapist Role

A Music Therapist is a qualified professional who uses music to promote emotional wellbeing, encourage self-expression and facilitate communication. They use a range of musical activities to help people of all ages to identify and manage their feelings, as well as to develop their creative potential. Music therapy also has physical and cognitive benefits, as it can help to improve coordination, focus and memory.

Music Therapist Duties

  • Plan and deliver music therapy sessions to clients
  • Assess the needs of clients to determine appropriate interventions
  • Develop and implement individualised treatment plans
  • Evaluate the progress of clients and modify interventions as needed
  • Document treatment sessions, progress and behaviour
  • Collaborate with other professionals such as doctors, nurses and social workers
  • Select, teach and arrange music pieces to meet the needs of clients
  • Provide consultation and support to clients' families

Music Therapist Requirements

  • A degree in music therapy or a related area
  • Experience of providing music therapy services
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
  • Able to work independently and as part of a team
  • A passion for making a difference to people's lives

Music Therapist Skills

  • Ability to read and interpret music notation
  • Knowledge of music, music theory and music history
  • Ability to play at least one instrument
  • Ability to improvise, compose and arrange music
  • Strong communication and interpersonal skills
  • Ability to work in a team
  • Patience and understanding
  • Creativity and imagination

Music Therapist Personal Traits

  • Patience
  • Creativity
  • Empathy
  • Resilience
  • Flexibility

How to write a Music Therapist Job Advert

Use our job advert template to write a job advert for posting on job sites and job boards. Our job advertising templates are carefully created to help you reach your audience and beat the competition to the best talent.

A job description informs the reader about a job, whereas a job advert’s main objective is to sell the job opportunity to attract as many suitable applicants possible. A job advert maybe the first touch-point a candidate has with your company so it is important to create a great impression.

Job Advertisements should enticing, so considering using short, exciting language which get the reader’s attention.

How to write a Music Therapist Job Description

To write a job description, we recommend starting with a job description template from our job description library, which contains examples for 800+ positions and professions. Our job description examples include a job summary with duties and responsibilities and skills and requirements, which can be personalised for your job vacancy.

Job Description Advice - Guidance on How to Personalise a Music Therapist Job Specification

The hiring process and recruiting new employees to fill your key roles requires a degree of personalisation if you are to attract the best employees in a competitive employment market. The right person for a crucial role or more senior roles will likely have other employers targeting them. As your job description will be the first point of contact, you need to nail your pitch and provide the best possible service.

Job Description Tips - Help on formatting a Music Therapist Job Specification

When creating your bespoke description and advert, you should cover and promote these points:

Job title: This should accurately reflect the role and include keywords that top talent might be using to search for jobs.

Job duties: The day to day duties, such as administrative tasks, which vary depending on the company and inform the candidate if they can complete the role.

Technical skills: These are the hard skills required through training, such as proficiency with Microsoft Office.

Soft skills: These include the interpersonal skills and general abilities the right candidates will possess. For example, the competency to prioritise multiple tasks, handle customer queries and customer complaints, work alone, or build a good relationship with coworkers.

The company's culture: Highlighting your company culture and values ensures employees thrive and find outstanding job satisfaction. Candidates that are not the right fit won’t waste their time completing the application process, meaning you can focus on qualified individuals and hire in a more timely manner.

Career progression: Including the career path will entice candidates looking for career growth. 

Training and development programs: Smaller companies may need employees with previous experience or provide educational assistance over internal training offered by larger organisations with more significant resources. 

Employee benefits: Compensation and benefits often fail to appear in job ads and while you may want to hold your cards close to your chest, failing to include them is a mistake. Consider answering common questions, such as working hours and paid leave. Researching the average salary for the role in these early stages will ensure you don’t waste your interviewer’s and the candidate’s time.

Skill gaps: Your company may need to bring in new skills beyond those required to complete the key role and duties. Thinking on an organisational level can be beneficial when contemplating skills diversity.

Legal requirements: Ensure your job advert and description does not ask for inappropriate or discriminatory personal details, such as age, marital status, or religion.

How to Hire a Music Therapist

Once you have selected your Job Description download it or convert it to a Job Advert. From here you can post/advertise your job across our network of job boards. If you wish to use the job description for a CV Template click through for advice and Convert to a CV

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