Music Therapists
Official O*NET title: Music Therapists (29-1129.02)
Also called: board certified music therapist, lcat, music therapist, neurologic music therapist, public school system music therapist
Do you do this at work?
Answer each card — it takes about a minute.
Do you do this at work?
Communicate client assessment findings and recommendations in oral, written, audio, video, or other forms
Swipe right for yes, left for not me. On a keyboard: → yes, ← not me, Z undo. +2 XP per answer.
How AI is changing music therapists work
12 of 30 measurable main tasks for this job show up in real AI-use data, so we rate it Amber (some AI use) — 40%.
This shows where people already use AI, not whether the job will disappear. How we measure this.
Tasks in this job and recorded AI use
- Communicate client assessment findings and recommendations in oral, written, audio, video, or other forms (main task) — some recorded AI use
- Analyze data to determine the effectiveness of specific treatments or therapy approaches (main task) — some recorded AI use
- Analyze or synthesize client data to draw conclusions or make recommendations for therapy (main task) — some recorded AI use
- Communicate with clients to build rapport, acknowledge their progress, or reflect upon their reactions to musical experiences (main task) — some recorded AI use
- Document evaluations, treatment plans, case summaries, or progress or other reports related to individual clients or client groups (main task) — some recorded AI use
- Identify and respond to emergency physical or mental health situations (main task) — some recorded AI use
- Apply selected research findings to practice (main task) — some recorded AI use
- Collaborate with others to design or put in place interdisciplinary treatment programs (main task) — some recorded AI use
- Gather diagnostic data from sources such as case documentation, observations of clients, or interviews with clients or family members (main task) — some recorded AI use
- Observe and document client reactions, progress, or other outcomes related to music therapy (main task) — some recorded AI use
- Design music therapy experiences, using various musical elements to meet client's goals or objectives (main task) — some recorded AI use
- Supervise staff, volunteers, practicum students, or interns engaged in music therapy activities (main task) — some recorded AI use
- Design or provide music therapy experiences to address client needs (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Sing or play musical instruments (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Customize treatment programs for specific areas of music therapy (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Establish client goals or objectives for music therapy treatment, considering client needs, capabilities, interests, overall therapeutic program, coordination of treatment, or length of treatment (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Assess client functioning levels, strengths, and areas of need in terms of perceptual, sensory, affective, communicative, musical, physical, cognitive, social, spiritual, or other abilities (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Improvise instrumentally, vocally, or physically to meet client's therapeutic needs (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Plan or structure music therapy sessions to achieve appropriate transitions, pacing, sequencing, energy level, or intensity following treatment plans (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Engage clients in music experiences to identify client responses to different styles of music, types of musical experiences (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Participate in continuing education (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Integrate behavioral, developmental, improvisational, medical, or neurological approaches into music therapy treatments (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Talk with professionals on client's treatment team to develop, coordinate, or integrate treatment plans (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Select or adapt musical instruments, musical equipment, or non-musical materials (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Compose, arrange, or adapt music for music therapy treatments (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Conduct information sharing sessions (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Assess the risks and benefits of treatment termination for clients (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Adapt existing or develop new music therapy assessment instruments or procedures to meet an individual client's needs (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Apply current technology to music therapy practices (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Conduct, or assist in the conduct of, music therapy research (main task) — no recorded AI use
Tasks: O*NET 31.0. AI use: Anthropic Economic Index (exact or close text match).
Your first steps (guidance)
- Week 1: Open a free AI assistant and say hello. Follow our “Getting started with AI” guide. Ask it one simple question about your work.
- Week 2: Use AI on one task you do often. Try the prompt for: “Communicate client assessment findings and recommendations in oral, written, audio, video, or other forms”. Try the prompt for: “Analyze data to determine the effectiveness of specific treatments or therapy approaches”.
Tick your own tasks above to get a plan based on what you really do. The first 2 weeks are free; Premium (coming soon) adds weeks 3–12. New to AI? Read our beginner’s guide.
Questions about AI and music therapists
Will AI replace music therapists?
Our data can’t predict job losses, and we don’t try to. What it does show: 12 of the 30 main tasks for this job match tasks people already use AI for (Anthropic Economic Index), giving a Amber rating (some AI use). Using AI on a task is not the same as AI doing the whole job, and 18 of the 30 listed tasks show no recorded AI use yet.
Which music therapist tasks is AI used for most?
In the data, the most AI use among this job’s tasks is for: communicate client assessment findings and recommendations in oral, written, audio, video, or other forms; 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.
Which music therapist tasks show little or no AI use?
For example: design or provide music therapy experiences to address client needs; sing or play musical instruments; customize treatment programs for specific areas of music therapy. These are good places to keep building your own skills.
How does this job compare to others?
In Microsoft Research’s “Working with AI” study, this job’s AI applicability score is equal to or higher than 33% of the occupations they scored. That measures overlap with AI chat use, not risk of job loss.
How can a music therapist start learning AI?
Start small: open a free AI assistant, try it on one task you do often, and always check facts and numbers yourself. The plan on this page is guidance, not professional advice.
See how this job ranks
Music Therapists ranks #196 of 572 jobs for the share of main tasks with AI use (#1 = most), and #17 of 80 in Healthcare.
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