To learn more about careers in music therapy, visit the Web site of the American Music Therapy Association (AMTA), https://www.musictherapy.org. Talk with people working in the music therapy field and try to arrange to observe a music therapy session. Look for part-time or summer jobs, or volunteer at a hospital, clinic, nursing home, or any of a number of health care facilities. You might also consider becoming a college student member of the AMTA. As a membership benefit, you will receive association publications such as the Journal of Music Therapy and Music Therapy Perspectives.
A summer job as an aide at a camp for disabled children, for example, may help provide insight into the nature of music therapy, including both its rewards and its demands. Such experience can be very valuable in deciding if you are suited to handle the inherent frustrations of a therapy career.
Participate in information interviews with music therapists. In such an interview—which can be conducted in-person, on the phone, or through video-conferencing technology—you will get the opportunity to ask music therapists about their job duties, work environment, likes and dislikes about their careers, educational training, and other topics that will help you to learn more about the field. Ask your school counselor or a teacher to help you set up information interviews. Perhaps you could even job-shadow a music therapist to learn even more about the field.
Get involved in summer exploration programs in music and other fields that are offered by colleges and universities. Some schools, such as New York University, offer summer programs in music therapy for high school students.
- Addiction Therapists
- Adult Day Care Coordinators
- Advanced Practice Nurses
- Aerospace Medicine Physicians
- Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselors
- Allergists/Immunologists
- Anesthesiologist Assistants
- Anesthesiologists
- Aromatherapists
- Audio Recording Engineers
- Ayurvedic Doctors and Practitioners
- Behavioral Health Technicians
- Biofeedback Therapists
- Biomedical Equipment Technicians
- Cancer Exercise Specialists
- Cardiologists
- Cardiovascular Technologists
- Career and Employment Counselors
- Career and Employment Technicians
- Child Life Specialists
- Chiropractors
- Clinic Managers
- Clinical Applications Specialists
- Clinical Nurse Specialists
- Clinical Pharmacist Practitioners
- Community Health Nurses
- Community Health Program Coordinators
- Community Health Workers
- Community Nutrition Educators
- Composers and Arrangers
- Conflict Resolution Specialists
- Contact Tracers
- Cosmetic Surgeons
- Creative Arts Therapists
- Critical Care Nurses
- Cytogenetic Technologists
- Cytotechnologists
- Dental Assistants
- Dental Hygienists
- Dental Laboratory Technicians
- Dental Therapists
- Dentists
- Dermatologists
- Diagnostic Medical Sonographers
- Dialysis Technicians
- Dietetic Technicians
- Dietitians
- Directors of Telehealth
- Directors of Volunteers
- Dispensing Opticians
- Ear, Nose, and Throat Specialists
- Elder Law Attorneys
- Electroneurodiagnostic Technologists
- Emergency Medical Technicians
- Emergency Nurses
- Endocrinologists
- Endodontists
- Endoscopy Technicians
- Epidemiologists
- Ergonomists
- Ethnoscientists
- Gastroenterologists
- General Practitioners
- Genetic Counselors
- Geriatric Care Managers
- Geriatric Nurses
- Geriatric Psychiatrists
- Geriatric Social Workers
- Geriatricians
- Grant Coordinators and Writers
- Grief Therapists
- Health Advocates
- Health Educators
- Health Informaticists
- Hematologists
- Herbalists
- Histologic Technicians
- HIV/AIDS Counselors and Case Managers
- Holistic Physicians
- Home Health Care Aides
- Home Health Care and Hospice Nurses
- Homeopaths
- Horticultural Therapists
- Hospice Workers
- Hospitalists
- Human Services Workers
- Hypnotherapists
- Industrial-Organizational Psychologists
- Informatics Nurse Specialists
- Kinesiologists
- Licensed Practical Nurses
- Massage Therapists
- Medical Assistants
- Medical Ethicists
- Medical Laboratory Technicians
- Medical Screeners
- Medical Scribes
- Medical Technologists
- Microbiologists
- Multimedia Sound Workers
- Music Agents and Scouts
- Music Conductors and Directors
- Music Journalists
- Music Librarians
- Music Producers
- Music Teachers
- Music Venue Owners and Managers
- Music Video Directors and Producers
- Music Video Editors
- Musical Instrument Repairers and Tuners
- Musicians
- Myotherapists
- Naturopaths
- Neonatal Nurses
- Neurologists
- Neuropsychologists and Clinical Neuropsychologists
- Neuroscientists
- Nonprofit Social Service Directors
- Nuclear Medicine Physicians
- Nuclear Medicine Technologists
- Nurse Anesthetists
- Nurse Assistants
- Nurse Managers
- Nurse Practitioners
- Nurse-Midwives
- Nursing Home Administrators
- Nutritionists
- Obstetricians/Gynecologists
- Occupational Health Nurses
- Occupational Therapists
- Occupational Therapy Assistants and Aides
- Oncological Nurses
- Oncologists
- Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians
- Ophthalmic Medical Technologists
- Ophthalmologists
- Optometrists
- Oriental Medicine Practitioners
- Orientation and Mobility Specialists
- Orthodontists
- Orthoptists
- Orthotic and Prosthetic Technicians
- Orthotists and Prosthetists
- Osteopathic Physicians
- Pathologists
- Pediatricians
- Pedorthists
- Perfusionists
- Periodontists
- Personal Care Aides
- Pharmacists
- Pharmacologists
- Pharmacy Technicians
- Phlebotomy Technicians
- Physiatrists
- Physical Therapists
- Physical Therapy Assistants
- Physician Assistants, Physician Associates
- Physicians
- Podiatrists
- Pop/Rock Musicians
- Preventive Medicine Physicians
- Prosthodontists
- Psychiatric Nurses
- Psychiatric Technicians
- Psychiatrists
- Psychologists
- Public Interest Lawyers
- Radiologic Technologists
- Radiologists
- Receptionists
- Recreational Therapists
- Reflexologists
- Registered Nurses
- Rehabilitation Counselors
- Remote Health Care Engineers
- Respiratory Technicians
- Respiratory Therapists
- School Nurses
- Senior Care Pharmacists
- Sign Language and Oral Interpreters
- Singers
- Social Workers
- Songwriters
- Special Procedures Technologists
- Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists
- Speech-Language Pathology Assistants
- Sports Physicians
- Sports Psychologists
- Surgeons
- Surgical Technologists
- Toxicologists
- Transplant Coordinators
- Tutors and Trainers
- Urologists