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29-1129.02 · Task explorer

Music Therapists: reported tasks and exploration worksheet

Plan, organize, direct, or assess clinical and evidenced-based music therapy interventions to positively influence individuals' physical, psychological, cognitive, or behavioral status.

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This source lists 30 tasks, including 30 marked Core and 0 marked Supplemental. Labels and dates are retained below. Employers can combine or divide these responsibilities differently; explore the task itself before assuming it belongs in every version of the role.

Task source dates: 08/2021.

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30 tasks shown

Core · Task 19179 · 08/2021 · Occupational Expert

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.

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Core · Task 19171 · 08/2021 · Occupational Expert

Design music therapy experiences, using various musical elements to meet client's goals or objectives.

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Core · Task 19178 · 08/2021 · Occupational Expert

Sing or play musical instruments, such as keyboard, guitar, or percussion instruments.

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Core · Task 19181 · 08/2021 · Occupational Expert

Communicate with clients to build rapport, acknowledge their progress, or reflect upon their reactions to musical experiences.

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Core · Task 19170 · 08/2021 · Occupational Expert

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.

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Core · Task 19173 · 08/2021 · Occupational Expert

Establish client goals or objectives for music therapy treatment, considering client needs, capabilities, interests, overall therapeutic program, coordination of treatment, or length of treatment.

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Core · Task 19182 · 08/2021 · Occupational Expert

Document evaluations, treatment plans, case summaries, or progress or other reports related to individual clients or client groups.

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Core · Task 19167 · 08/2021 · Occupational Expert

Assess client functioning levels, strengths, and areas of need in terms of perceptual, sensory, affective, communicative, musical, physical, cognitive, social, spiritual, or other abilities.

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Core · Task 19176 · 08/2021 · Occupational Expert

Observe and document client reactions, progress, or other outcomes related to music therapy.

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Core · Task 19175 · 08/2021 · Occupational Expert

Improvise instrumentally, vocally, or physically to meet client's therapeutic needs.

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Core · Task 19174 · 08/2021 · Occupational Expert

Gather diagnostic data from sources such as case documentation, observations of clients, or interviews with clients or family members.

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Core · Task 19177 · 08/2021 · Occupational Expert

Plan or structure music therapy sessions to achieve appropriate transitions, pacing, sequencing, energy level, or intensity in accordance with treatment plans.

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Core · Task 19172 · 08/2021 · Occupational Expert

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.

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Core · Task 20167 · 08/2021 · Occupational Expert

Participate in continuing education.

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Core · Task 19168 · 08/2021 · Occupational Expert

Communicate client assessment findings and recommendations in oral, written, audio, video, or other forms.

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Core · Task 19188 · 08/2021 · Occupational Expert

Integrate behavioral, developmental, improvisational, medical, or neurological approaches into music therapy treatments.

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Core · Task 19169 · 08/2021 · Occupational Expert

Confer with professionals on client's treatment team to develop, coordinate, or integrate treatment plans.

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Core · Task 19180 · 08/2021 · Occupational Expert

Select or adapt musical instruments, musical equipment, or non-musical materials, such as adaptive devices or visual aids, to meet treatment objectives.

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Core · Task 19184 · 08/2021 · Occupational Expert

Compose, arrange, or adapt music for music therapy treatments.

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Core · Task 19187 · 08/2021 · Occupational Expert

Identify and respond to emergency physical or mental health situations.

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Core · Task 19166 · 08/2021 · Occupational Expert

Analyze or synthesize client data to draw conclusions or make recommendations for therapy.

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Core · Task 20166 · 08/2021 · Occupational Expert

Collaborate with others to design or implement interdisciplinary treatment programs.

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Core · Task 19185 · 08/2021 · Occupational Expert

Conduct information sharing sessions, such as in-service workshops for other professionals, potential client groups, or the general community.

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Core · Task 19189 · 08/2021 · Occupational Expert

Apply selected research findings to practice.

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Core · Task 19165 · 08/2021 · Occupational Expert

Analyze data to determine the effectiveness of specific treatments or therapy approaches.

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Core · Task 19190 · 08/2021 · Occupational Expert

Supervise staff, volunteers, practicum students, or interns engaged in music therapy activities.

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Core · Task 19183 · 08/2021 · Occupational Expert

Assess the risks and benefits of treatment termination for clients.

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Core · Task 19164 · 08/2021 · Occupational Expert

Adapt existing or develop new music therapy assessment instruments or procedures to meet an individual client's needs.

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Core · Task 20165 · 08/2021 · Occupational Expert

Apply current technology to music therapy practices.

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Core · Task 19186 · 08/2021 · Occupational Expert

Conduct, or assist in the conduct of, music therapy research.

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Make the shortlist useful

Choose one to three activities that tell you something different about the work. Avoid selecting several ways of describing the same interest.
For each, write an example you can discuss or a question that would change your understanding of the role.
Keep source task IDs with your notes so you can return to the same description. Do not include private employer or customer information.

The exported worksheet distinguishes the reported task from your own notes. It supports exploration, not a hiring decision or a validated assessment.

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Source and practice material

Occupational context uses the O*NET® 31.0 Database from the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, under CC BY 4.0. View the occupation.

Skill Workbench selected and adapted the occupational information and added its own fictional cases, calculations, guidance and worksheets. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed or tested these additions. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.