MUSIC THERAPIST 43051

4/16/90 C

This is the single class in the Music Therapist series that provides planned, individual and group therapeutic music activities using music involvement as a primary tool in an institutional, residential or hospital environment to facilitate the development and maintenance of adaptive behavior and to meet physical and psycho-social needs to improve and maintain quality of life.

Complexity of Work: Performs work of moderate difficulty in planning and conducting comprehensive music therapy programs and activities for residents and patients in training centers and hospitals in services such as geriatric treatment centers, para-psychiatric services, adjunctive therapy and community adjustment centers. Positions participate as a member of an interdisciplinary team in assessing individual problems and utilizing music therapy in individual plans and group activities to reach treatment goals. Through the professional application of music in a therapeutic environment, adaptive behavioral change may be facilitated to enable the individual to achieve a more appropriate adjustment to society, or physical and psycho-social needs may be served in geriatric and other populations. Positions in this class write and maintain objectives and plans for patient treatment, maintain timely documentation of patient progress, develop and implement evaluative tools to assess program effectiveness and to ensure the quality of services. Positions participate in departmental and interdisciplinary team meetings, attend staff training sessions and continuing education meetings; train, orient and direct staff members, students and volunteers in the principles and practices of music therapy; and order, purchase and inventory supplies for music therapy programs. May develop and implement a clinical training program for music therapy interns including selection and evaluation and may lead rehearsals and arrange performances for hospital and community audiences.

Supervision Given: Supervision is not typically a factor; however, positions often serve as lead workers providing guidance and work direction to interns, volunteers and other personnel and performing evaluations for interns' universities.

Supervision Received: Receives general direction from a program manager or director while independently planning and implementing daily activities.

Scope: Positions in this class provide planned music therapy for patients in need of stimulation, physical movement, relaxation and music education to improve patients' daily life as part of the comprehensive team plan.

Impact of Actions: Decisions and planning affect the well-being and progress of patients and the accreditation of the institution.

Personal Contacts: Frequent internal and external contact with health care professionals, and volunteers, patients families, vendors, universities, community groups, and the National Association of Music Therapy (N.A.M.T.).

Knowledge: Working knowledge of the principles and practices of music therapy planning and implementation; assessment techniques; group dynamics; and behavioral psychology.

Skills: Competency in piano or other instruments, including voice.

Abilities: Demonstrated ability to communicate well and to interact with individuals and groups in institutional and hospital environments, and to lead or direct subordinates and co-workers.

QUALIFICATIONS GUIDE*

Licenses or Certification: None.

Education or Training: Graduation from an accredited college or university with major course work in music therapy.

Level and Type of Experience: Some previous experience in the planning and implementation of music therapy which may have been obtained in an internship program.

An equivalent combination of training and experience indicating possession of the preceding knowledge and abilities may substitute for this education and experience.

This specification was updated as a result of the Classification Review/Specification Update Program, effective April 1990.