21⟩ Tell me what have you done in the past year to better yourself as a Music Therapist?
What have you done in the past year to better yourself as a Music Therapist?
Music Therapist
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“Music Therapist Frequently Asked Questions in various Music Therapist job interviews by interviewer. The set of questions are here to ensures that you offer a perfect answer posed to you. So get preparation for your new job interview”
50 Music Therapist Questions And Answers
22⟩ Explain do you have a certain structure in improvisations like the one in the video? Do you have, for example, certain sentences or chord progressions ready when you sing?
I do have certain chords and progressions that I frequently use. I love easy-to-play, open chord shapes that can be played up the neck of the guitar. I like chords that fall easily under my fingers so that I can keep my attention and focus on my client. I will be sharing my method through an on-line, self-study “Guitar Skills for Music Therapists” course that will launch in mid-September on MusicTherapyEd.com. This course is all about using easy chords and shapes up the neck of the guitar in order to create great sounding progressions that break the mold from the I IV V progressions that we all get sucked into. It also gives participants lots of fresh strum and fingerpicking patterns to work with.
23⟩ Tell us how can a music therapist decide what instruments an autistic child will prefer?
Music therapists will assess a clients interest in different instruments by introducing them to various instruments and see what they are more drawn to and motivated by. Typically, a music therapist will use piano, voice, guitar and various percussive instruments like tambourines, maracas, drums, cabassas, rhythm sticks, etc.
24⟩ Explain me what you do with the children?
I work with them in their own homes once a week. Some of these kids have been abused, some have bipolar disorder, some have schizophrenia, quite a few have ADHD, some are autistic, cerebral palsy - all different kinds.
The approach that I take is very improvisational. For example, a couple weeks ago I went to see one of my clients, he's a 12-year old boy with mental retardation and schizophrenia. I actually see him in his school. This particular day he had had a very frustrating day in school. We started by singing the "hello" song we always sing, in which I kind of ask him how he's doing. He said that he was very upset.
We had a piano in the room so we moved to that. I just provided rhythmic support in my part for his melodic improvisation. He doesn't have any piano background, but he was just expressing himself. Then he asked for my drum - I always have a bag of instruments with me - and he played the drum while I played piano. He was very angry, so he was playing hard, fast, and in erratic rhythms. I supported that style, but slowly brought him away from that by playing a little more calmly and softly than he was. Gradually, his drumming calmed, and became a steady, controlled rhythm. At that point, he began to smile for the first time since I'd arrived.
25⟩ Tell us how would you end a therapy session with a client with Alzheimer’s disease—or a child with autism—who are enjoying themselves and don’t want you to leave?
Many clients who use music therapy have limited verbal communication skills. The applicant needs to show the ability to communicate effectively and empathetically with these clients.
26⟩ Tell us how have your professional and educational experiences prepared you to work in this position?
Nursing has given me many skills which I believe are transferable to this masters. Although its a different profession, I have gained skills in communicating with people. Not just patients/clients but also with working as part of a team. I have skills is being professional at all times. I understand and have been involved in safeguarding, confidentiality, sensitive situations. Educationally I enjoyed writing my dissertation and achieved an A.
27⟩ Tell me how do you go about involving family members in patient treatment?
With the patient permision I ask the family for help or inform them of progress.
28⟩ Please share three of your success stories as a Music Therapist?
The applicant will further display their competency in this answer.
29⟩ Explain me a session plan that did not go well. Why was it not successful and what did you learn from it?
Describe a session plan that did not go well. Why was it not successful and what did you learn from it?
30⟩ Tell us is there research being done in the field of music therapy? Where can I learn more?
Yes! The American Music Therapy Association has put together some excellent fact sheets about the research on Autism, Alzheimer's, Wiliam's Syndrome, Special Education, Depression, Mental Illness and much more!
31⟩ Suppose I love music as well and I am a follower/fan of your video-blog “the Rhythm Tree”. Can you tell me when/how “The Rhythm Tree” video-blog was born?
A couple of years ago, I decided to develop a DVD and music kit for children with special needs. I wanted to build a beautiful site that would feature this product and also educate others on how to use music to help children with special needs. I’m lucky enough to have a very talented brother who is the creative art director and director of design at an amazing ad agency in San Francisco called Hub Strategy. He designed my logo, website and product packaging and helped me in numerous other ways.
Video was always the heart and soul of my music therapy presentations and workshops, so it made sense to use this medium on my website. Starting a video blog was a challenging process, but I’m so glad that I stuck with it. People really need to see music therapy in action to get it. If a picture’s worth a thousand words, then a video’s worth a million!
32⟩ Tell me which musical instruments do you play proficiently?
The potential hire’s answer will further demonstrate their musical skills.
33⟩ Tell us how do you use research to inform your music therapy practices?
I use research to further expand my knowledge that I then take into a session with my clients. I will generally use research and journal articles when I do not fully understand something related to a client and their diagnosis. For example, when I started working with kiddos and cystic fibrosis, I researched information so I understood more about the disease itself, what challenges need to be overcome by the people who have it, what benefits them, and how I can implement music therapy in their treatments. I did a lot of research when I worked in the rehabilitation setting. There was a lot of information that I was receiving from my site supervisor, but not understanding fully. I had heard the terms and concepts before, but that was about it. An example, I had a client who had a stroke. She had aphasia and I had learned briefly about the aphasias, but I had never experienced it first hand. I learned that she had Broca's aphasia and I researched everything I could because I did not full understand what it mean in comparison to Wernicke's aphasia. I use research a lot when I need to understand concepts and ideas better and to understand how those concepts and ideas are treated, tested, and effective for clients.
34⟩ Tell me where do you see yourself in 5 years as Music Therapist?
I see myself helping people through music therapy and furthering my education.
35⟩ Tell us is there anything you wish you had known before you chose this profession?
I wish I would have known how challenging it would be to learn the piano! Music therapists have to pass a profiency exam in piano and guitar. I cruised by with guitar since that is my primary instrument, but I struggled with piano, even after many lessons and much practice.
36⟩ Tell me when did you realize you wanted to be a music therapist?
When I spent my study hall in high school in the special education room. There was a student in the room with cerebral palsy and he loved music so much. We would sing together on the karaoke machine and it would benefit him in so many ways including self-confidence, as well as his speech.
37⟩ Explain me what types of music do you play? Why those types of music?
I play different styles of music depending on the age and interests of my client. With children, I tend to use children’s music and with adolescents and adults, I use a lot of blues, folk, pop and rock. I do a lot of personalized song-writing for my clients so that I can have songs that address the specific goals they are working on. For example, I might write a song about using eye contact when greeting someone. My style is also very improvisational so I will make up songs in the moment to engage my clients and help them meet their goals.
38⟩ Can you explain me about your education?
I majored in Music Therapy and minored in Psychology to better my understanding of people and why they act the way they do.
39⟩ Tell us what instruments are used and why?
I use voice, guitar and a variety of percussive instruments. The guitar is great for being face to face with a client and also allowing me to move around freely. The percussive instruments are perfect since they are easy to play. Although piano, guitar, percussion and voice tend to be the most used instruments in the field of music therapy, there are a multitude of other instruments that are also used.
40⟩ Can you tell us something about your job?
Whenever I think about my job as a music therapist, I feel very fortunate. It is such an innovative, engaging and rewarding line of work. Music therapy feeds the souls of my clients, as well as my own. It is truly a symbiotic relationship.
