Music Therapists

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

The occupation of Music Therapists has an automation risk of 36.8%, which is slightly below the base risk of 37.5%. This moderate risk level suggests that while some tasks within this profession could be automated, much of the work remains dependent on human capabilities that are challenging for artificial intelligence and robotics to replicate. The nature of music therapy demands a personalized, empathetic approach, as therapists tailor interventions to the unique emotional, cognitive, and social contexts of individual clients. As digital technology advances, some procedural and repetitive aspects of the job may become partially automated, potentially assisting therapists in their workflow but not replacing the core therapeutic role. Among the tasks most susceptible to automation are the design and provision of music therapy experiences, such as utilizing musical elements to meet clients’ goals, addressing various psycho-social needs, and directly performing music (e.g., playing instruments or singing). These functions are relatively structured and can, to some extent, be supported by preprogrammed software, virtual instruments, or generative music technology. For instance, AI can help in creating adaptive playlists for certain therapeutic goals or simulate basic musical performances, reducing human involvement for some straightforward activities. However, these tasks often still require nuanced adjustments and real-time emotional responsiveness to be effective, limiting the scope of full automation. Conversely, the most resistant tasks are those requiring higher-order cognitive and creative skills. Conducting music therapy research, applying the latest technology innovatively within practice, and developing or adapting assessment tools for individual clients rely on a therapist’s originality and ability to critically evaluate and synthesize new information. These resistant tasks are bottlenecked by originality skills—scored at 3.6% and 3.9%—meaning that even if automation can handle rote or repetitive functions, the creative, research-driven, and client-specific elements of the profession are unlikely to be replaced any time soon. Ultimately, while automation may assist or augment music therapists, the core of their practice relies on attributes and judgments that remain uniquely human.