Music Therapist – Independent Contractor
Westport School of Music, Westport, CT
Description: The Westport School of Music is searching for a Board-Certified Music Therapist to run its Saturday Musicworks! program. This will be an independent contractor position. WSM has provided quality music education programs for students since 1938 and has 14 professional teachers who offer piano, strings, woodwinds, guitar and voice for students ages 5 and above. All current WMS staff must be able to facilitate masked, in-person sessions and follow all WSM Covid safety protocols.
The Musicworks! Program has been established for 22 years and serves school aged students (ages 5 and above) through adulthood. Participants have special needs ranging from, but not limited to, developmental delays, autism, physical disabilities and social/emotional needs. All currently scheduled sessions/lessons are individual and are for a duration of either 30 or 45-minutes. Typically, the program is structured into two semesters of 15 weeks each starting mid-September – January, and February – mid-June. WSM organizes scheduling and invoices parents; MT is paid monthly during scheduled semesters. The program has the potential to grow to include groups and/or summer programming.
Parents contact the WSM Director from various sources such as word-of-mouth and website searches to initiate program participation. The MT will use a trial session/screening/parent interview process to determine appropriateness for participation. Parent interviews will highlight what personal goals they have for their family member(s) regarding participation. The MT will maintain their own participation data. Musicworks! students will have progress provided per semester. This program is not formatted to implement formal IEP school goals but may complement them well. The MT will maintain good communication with parents through email or phone conversations as warranted or requested. The MT will collaborate and report directly to the WSM Director to determine semester dates and any other ongoing program business/concerns. Program space includes upright piano, open floor space, and a large inventory of other instruments for session use.
Qualifications: The applicant must have a minimum of a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Therapy and have completed the required 1200 hours of clinical training. Candidates must be Board Certified or eligible to sit for the exam. Experienced music therapists and new graduates are equally encouraged to apply. Candidates should be comfortable working independently in 1:1 sessions with individuals of all ages and all abilities. Candidates should be comfortable providing adaptive piano/guitar lessons. The current MT-BC, who has directed Musicworks! for 18 years and who has decided to retire from the program, will overlap with the new Therapist for a minimum of two consecutive Saturdays. This will provide the opportunity for sharing student progress, an introduction to parents, and most importantly to ease the transition to a new provider for current students/participants.
Compensation range per 30-minute session: $45 – $55 based on experience
To apply: Please send your resume and cover letter to WSM Director Sarah Miller at smiller@wsmusic.org.
Application Deadline: March 15, 2022