What are the responsibilities and job description for the 2026 - 2027 Music Therapist position at The Cove School?
Music Therapist
2026 - 2027 School Year Start
Date: August 2026
Job Summary:
Cove is looking for a unique individual who will support the mission by providing needs-based social-emotional music therapy services to students within the school community. The role includes, but is not limited to, facilitating individual and group music therapy sessions to help students develop emotional awareness, coping skills, self-expression, and social connection through music-based interventions. The music therapist also collaborates with teachers and staff through consultation to support student needs within the classroom environment and to promote effective, music-informed strategies for social-emotional growth and regulation. Additionally, the role involves contributing to a positive and supportive school climate by helping to identify student needs and implementing targeted interventions that enhance overall student well-being, engagement, and participation.
Pay & Benefits:
* Salary starting at $50,000: (salary is commensurate with education, licensure and experience)
* Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance
* Short and Long Term Disability and Life Insurance
* Comprehensive Employee Assistance Programs
* School Breaks, 10 sick and 4 personal days
* Tuition Reimbursement for continuing education
* Professional Development Opportunities
Schedule:
* Full-time (10 Month Contract)
* 2026-2027 School Year
* Monday through Friday 8:00 am – 3:45 pm, except Thursdays 8:00 am – 4:00 pm
* Five Week Extended School Year Program optional
Requirements:
- B.A. in Music Therapy required. Music Therapy Certification (MT-BC) preferred.
- Previous experience working with special education students with significant learning disabilities preferred.
- Experience and/or familiarity with IEP goals preferred.
- Experience providing staff professional development preferred.
- Knowledge of learning processes, appropriate music-based therapeutic and instructional interventions to meet student needs, and the ability to implement and assess their effectiveness.
Duties & Responsibilities:
General Responsibilities:
- Develop and implement individualized and group music therapy services aligned with students’ IEP goals, using music-based interventions to support self-expression, coping skills, socialization, and overall social-emotional development.
- Design and deliver developmentally appropriate music therapy experiences across individual, small group, and classroom settings that promote skills such as problem solving, self-awareness, self-regulation, and self-advocacy.
- Collaborate and consult with teachers, related service providers, and families to integrate music therapy strategies into school programming, support student progress, and reinforce social-emotional and academic goals.
- Monitor, document, and communicate student progress through ongoing observation, data collection, and regular reporting.
- Contribute to a positive school climate by supporting student engagement, participating in team meetings, school events, and interdisciplinary initiatives.
- Provide guidance to students, families, and staff regarding student strengths, needs, and social-emotional development.
- Educate students, families, and staff on the importance of music therapy and share current, evidence-based strategies and best practices in the field.
- Promote understanding of the role and benefits of music therapy within the school community.
- Maintain current knowledge of best practices in music therapy through ongoing professional learning.
- Establish and maintain connections with community resources to support students and families.
- Perform other related duties as assigned to support program and school needs.
Reports to the Clinical Director
About Us:
The Cove School is a non-public therapeutic day school for students with learning disabilities located in Northbrook, IL. Cove students come from 60 nearby different public schools and families can also choose to fund tuition privately. Classes are kept small. Teaching is flexible and varies according to the individual student’s learning style. A team of onsite specialists work collaboratively to provide students intensive, integrated related services
Salary : $50,000