Music Therapy Internship Application Tips and Tricks

Leah Wisard, MTI
6 hours ago
5 min read

Hey there! I’m Leah, Dynamic Lynks’ current intern. As I thought about what to write for this month’s blog post, I found myself thinking about my MT friends back at Ohio University who are likely in the thick of internship application season. Applying for internships can be an overwhelming and daunting task, so… music therapy students: this one is for you! I’d like to share some tips and tricks I learned throughout the application process that ultimately helped me secure a position at Dynamic Lynks.

11 Things I Wish I Knew While Applying to Music Therapy Internships

Make a chart/spreadsheet/document/etc to keep track of your applications, due dates, and other materials.
Write down what you need for each application (because unfortunately, they’re all different), when your materials are due, what music you need to learn and prepare, etc. I also found it helpful to keep track of what I had submitted, if I had gotten a response, if an interview was scheduled, all that jazz. There are a lot of moving parts, so stay organized to minimize stress!
Ask for your letters of recommendation early.
I’m talking weeks in advance or as soon as you know you’re going to apply somewhere. Your professors and mentors will thank you kindly because you’re most likely not the only one asking.
Similar to college applications (if it's helpful), organize your internship site options by practicality.
Remember, not only will you be learning and working at whatever site you go to, but you’ll be living in that state or city for 6+ months. Here are a few things to consider:
1. Make sure that you feel safe there and visit beforehand if you’d like to get a feel for it.
2. Think about distance: how close to home do you want to be? Will it be hard to be away from family and friends?
3. What is rent/housing like in X state/city? What is your budget? Does a site offer you a stipend for housing/travel?
4. If and when you go back to visit home, how would you likely be getting there (driving, flying)?
5. Do you know someone in X state/city that you could live with during your internship?
Just like an audition, make sure you are practiced and prepared for interviews!
Choose songs and interventions that highlight your strengths while still meeting the expectations interviewers ask of you. Make this first (or second or third if you’re in a follow-up interview) impression count! Be confident in all that you've learned and accomplished to get to this point, too.
Plan questions to ask your interviewers.
They want to know that you’re curious about their site specifically, and in a way, you’re interviewing internship directors, supervisors, and future colleagues, too, so ask questions! Don’t be afraid to be assertive… these interviews are for you and your future. Here are some that I had with me for my interviews to help you get started:
1. Ask about what an intern's day-to-day looks like/Ask what your caseload would look like if you ended up there.
2. Ask about work-life balance and boundary setting (you will have to have this, so it's good to know where they stand on this)!
3. Ask what your interviewer’s favorite part of their job is. Ask what the most challenging part of their job is.
4. Ask about your potential supervisors’ supervision style (and think about what works best for you!)
5. Ask about what made past interns successful at this site
Plan how you’ll respond to common interview questions.
In every single interview I did, I was asked about (1) my strengths and weaknesses as a student and music therapist, (2) what I do for self-care, and (3) why I was interested in music therapy as a profession. Think about how you would answer these questions and make note of your responses!
1. More about self-care: Think about what you like to do to ease your mind and unwind from a long day. If you don’t know, start thinking about it! Make note of any hobbies and/or extracurricular activities you do, especially the non-music ones. You will need these tools. Everyone says that you have to take care of yourself if you’re going to spend all day taking care of others, and they’re 100% right. Otherwise, you’ll burn out before you’ve even started.
Trust your gut when interviewing!
The best advice I can give to a rising intern is to accept the offer from the site where you gel with the staff, where you feel comfortable being yourself, and where you feel that you’ll be supported throughout the huge learning curve that is internship.
1. Do your best not to let the prestige of an internship site or the specific population be your only deciding factor(s)! You’re going to get all the experience you need to enter our profession anywhere you end up, regardless of what age group or support level you work with.
2. Prioritize how you feel during your interviews: are they asking good questions? Are they making an effort to get to know you (as much as they can in an hour), separate from music therapy? Remember, these are people you’ll be working with all day, every day for 6+ months! You’ll learn best if you’re around people you feel at ease with.
Internship is challenging, and you will mess up, so make sure you choose a site where you feel you’ll be safe to try new things, make mistakes, and get right back up again. Choosing the site that I knew would push me to improve while also supporting me is the best decision I could’ve made for myself.
Get yourself a little treat after interviews!
They can be stressful and exhausting, and you’ve worked so hard to get to this stage. Celebrate that regardless of whether you get asked back for another or if you get an offer! A victory is a victory at every step of this process.
Do your best not to compare yourself to your peers who are seemingly further along in the process.
I know it's hard not to compare yourself to others… It's what we do as musicians, and especially as music students who are evaluated and performing every single day. But a classmate sending off an application, or getting an interview/offer before you, does not mean they’re a better music therapist or that you’re behind. It doesn’t say anything about you at all, it's just the way it is!
It can be easy to feel like you’re all competing against each other for the same few opportunities, and while you may be interviewing at the same place(s) as someone else, you are truly only competing with yourself. All you can do is do your best and focus on your musicianship, your clinical skills, and what you have to offer.
Breathe.
You’re going to end up exactly where you’re supposed to be. Whether it's in the internship cycle right after you graduate, or you take a gap year, whatever. Every music therapist currently working has been where you are right now, and they’ve made it through just fine! You will be challenged and pushed as an intern, but you’re going to grow so much as a person and a clinician throughout this process. Get excited and know that you’ll end up exactly where you’re meant to be!
Get ready to do the thing that you’re passionate about every single day!
It's wonderful and nerve-wracking and a little tiring, but it's amazing. These 6ish months are yours: work hard, play hard, soak it all up like a sponge, and know that what you put in is what you get out. There are so many incredible things ahead of you, and you’re ready!

I've shared a lot, and the most important thing I can say is to embrace this opportunity and all the changes that come with it as you gear up to take the next step in your career. This intern (and future colleague) is rooting for you. Good luck!

Follow along with Leah's internship journey on our Instagram and Facebook pages to see what she's up to as her internship comes to an end in May 2026!