Description

In partnership with Johns Hopkins Medicine’s Office of Well-Being and Department of Service Excellence, the Music for a While program aims to create public access to music within the hospital environment to elevate mood and reduce anxiety among those who visit, work, and are cared for within the hospital through short, informal, and accessible programs.  Music for a While offers musicians the opportunity to bring their artistry to the healthcare environment and develop the context-specific skillset needed to contribute to wellbeing and healing.

Eligibility and Requirements

Employment with the program is open to Peabody undergraduate and graduate students. The Music for a While team hires each spring in preparation for the following academic year. New team members go through orientation and training as a cohort during the summer, and those who return to Music for a While for subsequent years serve as mentors to newer practitioners. Health screening, background check, orientation, training are required to work as a musician in a healthcare context. Musicians must abide by all current Johns Hopkins Medicine infection control protocols.

Additional requirements include:

• Artistic excellence
• Personal and artistic flexibility to respond to a variety of listeners
• A broad repertoire spanning several genres (e.g. classical, jazz, folk, gospel, music theater, contemporary, etc.)
• Ongoing, close collaboration with healthcare staff and Music for a While program staff
• Empathy, the ability to be present
• A strong desire to be of service
• Effective, professional communication in speaking and writing
• For administrative tasks, a reliable internet connection and the technology and ability to use Teams and the JHH Volunteer Services portal 

Highly desirable skills include:

• Teaching and/or community engagement experience
• A knowledge of/experience with healthcare culture
• Skills in improvisation

In preparation to start musical work with MFAW, participating students will be expected to complete all hospital onboarding tasks independently over the summer and to attend Peabody’s MFAW training sessions prior to the start of the fall semester. Throughout the course of the academic year, participating students will be expected to perform onsite at the hospital weekly and to attend team meetings every 2-3 weeks. MFAW performers receive $15/hour compensation.

Read the handbook to learn more and read about guidelines for musicians.

Application Timeline

• Applications Open: Monday, February 17, 2025
• Application Deadline: Monday, March 24, 2025
• Applications will be reviewed and follow-up meetings, if necessary, will be scheduled between March 25 – April 26. Applicants that advance may be asked to provide supplemental information. 
• Acceptance notifications will be made starting May 1, 2025

Application Instructions and Requirements

1. Apply to the Music for a While Musician (11959) opportunity via SMILE
2. Fill out this supplementary application form via Qualtrics, including the following: 
   • Brief answers to questions about your interest in the program 
   • Resume/CV
   • Biography 
   • Photo 
   • Recording/work sample (encouraged, but optional) 
   • Additional supplemental materials (optional) 

Important: Applicants must complete BOTH above forms to be considered for hire.

If you need help creating any of your supporting documents, please make an appointment with a LAUNCHPad staff member or peer career coach.

Please contact Arts in Health Program Manager Lara Bruckmann with any questions.