Music provides a wealth of career options for talented individuals who are interested in such concepts as rhythm and melody. The music profession consists of more than just performers and vocalists. But many other potential professions abound in this industry, including instrumentalists, music directors, producers, and songwriters. Some performers produce and market their own music. Performance venues vary widely from clubs, arenas, halls, and theaters. They also can spend time singing and working on their music in a recording studio. Hours of time are spent in deep work on and contemplation of their music, practicing and creating either alone or with band mates, orchestras, and similar groups of musicians.

Musicians typically collaborate with other industry professionals. Orchestras, rock groups, and pop acts all enlist musicians to support their sounds. Some may choose to specialize in a family of instruments, such as percussion or woodwinds. Every type of career in music differs in the type of work environment that is to be expected, and indeed for many careers, it can change from day to day. Regardless of the specific type of career desired, all of those involved in the world of music should display a fierce dedication and a flexibility of expectation, as success is erratic and highly variable. 

Most musicians train for a lifetime. Many start with private lessons at a young age, but for those who want to excel and seek formal training, there are many postsecondary educational options available to music hopefuls through colleges and conservatories. Those who would like to teach should earn high level degrees from universities. The demand for jobs in the music sector is projected to increase slightly in the coming years. Pay for music professionals differs wildly and depends on a great number of factors, including specialization and experience.

Career Specializations

• Directors and Conductors: These professionals build expertise in guiding vocal and instrumental music work, also conducting auditions and helming rehearsals. 
• Producers: Those in this specialization are relied on to shape a musician's output into an artistically and commercially satisfying fashion. 
• Educators: After earning teaching credentials, many experts in music may choose to help the growth of the next generation in the art form.
• Musicians and Singers: Working by the job, these professionals lend their talents and build bases of fans in such locations as Los Angeles and London.
• Business Management: Music lovers who pursue an education is business and/or law are enlisted to work to promote and market music, manage gigs and events, or represent talent as agents. 
• Composers, Writers, and Arrangers: These talented individuals create music, from pop hits and jingles to concertos and film scores. 

Back to Top

Degree Levels Available for Music

• Associate Degree in Music: 2 years to complete
• Bachelor's Degree in Music: 4 years to complete
• Master's Degree in Music: 1-2 years to complete
• Doctorate of Philosophy in Music or Musicology: 3-5 years to complete 

Back to Top

Education & Certification Requirements

The best way to forge a career in music is to begin building skill at an early age. Most musicians start with learning an instrument, be it a guitar or the voice, while they are still young. Most instruments require years, if not decades, of intense preparation before its player demonstrates any fluency or artistic merit. Participating in local bands, school musicals, school choirs, and talent shows are also excellent experiences from which to gain expertise. Producer and director aspirants frequently seek to apprentice or volunteer service to a record company, and internships are also available for them as well. Playing gig after gig, all the while attracting audiences to see and experience the music, is a classic form of earning a music education as well.

The only music professionals who must go to university for training are aspiring educators, management professionals, conductors, composers, and music directors. Still, this fact has not put off reams of talented vocalists and musicians from finding acclaim after earning a college degree. To teach music at almost any level, a master's or doctorate diploma is required. The National Association of Schools of Music accredits hundreds of worthwhile programs that all music professionals in training should consider. The most important qualities of anyone involved in music, however, are talent, poise, determination, versatility, creativity, self discipline, and an ability to withstand rejection. (BLS)

Back to Top

Salary Information

When considering earnings for music professionals, detailing their earnings can be complex. Singers and musicians, for instance, can experience enormous gulfs in the pay they receive; depending on the venue and experience, $7 hourly is not out of the question, whereas rock stars tend to net a bigger payday. Music directors and composers on a salary take home around $40,000 annually, on the average. Symphony orchestra musicians luckily receive a contractual wage for each week of their 52-week schedule. Reputation is the biggest indicator of how much pay can be received. Well-known performers play bigger venues, attract more ticket buyers, and will also likely have signed recording or performance fees that heighten their pay even more. (BLS)

Back to Top

Job Outlook

The employment forecast for those involved in careers of the music industry seems to be rather bright. Estimates predict that, by the year 2018, the number of available jobs in the music sector will increase by eight percent, an average figure when compared to other industries. This augmentation looks to apply to all those except for musicians who go it alone and employ themselves. Furthermore, these figures do not take into account the consistent enthusiasm for professionals to enter the music community regardless of the pace of the business. Talent is a precursor for success but cannot at all guarantee it. Pluck and determination, particularly an ability to endure rejection, are the best indicators of a strong music career. (BLS)

Back to Top

Related Careers

Entertainment provides a number of career opportunities for those involved in music. Film and television production often scouts celebrated musicians to provide acting or producing talents, and there are many technical positions that can be filled by those trained in music, most visibly the scoring for films. Music professionals typically have to earn some clout or recognition before crossing over into the entertainment industry.  Singers, for example, may develop their careers in musical theater as they also pursue recording contracts. 

Back to Top