Music
Education
- Teaching
- Research
- Private lessons
Employers
- K-12 schools, public and private
- Colleges and universities
- Conservatories
- Daycare centers
- Recreation centers
- Children’s music programs: franchises, local
- Studios
- Self-employed (private instructor)
Strategies
- Acquire teaching certificate for public school teaching. Learn about requirements by state.
- Earn a graduate degree to teach in higher education. Specialize in an area such as music theory, composition, music history, etc.
- Performance skill on one instrument or voice is required.
- Gain experience working with children through volunteer or part-time work experiences.
- Join the National Association for Music Education as a collegiate member.
- Develop business relationships with schools and/or music stores to increase client base.
Performance
Employers
- Orchestras:
- Philharmonic, symphony, and chamber
- Armed Forces bands and orchestras
- Small ensembles
- Rock or jazz groups
- Dance bands
- Concert soloist
- Clubs and restaurants
- Church choirs
- Community choral groups
- Opera companies
- Musical theaters
- Ballet productions
- Recording industry
- Radio, television, and motion picture industries
- Cruise lines
- Amusement parks
Strategies
- Develop musical talent and skill.
- Obtain formal training to acquire necessary skills, knowledge, and ability to interpret music.
- Demonstrate ambition and showmanship.
- Join campus bands and choruses, church choirs, and other performing acts.
- Seek competitions, apprenticeship programs, and workshops to gain experience and recognition.
- Be aware of and participate in open mic nights.
- Auditions are generally required to join bands or get jobs.
- Create a demo recording to submit agents or music companies.
- Be willing to move to a large city with more opportunities such as New York City, Los Angeles, Nashville, Las Vegas, or Chicago.
- Network with people in the industry to learn about potential jobs.
- Opportunities are very limited. Most performers have other careers.
Conducting
- Directing
- Planning
- Leading
- Musician Selection
Employers
- Orchestras:
- Philharmonic, symphony, and chamber
- Armed Forces bands and orchestras
- Various bands
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- Choirs
- Choral groups
- Opera companies
- Musical theater companies
Strategies
- Develop superior musicianship and leadership.
- Acquire extensive experience in performing groups.
- Develop advanced site-reading skills.
- Learn other languages such as French, German, Latin, and Italian.
- Gain acceptance into a conductor-training program or related apprenticeship.
- Opportunities are extremely limited.
Composing / Arranging
Employers
- Self-employed
- Record companies
- Publishers
- Muzak
- Motion picture and television industries
- Production companies
- Orchestras:
- Philharmonic, symphony, and chamber
- Opera companies
- Musical theater groups
- Ballet troupes
- Broadway
Strategies
- Knowledge of composition, harmony, arranging, and theory are important.
- Skill on one or more instruments and voice are necessary. Play an instrument in a professional arena.
- Become familiar with all types of music productions.
- Learn how to use electronic instruments and synthesizers.
- Develop computer and desktop publishing expertise.
- Attend music conferences and workshops.
- Seek grants and awards through foundations (e.g., National Endowment of the Arts).
- Very few musicians earn living through composing.
Music Libraries
- Services to faculty, students, patrons
- Reference
- Circulation
- Collection development
- Research
- Technical services:
- Acquisitions
- Cataloging
- System automation
- Indexing/Abstracting
- Archives
Employers
- Colleges and universities
- Conservatories
- Public libraries
- Radio and television stations
- Motion picture studios
Strategies
- Develop computer and research skills.
- Gain thorough knowledge of music and musicology.
- Earn a master’s degree in library/information science.
- Work in a campus or public library to gain relevant experience.
- Develop good organizational and technology skills.
- Learn to understand foreign languages, particularly Italian, Latin, German, and French.
- Join the Music Library Association.
Communications (Broadcasting)
- Music and program direction
- On air performance
- Promotion
- Voice overs
- Copyright/Clearance administration
- Music license administration
- Music editing, production, and composing
- Sound mixing
- Post production
- Research
Employers
- Radio and television stations
- Virtual reality sound environments (e.g., Internet sites, software creators)
Strategies
- Take classes in communications, broadcasting, or journalism.
- Work at on-campus radio station.
- Complete an internship at a television or radio station.
- Develop computer-related skills such as software development and programming.
Behind the Scenes
- Audio technician
- Boom operator
- General director
- Music video producer
- Recording engineer
- Set up
- Recordist
- Rerecording mixer
- Sound engineer
- Sound technician
- Sound/Production mixer
- MIDI engineering
- Stage manager
- Transcribing
- Copyrighting
Employers
- Local bands
- Regional bands
- Production companies
- Theater groups
- Orchestras
- Armed Forces
- Radio, television, and motion picture industries
Strategies
- Shadow an individual who is in the music industry in an area of interest.
- Volunteer in community, school, or church productions.
- Gain expertise in the areas of musical and technical knowledge, sound board, and sound equipment.
- Take courses in areas such as broadcasting, engineering, or computer science to learn technical skills.
- Complete an internship with a recording company or other relevant organization.
- Research seminars, workshops, and professional associations that could provide useful information or contacts.
- Check trade journals and association bulletins for possible employment.
Music Industry / Business
- Publishing and editing
- Producing
- Recording
- Engineering
- Administration
- Manufacturing
- Talent acquisition
- Artist/Talent representation
- Promotion/Media relations
- Publicity
- Booking
- Product management
- Business management
- Retail Sales
- Marketing
Employers
- Production recording studios (most located in New York City, Los Angeles, and Nashville)
- Music management groups
- Agencies
- Music and record stores
- Instrument manufacturers
Strategies
- Complete an internship at a record company.
- Take business courses to work in management or administration.
- Journalism, public relations, and communication classes are helpful for work in areas of promotion.
- Gain sales experience for marketing. Learn to interact well with people and develop persuasion tools.
- Knowledge of electronics, audio engineering, and recording are required for production.
- Work or volunteer at a campus or local radio station.
- Join organizations involved with bringing events and entertainment to campus.
- Work at a retail record store to learn about the industry.
- Volunteer to help promote a local or campus band with their promotions and bookings.
- Gain a broad knowledge of music and the industry.
- Build a strong network of contacts.
- Develop skills such as negotiation, assertiveness, the ability to recognize talent, and working under pressure.
Music Therapy
Music therapy is a mental health profession that uses music interventions to accomplish individualized goals. Music is used within a therapeutic relationship to address physical, emotional, cognitive, and social needs of individuals. (adapted from American Music Therapy Association).
Employers
- Hospitals
- Special education facilities
- Mental health centers
- Nursing homes and senior centers
- Rehabilitation centers
- Correctional facilities
- Private practice
- Outpatient clinics
- Schools
Strategies
- Take courses in psychology, social work, or education.
- Earn a master’s degree in music therapy and seek certification. A master’s degree in counseling with experience in expressive arts therapy may also work.
- Gain experience through volunteer opportunities or summer work in rehabilitation centers, nursing homes, etc.
- Demonstrate a genuine interest in helping people.
- Learn to work well with all types of people.
- Develop a broad array of musical talents.
Miscellaneous
- Music journalism
- Law
- Music analysis
Employers
- Music-related publications
- Magazines and newspapers
- Entertainment or music focused Internet sites
- Entertainment law firms
- Production companies
Strategies
- Take courses in journalism and English.
- Write articles for the campus newspaper.
- Prepare for law school and earn a law degree (J.D.)
- For music analysis:
- Develop the ability to read and transcribe well.
- Gain knowledge with use of high tech digital computers to analyze music.
- Move to a larger city where more opportunities exist.
General Information
- Majoring in music provides students with a sense of aesthetics and an understanding of human expression valuable to many employers.
- Develop competencies in business management, computers, marketing, or other areas to broaden range of employment possibilities.
- Finding positions in the music industry requires a combination of talent, training, connections and some luck. Perseverance is required!
- Develop a variety of skills. Become “multitalented.”
- As an undergraduate, gain as much experience as possible, paid or unpaid, through college and local organizations. Seek internships or volunteer positions with relevant organizations. Audition with local musical groups, choirs, or orchestras.
- Confidence, personality, a positive attitude, and a love of music are important to success in many arenas of music. Learn basic tools of self-promotion. Create a YouTube channel and post performance videos.
Some jobs may require you to join unions or guilds. Research the industry to learn which ones are appropriate.
- Performers often travel frequently and must be flexible regarding their work schedules. It is important to consider how this will fit with your work and lifestyle values.
- Move to a larger city such as Los Angeles, New York, Nashville, or Chicago to find more job opportunities.
- Conduct information interviews with people who work in the industry. Attend related professional conferences or events to network.
Professional Associations
Occupational Outlook
Related Resources
Employment Opportunities
