The Music Department at CCBC Essex
Careers in Music
Everyone loves music. We listen to music all the time, some of us sing or perform on instruments in order to express ourselves. The next step for many is to study music formally: to take lessons with a teacher in order to be a more proficient performer, composer, or technician. One of the most important questions a prospective musician must ask him/herself is: what are some of the careers in music? Do I have the talent, qualifications, and training it takes to have a career in music?
There is nothing more rewarding than finding a career that pays you to do something you would gladly do for free. But in order to find the right career in music, you have to be prepared: with the right education, with clearly defined goals, and with determination and drive.
Careers in Music Education
Job titles: School band/orchestra/chorus teacher; private instrumental/vocal instructor; music supervisor/administrator; music historian, professor; church-related music education; and music therapist.
Skills/training: bachelor’s degree/certification, teaching interest and ability.
Careers in Music Performance
Job titles: Popular musician: instrumentalist/vocalist; live performer/ recording artist; Classical musician: symphonic performer, opera performer; military service bands/orchestras/choruses; church music performer: instrumentalist/organist/vocalist; and hiring contractor.
Skills/training: talent, determination, marketing ability, public image, and degree credentials in some fields.
Careers in the Music Business
Job titles: Booking agent, music publisher, artist personal/business manager, concert promoter, music attorney, tour coordinator/manager, record company A&R representative, record company sales manager, music store sales/management, service/repair, piano tuner/technician, musical instrument development/production/ wholesaling/retailing, music publicist, journalist/critic, radio personality.
Skills/training: various; degree credentials in some fields.
Careers in Music Production
Job titles: Songwriter/lyricist; film/video/television composer, arranger, orchestrator, copyist; jingle writer; publishing editor; record producer, MIDI engineer/technician/ sequencer, sound designer, audio/recording/ live sound engineer/technician; recording/ production studio director/manager; road crew technician; music librarian for public/institutional libraries, orchestras, radio/TV.
Skills/training: various; degree credentials in some fields.
The Music Educators National Conference has information on its website about careers in music; you can find it at:
http://www.menc.org/industry/job/carbroch.html
An additional resource can be found at The Musician’s Exchange, located at:
