Music

  1. Academics
  2. Academic Advising
  3. Academic Pathways Advising
  4. What can I do with this Major
  5. 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

  • Instrumental
  • Vocal

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
  • 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

  • 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