Music

Use your Music major to pursue careers in performance, education, composition, or production as you develop your creativity and technical skills.

  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