Education

• Teaching
• Private lessons

Employers

• Daycare centers
• Elementary and secondary schools
• Private schools
• Recreation centers
• Colleges and universities
• Conservatories
• Studios
• Self-employed

Information & Strategies

• Acquire teaching certificate for public school teaching.
• Gain experience working with children through volunteer or part-time work experiences.
• Graduate degree required to teach in higher education. Specialize in an area such as music, music theory, composition, music history, etc.
• Performance skill on one instrument or voice required.
• Develop business relationships with schools and/or music stores to increase client base.

Performance

• Instrumental
• Vocal

Employers

• Armed Forces bands and orchestras
• Symphony orchestras
• Small ensembles
• Rock or jazz groups
• Dance bands
• Concert soloist
• Clubs and restaurants
• Church choirs
• Community choral groups
• Opera chorus or soloist
• Musical theatres
• Ballet productions
• Recording industry
• Radio, television, and motion picture industries

Information & Strategies

• Develop musical talent and skill.
• Obtain formal training to acquire necessary skills, knowledge, and ability to interpret music.
• Ambition and showmanship are important.
• Join campus bands and choruses, church choirs, and other performing acts.
• Seek competitions, apprenticeship programs, and workshops to gain experience and recognition.
• Opportunities are very limited. Most performers have other careers.
• Auditions are generally required.

Composing/Arranging

• Composing
• Arranging

Employers

• Self-employed
• Record companies
• Publishers
• Muzak
• Motion picture and television industries
• Production companies

Information & Strategies

• Knowledge of composition, harmony, arranging, and theory are important.
• Learn how to use electronic instruments and synthesizers.
• Develop computer and desktop publishing expertise.
• Having skill for one more instrument and voice are necessary.
• Seek grants and awards through foundations.
• Very few musicians earn a living through composing.

Conducting

Employers

• Choirs
• Choral groups
• Symphonies
• Opera
• Armed Forces bands and orchestras

Information & Strategies

• Develop superior musicianship and leadership.
• Acquire extensive experience in performing groups. Opportunities extremely limited.
• Gain acceptance into a conductor-training program or related apprenticeship.

Music Therapy

Employers

• Hospitals: general and psychiatric
• Special education facilities
• Mental health centers
• Nursing homes
• Correctional facilities
• Private practice
• Outpatient clinics

Information & Strategies

• Take courses in psychology, social work, or education.
• Earn a master's degree in music therapy and seek certification.
• Volunteer in a rehabilitation setting.
• Must demonstrate a genuine interest in helping people.

Music Libraries

Employers

• Colleges and universities
• Conservatories
• Public libraries
• Radio and television stations

Information & Strategies

• Develop computer and research skills.
• Gain thorough knowledge of music and musicology.
• Earn master's degree in library/information science.

Recording Industry

• Publishing and editing
• Producing
• Recording
• Engineering
• Manufacturing
• Talent acquisition
• Promotion/media relations
• Publicity
• Administration
• Marketing and sales
• Product management

Employers

• Production recording studios (most located in New York City, Los Angeles, and Nashville)

Information & Strategies

• Complete an internship at a record company.
• Take business courses to work in management or administration.
• Journalism, public relations, and communication classes helpful for work in areas of promotion.
• Gain sales experience for marketing. Must interact well with people and develop persuasion tools.
• Knowledge of electronics, audio engineering, and recording knowledge 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.

Communications

• 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 such as internet sites, software creators

Information & 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.

Miscellaneous

• Sales
• Music Journalism
• Law

Employers

• Music shops
• Record stores
• Instrument manufacturers
• Music-related publications
• Magazines and newspapers
• Entertainment law firms

Information & Strategies

• Get sales experience. Work in a retail music outlet.
• Take courses in journalism and English.
• Write articles for campus newspaper.
• Earn law degree.