What can I do with this degree?
MUSIC
AREAS
EDUCATION
EMPLOYERS
- Daycare centers
- Elementary and secondary schools
- Private schools
- Recreation centers
- Colleges and universities
- Conservatories
- Studios
- Self-employed
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
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 theaters
- Ballet productions
- Recording industry
- Radio, television, and motion picture industries
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
EMPLOYERS
- Self-employed
- Record companies
- Publishers
- Muzak
- Motion picture and television industries
- Production companies
STRATEGIES
- Knowledge of composition, harmony, arranging,
and theory are important
- Learn how to use electronic instruments and synthesizers
- Develop computer and desktop publishing expertise
- Skill on one or
more instruments and voice are necessary
- Seek grants and awards through foundations
- Very few musicians earn living through composing.
CONDUCTING
EMPLOYERS
- Choirs
- Choral groups
- Symphonies
- Opera
- Armed Forces bands and orchestras
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
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
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)
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 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.
MISCELLANEOUS
EMPLOYERS
- Music shops
- Record stores
- Instrument manufacturers
- Music-related publications
- Magazines and newspapers
- Entertainment law firms
STRATEGIES
- Music shops
- Record stores
- Instrument manufacturers
- Music-related publications
- Magazines and newspapers
- Entertainment law firms
GENERAL INFORMATION
- Finding positions in the music
industry requires a combination of talent, training, connections and some luck.
Perseverance is required!
- Develop competencies in business management, computers, marketing, or other
areas to broaden range of employment possibilities.
- Develop a variety of skills. Become "multitalented."
- Confidence, personality, a positive attitude, and a love of music are
important to success.
- Need basic tools of self-promotion.
- Some jobs may require you to join unions or guilds.
- Performers often travel frequently and must be flexible regarding their work
schedules.
- Gain experience working for a music publisher or other businesses in the
entertainment industry.
- Majoring in music provides students with a sense of aesthetics and an
understanding of human expression valuable to many employers.
Prepared by the Career Planning staff of Career Services at The
University of Tennessee, Knoxville. (2005) UTK is an EEO/AA/Title VI/Title
IX/Section 504/ADA /ADEA Employer