A Career Guide for Music Majors
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A Career Guide for Music Majors
Throughout history, music has been an important While music is a performing art, few individuals are
element in most cultures, serving as a rich and able to support themselves as full-time musicians.
diverse experience used in many ways. Music can Many music majors elect to combine performing with
be a form of communication, artistic expression, jobs that allow them to be closely related to music
entertainment, therapy or worship. Within the in the workplace. Some music majors continue
broad field of music, there are many areas of their education in a graduate or professional school
specialization. A concentration in music, with its program.
emphasis on performance, analysis, and critical
interpretation provides a foundation for careers in
education, business, communications and the arts.
Skills
The study of music develops skills ranging from sensitivity, enable graduates to contribute to and
musical expression to analysis of musical works. succeed in many professions. For example, the
Music also develops the ability to concentrate ability to put feelings and impressions about music
intensely, listen introspectively, observe keenly, into words is needed by such diverse professionals
work under pressure, meet deadlines and maintain as a music librarian, a music critic and a music
composure when faced with the unexpected. Well- therapist. A sample of representative skills and
developed communication skills, along with aural abilities follows:
Artistic/Technical Communication Research/Analysis Education
Creating and performing Writing and speaking Gathering and analyzing Informing and explaining
music effectively information
Interpreting symbols and Ability to give and accept Considering historical Group dynamics
images constructive criticism perspectives
Sensitivity to and Conveying complex Hearing and recognizing Organizing information and
appreciation of diverse information tonal and harmonic materials
musical styles balance, rhythm, and
tempo
Doing detailed and Describing impressions Working with primary Teaching a skill, concept or
accurate work about music sources principle
Directing a performance Presenting theories/ideas Perceiving patterns/ Program planning
structures
Career Opportunities
There are many career and job options for music retail, wholesale, manufacturing, importing,
majors. There are all kinds and types of performance exporting, publishing, recording, repair and
settings from symphony orchestras to wedding gigs. rebuilding and tuning. People who are successful
What you are paid and how often you work depends in the music industry frequently have training and
on your skills, reputation and the demand for your experience in both music and business. Many new
music. However, most professional musicians work businesses have grown out of recent developments
at a combination of jobs and professional activities in technology and computers.
that are equivalent to or more than, full-time in other
fields. Many music majors make a living in non- The recording industry is huge, covering thousands
performance jobs and perform on weekends. of independent labels as well as the handful of
major record labels. Technical jobs entail the actual
The music industry is broad in scope and includes studio work of recording, producing and Conductors
Fine Arts Career Services • The University of Texas at Austin • DFA 1.103 • http://www.utexas.edu/finearts/careers
[512] 232-7333 • facs@austin.utexas.edu • twitter.com/utfacs • http://www.facebook.com/utfacs
1A Career Guide for Music Majors
mastering the music. Production jobs entail the funds, rehearsing, scheduling and performing. As
duplication and packaging of the recordings and the orchestra increases in size, length of season
their promotional materials. Administrative jobs and budget, the conductor and music director tend to
cover the promotion, research and budgeting of confine their activities to performing, programming,
the industry. Then there are the jobs connected supervising personnel and working in educational
to sales and merchandise, and contracts and legal programs. In addition to his or her performance
issues. People in the industry often move from job responsibilities, a conductor may also take on the
to job, acquiring diversified skills and climbing the duties of a music director.
ranks to better jobs.
Information Science
Performance Music librarians work in libraries with large
Musicians perform music of all types. If you are just collections of music books, recordings, musical
getting started it may be worth it to do some volunteer scores and periodicals associated with music. They
or low pay “gigs” for the experience. Research the can be found in public and academic libraries, radio
performance options in your own community, read and television stations, music publishing companies
the local newspapers’ calendar sections and look and professional music associations.
for the entertainment listings on the web for your
town, city or region. All performance careers start Music Therapy
locally! Music therapists use music to accomplish these
therapeutic aims: the restoration, maintenance and
Church/temple musicians combine music improvement of mental and physical health. Music
performance and teaching. Most are employed therapists work at hospitals, treatment centers,
part-time, although large congregations may employ nursing homes, hospices, rehabilitation centers,
a full-time music director or minister of music. In prisons and mental health clinics.
addition to being competent performers, church or
temple musicians must understand composition, Media
transposition and arranging. They must also be This encompasses a wide range of music careers
familiar with the theology and liturgy of worship. including composition, scoring, production, editing,
clearing copyrights and licensing. There are many
Music Education types of media including video games, radio,
Music teachers work at elementary and secondary television, internet and print. When you use any of
schools, colleges and universities, private studios these media and you notice music played, printed
and public or private community music schools or referred to, chances are there was a person paid
(which may be associated with a performing to make that happen!
organization).
Music Criticism
Composition Music critics are a unique combination of journalist
Composers often write works on commission. and musician. Their views are published daily, often
They look for grant and competition money to pay providing quotations to be used as publicity for
for the commissioning of new works. In the more performing artists. They affect their audience both
commercial arena, composers may create music for indirectly and directly. Indirectly, by determining
movies, jingles, multi-media projects, video games which artists will survive in the performance media
or Broadway revues. They may also arrange, adapt and will therefore be available for the public to
or transcribe the work of other composers. choose from, and directly, by influencing the
choices the public makes, its understanding of
Conducting performances and its reactions to them.
Conductors have a wide spectrum of activities and
responsibilities. At the level of the smaller community The preparation of music critics is largely as one
and metropolitan orchestras, the conductor may might expect. More than two-thirds of the music
have to function as a jack-of-all-trades: raising critics in large US cities majored in music, with
Fine Arts Career Services • The University of Texas at Austin • DFA 1.103 • http://www.utexas.edu/finearts/careers
[512] 232-7333 • facs@austin.utexas.edu • twitter.com/utfacs • http://www.facebook.com/utfacs
2A Career Guide for Music Majors
performance and then music history identified as a museum is likely to have staff members in
the leading areas of specialization. Nearly half of education that work with school groups to introduce
the music critics have earned at least a master’s children to the exhibits. An opera company, concert
degree. Music criticism is a highly specialized field, hall, or theatre needs box-office and front of the
one that blends music and expressive writing skills. house workers to manage ticket sales, write press
The glamour of attending concerts and meeting releases, market the productions in the community,
performers is an undeniable benefit, but the quick and create visibility. Some theatre companies
pace, objectivity and late and sometimes long hours need general managers to schedule tours, monitor
may be less appealing. Music critics must have a union agreements, and run the business side of
sincere desire and dedication to the profession. performances.
Arts Administration Over the last decade, arts management has become
Arts organizations, like most for profit companies, a growing field with increasing specialization and
have a number of administrative, business or training. A number of new graduate training and
management functions. These roles require people certification programs have emerged. These
with creativity and an understanding and passion programs may be useful, depending on your interests
for the arts, as well as skills in a range of areas from and goals. Some arts managers, for example,
finance and marketing to education. suggest eventually pursuing a business degree with
a specialization in nonprofit management. Almost
The specific positions available at an arts without exception, however, arts managers advise
organization will depend on what the organization getting work-related experience first and considering
does and how large its budget and staff are. Since graduate study later on. If you decide to investigate
arts managers are needed in virtually every arts graduate study, begin by asking professionals what
organization, from theatre companies to museums, programs they think are valuable and respected in
many opportunities exist in this field. For example, the field.
Job Titles
These job titles are examples of some of the ways that music majors have applied their skills and abilities.
An internship is a good way to explore many of the occupations listed below and receive on-the-job training
at the same time. In general, additional education or specialized training is required for those occupations
marked with a (*) on the following list.
Arts Council Director Lyricist Music Director
Recording Engineer Music Librarian Instrument/Equipment
Business Manager Music Therapist Salesperson
Fundraising Director Music Teacher Church Music Director
Bow Specialist Recording Engineer Restoration Specialist
Sound Technician Music Critic Sound Technician
Accompanist Piano Technician/Tuner Accompanist
Attorney Acoustical Engineer Business Manager
Educational Coordinator Music Software Programmer Musicologist
Events Planner Electronic Music Technician Ethnomusicologist
Clinician Studio Musician Promoter, Booking Agent
Film Scorer/Music Editor Club Performer Restoration Specialist
Private Lesson Teacher Music Software Programmer Music Retailer
Music Publishing Chamber Musician Public Relations
Band Director Conductor
*College Professor Composer
Fine Arts Career Services • The University of Texas at Austin • DFA 1.103 • http://www.utexas.edu/finearts/careers
[512] 232-7333 • facs@austin.utexas.edu • twitter.com/utfacs • http://www.facebook.com/utfacs
3A Career Guide for Music Majors
Employers of Music Majors
Television/Radio/Film Magazines and Newspapers
State and Federal Government Agencies Music Publishers
Churches Hospitals
Colleges/Universities/Schools Music Stores
Production Companies Entertainment Law Firms
Theaters Software Development Firms
Libraries Instrument Manufacturers
Record Companies Performing Arts Organizations
Cruise Lines Film Companies
First Jobs Held by Recent UT Graduates
Marketing Segment Specialist Production Assistant
Choir Director Assistant Band Director
Investor Services Representative Medical Researcher
Band Director Music Festival Administrator
Acoustical Design Consultant Museum Intern
Earnings
Musicians and singers held about 176,200 jobs Music directors and composers held about 93,200
in 2010. They often perform in settings such as jobs in 2010. About 38 percent were self-employed.
concert halls, arenas, and clubs. They often work Jobs for music directors and composers are found
in religious organizations and performing arts all over the country. However, many jobs are located
companies. In 2010, 43 percent of musicians and in cities in which entertainment and recording
singers were self-employed. activities are concentrated, such as New York, Los
Angeles, and Chicago.
Many musicians and singers find only part-
time or intermittent work and have long periods The median annual wage of music directors and
of unemployment between jobs. The stress of composers was $45,970 in May 2010. The median
constantly looking for work leads many to accept wage is the wage at which half the workers in an
permanent full-time jobs in other occupations occupation earned more than that amount and half
while working part time as a musician or singer. earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less
Rehearsals and recording sessions are commonly than $21,720, and the top 10 percent earned more
held during business hours, but performances take than $85,020.
place most often on nights and weekends.
From: Occupational Outlook Handbook at
The median hourly wage of musicians and singers http://www.bls.gov/ooh/entertainment-and-sports/
was $22.39 in May 2010. The median wage is the musicians-and-singers.htm and http://www.bls.gov/
wage at which half the workers in an occupation ooh/entertainment-and-sports/music-directors-and-
earned more than that amount and half earned less. composers.htm
The lowest 10 percent earned less than $8.50, and
the top 10 percent earned more than $60.02.
Fine Arts Career Services • The University of Texas at Austin • DFA 1.103 • http://www.utexas.edu/finearts/careers
[512] 232-7333 • facs@austin.utexas.edu • twitter.com/utfacs • http://www.facebook.com/utfacs
4A Career Guide for Music Majors
Graduate School Options
The three most common graduate degrees offered chamber music, lessons, master class or repertoire
in music are the Master of Music, Doctor of class, language competencies for singers and at
Musical Arts and Doctor of Philosophy. For general least one academic course per year in theory or
information about music graduate programs history.
and a list of accredited graduate programs, see
the College Music Society’s Directory of Music Doctor of Musical Arts (D.M.A.): This is the
Faculties in College and Universities, United States doctoral degree in performance, composition and
and Canada (available in the Fine Arts Library or conducting. The M.M. is usually a prerequisite to
online with limited search capabilities at http://www. enter a D.M.A. program. Programs vary greatly,
music.org/). but it usually takes a minimum of two years to
complete the course and residency requirements.
Artist Diploma or certificate programs: These For performers, this usually involves 3-6 full solo
graduate or postgraduate programs are geared recitals. For composers, a number of compositions
towards performance with few or no academic are expected. A thesis or doctoral research paper is
requirements, and are typically considered to be also required. Language requirements, coursework/
non-degree programs. seminars in theory and history and ensembles may
be part of the degree requirements.
Master of Music (M.M.): Usually a two-year
program that is offered with concentrations in Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.): These doctorates
performance, composition, theory, music education are usually offered in musicology, music theory
and musicology. Applicants must hold a bachelor’s or music education. After two to three years of
degree in music or its equivalent. Typical master’s coursework, general exams precede work on the
programs require about 36 credit hours, which dissertation.
for performers usually include large ensemble,
FACS Resources for Music Majors
Fine Arts Career Services keeps a small library of arts career and job search related books, many of which
are not available at other University of Texas libraries. Students may come by the office (DFA 1.103) to
browse books during our regular hours.
100 Careers in the Music Business Music, Money, Success & the Movies
Guide to Competitions 2004 Music & Money
Booking and Tour Management for the Performing Music, Money and Success
Arts New England Conservatory Music Career
Chamber Music Association: Membership Informational Handouts
Directory 2005 OPERA America: Membership Directory
Complete Guide to Film Scoring The Savvy Musician
Exploring Careers in Music Texas Music Industry Directory 2006
Great Jobs for Music Majors The Musician’s Way
Making Your Living as a String Player
* For a complete list of FACS Resources visit http://www.utexas.edu/finearts/careers/career-information
* Visit http://www.lib.utexas.edu/fal/collections/current_periodicals/index.php for a complete listing of
music journals available in the Fine Arts Library
Fine Arts Career Services • The University of Texas at Austin • DFA 1.103 • http://www.utexas.edu/finearts/careers
[512] 232-7333 • facs@austin.utexas.edu • twitter.com/utfacs • http://www.facebook.com/utfacs
5A Career Guide for Music Majors
Online Resources for Music Majors
Fine Arts Career Services Musical Chairs
http://www.musicalchairs.info/jobs
AccessUT The world’s leading online resource for performance,
https://accessut.utexas.edu/students/ teaching and administration jobs in classical
UT’s online job and internship database which posts music.
professional opportunities for all majors.
New England Conservatory Bridge
Fine Arts Works https://www.myinterfase.com/nec/student/
https://www.myinterfase.com/ut-finearts/student Includes over 2700 opportunities in music including
Fine Arts Career Services’ database of art-related performance, arts administration and music industry
opportunities. Fine Arts students can post a jobs as well as competition, festival, scholarship
resume and view job postings and upcoming career and grant listings. Current students can contact
events. Fine Arts Career Services for login information.
Job Listings New York Foundation for the Arts
http://www.nyfa.org/
Alliance of Artist Communities This website provides a number of services for
http://www.artistcommunities.org/ artists including job and internship postings, funding
The Alliance of Artists Communities is the service opportunities, arts advocacy and services for artists.
organization for the field of artists’ communities They also maintain an online newsletter covering
and residencies. They maintain artist residency current issues affecting artists.
listings, advocate for artist residency programs and
communities, and offer professional development Regional Organizations
for artists. Their website includes job postings.
Austin Creative Alliance
Americans for the Arts http://www.austincreativealliance.org/
http://jobbank.artsusa.org As a nonprofit arts service organization, ACA
This advocacy organization supports the arts in focuses on sponsoring projects and programs that
many ways. Their job bank is the premier electronic both strengthen Austin’s performing arts community
recruitment resource for the industry and includes and bring new audiences to the arts. Find links to
national job listings for all of the fine arts. It includes some of the Austin-area arts organizations.
postings in academia, arts administration and
management. Check out the rest of their site for Texas Commission on the Arts
other helpful arts resources. http://www.arts.state.tx.us/
Includes links to numerous sites, opportunities
Art Job and assistance for visual and performing artists.
https://www.artjob.org/ View their employment links by going to New
Comprehensive, up-to-date national listings of jobs, Opportunities.
internships, fellowships and other employment
opportunities in the arts. Contact Fine Arts Career Texas Music Office
Services for the username and password. http://www.governor.state.tx.us/music
The TMO is a clearinghouse of music and music-
ArtSearch related industry information.
http://www.tcg.org/artsearch/
The publication from the Theatre Communication
Group for full-time, part-time, seasonal, year-round
and internship opportunities in the performing arts.
Contact FACS for the username and password.
Fine Arts Career Services • The University of Texas at Austin • DFA 1.103 • http://www.utexas.edu/finearts/careers
[512] 232-7333 • facs@austin.utexas.edu • twitter.com/utfacs • http://www.facebook.com/utfacs
6A Career Guide for Music Majors
Professional Organizations League of American Orchestras
http://www.americanorchestras.org
American Federation of Musicians The League of American Orchestras leads, supports
http://www.afm.org/ and champions America’s orchestras and the vitality
The AFM is the largest union in the world representing of the music they perform. This site has an excellent
the interests of the professional musician. Career Center section.
American Music Therapy Association Musical America
http://www.musictherapy.org/ http://www.musicalamerica.com/
This site answers many questions students may The site is divided into three sections: Industry
have about music therapy as a career. News, Directory Articles and Listings, and includes
a Career Center.
American Musicological Society
http://www.ams-net.org/ National Association for Music Education http://
The AMS was founded to advance research in the www.menc.org/
various fields of music as a branch of learning and Contains information for teachers, job postings and
scholarship. a great guide to careers in music.
American Society of Composers, Authors and Opera America
Publishers (ASCAP) http://www.operaamerica.org/
http://www.ascap.com/ Their professional development page includes links
ASCAP is a membership association of U.S. to employment, internships and fellowships.
composers, songwriters and publishers of every kind
of music and hundreds of thousands worldwide. Texas Music Educators Network
http://www.tmea.org
Association of Performing Arts Presenters Site includes a job database and other helpful
http://www.apap365.org/Pages/APAP365.aspx information for music educators
Excellent site for those interested in arts
administration positions. Includes a job bank. Other
Chamber Music America Artist House Music
http://www.chamber-music.org/ http://www.artistshousemusic.org/
Chamber Music America promotes artistic excellence Nonprofit website which exists to educate
and economic stability within the profession and musicians and music entrepreneurs on how to build
strives to ensure that chamber music is a vital part a sustainable career.
of American life.
Orchestralist
The College Music Society http://www.orchestralist.net
http://www.music.org/ Orchestralist is an international forum for conductors,
Publications include the Music Vacancy List, The composers, players and their colleagues in the
Directory of Music Faculties, and The International orchestra business.
Directory of Music Organizations.
Worldwide Internet Music Resources
Eastman Office of Careers and Professional http://library.music.indiana.edu/music_resources
Development Materials A useful list of online resources that includes a
http://esm.rochester.edu/iml/careers/library.php comprehensive list of professional associations for
Includes excellent information on music resumes specific instruments and other areas of music.
and cover letters.
The information in this guide was compiled from resources available online and in DFA 1.103.
Updated June 28, 2012
Fine Arts Career Services • The University of Texas at Austin • DFA 1.103 • http://www.utexas.edu/finearts/careers
[512] 232-7333 • facs@austin.utexas.edu • twitter.com/utfacs • http://www.facebook.com/utfacs
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