6 answers
Ka'Mari
Student
Memphis, Tennessee
3
Questions
Updated
1362 views
how can i start a path to a music career
#career #musician #music #music-industry #singer # #singing #producer #
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6 answers
Melisa Cameron
Sr. Project Program Mgr., AT&T Community Engagement
167
Answers
Chicago, Illinois
Updated
Melisa’s Answer
Hi Ka’Mari,
Thanks for sharing your question here on CareerVillage. I hope you find helpful information and answers from the caring volunteers who use this site to answer student questions. It’s great you are sharing about your career interests.
Also, if you can, ask additional questions specific to what area of music interests you specifically. For example, teaching, composing, producing music, etc.
Check out these helpful resources https://www.careersinmusic.com/musicareer-resources/
career musician music music-industry singer # singing producer
Seek out a mentor or individual in a job that interests you, so you can gain even more insight into a career in music. When it's safe to do so, schedule a job shadow visit or informational interview.
Check out these helpful TED Talks on "music." https://www.ted.com/topics/music
Keep asking great questions on CareerVillage!
Thanks for sharing your question here on CareerVillage. I hope you find helpful information and answers from the caring volunteers who use this site to answer student questions. It’s great you are sharing about your career interests.
Also, if you can, ask additional questions specific to what area of music interests you specifically. For example, teaching, composing, producing music, etc.
Check out these helpful resources https://www.careersinmusic.com/musicareer-resources/
career musician music music-industry singer # singing producer
Melisa recommends the following next steps:
Molly Brennan
Recruiting Coordinator
4
Answers
Chicago, Illinois
Updated
Molly’s Answer
It could be beneficial to look into getting some certificates or taking some classes. This can expand your network and give you valuable skills to help kickstart your career. Sometimes making connections through a broader network can be a great way to introduce you to new opportunities in the industry you are trying to get into.
Look into online classes or courses.
Follow musicians on Instagram.
Molly recommends the following next steps:
Fiona Kweskin
Student
5
Answers
Nashville, Tennessee
Updated
Fiona’s Answer
Hey Ka'Mari!
I think its awesome that you are interested in starting a career path in music! I think the first step is to decide what about music you want to be involved with! If you want to write music, perform music, record music, be apart of the business side, or even get into music therapy! There are so manny options! From there you can decide where to go!
I don't know how much music training you have but if you want to be a live performer it might be a good idea to get into some music lessons, or even possibly go to school for music! There are plenty of amazing universities that offer music degrees that teach you all of the fundamentals of music and more! From there you can join or start a band and get in the habit of booking live shows and performing. The more you do it the more opportunities will be presented to you.
If you are more interested in the business side of music, again school is always a great option. There are Music business majors at specific universities that focus on teaching you to make connections in the industry and how to get set up with an internship in the industry! (Belmont University is a great option that has a bunch of different major for people interested in the music industry)
While school is not necessary to start a career in music it definitely doesn't hurt when it comes to knowledge, experience, and connections! One of the biggest things is to just build or find a community around you of people who want to pursue the same field as you.
Good Luck!
I think its awesome that you are interested in starting a career path in music! I think the first step is to decide what about music you want to be involved with! If you want to write music, perform music, record music, be apart of the business side, or even get into music therapy! There are so manny options! From there you can decide where to go!
I don't know how much music training you have but if you want to be a live performer it might be a good idea to get into some music lessons, or even possibly go to school for music! There are plenty of amazing universities that offer music degrees that teach you all of the fundamentals of music and more! From there you can join or start a band and get in the habit of booking live shows and performing. The more you do it the more opportunities will be presented to you.
If you are more interested in the business side of music, again school is always a great option. There are Music business majors at specific universities that focus on teaching you to make connections in the industry and how to get set up with an internship in the industry! (Belmont University is a great option that has a bunch of different major for people interested in the music industry)
While school is not necessary to start a career in music it definitely doesn't hurt when it comes to knowledge, experience, and connections! One of the biggest things is to just build or find a community around you of people who want to pursue the same field as you.
Good Luck!
Ranjana NareshKumar
Project Analyst
4
Answers
India
Updated
Ranjana’s Answer
Hi Ka'Mari,
Thank you for sharing your question.
Firstly it depends on how you want to do it, if you wish to join a group of people or a music band or do it on your own.
1. Find a mentor or an expert in that field (A person who is a local resident). Spend a reasonable amount of time understanding how they started their career and DO's and Dont's while starting the career. This way, you can avoid making the same mistakes in the early stages of your career.
2. The most important aspect of the music industry is 'Personal Branding' and 'Promoting' and ' Networking', which you will learn with your experience.
3. This is the era of Social Media! So I would also suggest you to make use of social media at its best to start your own branding. There are lots of mobile music apps available where you can create your own account. You can create your own music content and post and meet a lot of other people who are on the same boat like you.Please do some research on relevant music apps available in your region.
4. Be open to feedbacks and comments that you receive. It is the best way of learning.
5. Watch , follow, read about experts in this domain.
Try creating your own music channel on 'You Tube' or an 'Instagram' profile and share it among your friends and family. In that way you can have some followers.
Watch people, follow people , read about experts in this domain.
Thank you for sharing your question.
Firstly it depends on how you want to do it, if you wish to join a group of people or a music band or do it on your own.
1. Find a mentor or an expert in that field (A person who is a local resident). Spend a reasonable amount of time understanding how they started their career and DO's and Dont's while starting the career. This way, you can avoid making the same mistakes in the early stages of your career.
2. The most important aspect of the music industry is 'Personal Branding' and 'Promoting' and ' Networking', which you will learn with your experience.
3. This is the era of Social Media! So I would also suggest you to make use of social media at its best to start your own branding. There are lots of mobile music apps available where you can create your own account. You can create your own music content and post and meet a lot of other people who are on the same boat like you.Please do some research on relevant music apps available in your region.
4. Be open to feedbacks and comments that you receive. It is the best way of learning.
5. Watch , follow, read about experts in this domain.
Ranjana recommends the following next steps:
Achyutha Rao
2
Answers
Updated
Achyutha’s Answer
Hi there!
Am basically providing my honest opinion in answering this question as a musician.
As a basic prerequisite to start a music career, one has to put hours of focused music practice everyday and continue this process for more than 4-5 years atleast.
Once the level of knowledge attained is fairly measurable, there are two music career paths:
1) As a music teacher - these days there are lots of avenues to teach music - not just Vocal music but several forms of instruments. So if you have specialized in any of these streams, you can definitely make a career out of it by teaching students either through online (skype or any other video conferencing) or through teaching in physical presence.
2) As a music performer - you can join a band or form your own music band, practice with your band members for a particular presentation, upload it on to Social media, gain a fair bit of popularity which might open avenues for your band as performers or even as you as an individual.
Am sure the 2) is not that easy - basically because you have so many well trained musicians as performers out there in the music industry. Though 1) appears to be easy, it isn't - since these days many musicians have got into teaching and it takes a lot of competition to retain students for years together so that the music teacher can have a constant source of income.
Having given these two options, i feel that it is a satisfying career to be in music - more so, when one is immensely passionate about it.
But to convert passion to profession - it takes a lot of courage by oneself, encouragement by parents or guardians and more than anything else - perseverance in one's abilities
Am basically providing my honest opinion in answering this question as a musician.
As a basic prerequisite to start a music career, one has to put hours of focused music practice everyday and continue this process for more than 4-5 years atleast.
Once the level of knowledge attained is fairly measurable, there are two music career paths:
1) As a music teacher - these days there are lots of avenues to teach music - not just Vocal music but several forms of instruments. So if you have specialized in any of these streams, you can definitely make a career out of it by teaching students either through online (skype or any other video conferencing) or through teaching in physical presence.
2) As a music performer - you can join a band or form your own music band, practice with your band members for a particular presentation, upload it on to Social media, gain a fair bit of popularity which might open avenues for your band as performers or even as you as an individual.
Am sure the 2) is not that easy - basically because you have so many well trained musicians as performers out there in the music industry. Though 1) appears to be easy, it isn't - since these days many musicians have got into teaching and it takes a lot of competition to retain students for years together so that the music teacher can have a constant source of income.
Having given these two options, i feel that it is a satisfying career to be in music - more so, when one is immensely passionate about it.
But to convert passion to profession - it takes a lot of courage by oneself, encouragement by parents or guardians and more than anything else - perseverance in one's abilities
Monica Davis
Lead generation specialist
3
Answers
Houston, Texas
Updated
Monica’s Answer
First, decide what type of career you want and also be open to avenues you hadn't considered. I would suggest lessons as many a talented singer has cut their career short by not having proper technique to protect the voice from strain and over use. Also, learn early on how to say "no". Not every opportunity is for every artist and if something doesn't feel right to or for you, then it probably isn't. Lastly, make sure you have fun! There is a lot of hard work and investment of time and energy involved in honing your talents, but if it starts to feel like a chore, take a step back for a moment and remember what made you want to do this in the beginning.