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What do I need to start a music career?
What do I need to start a music career?
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Dylan’s Answer
The first skill any serious music professional needs is an understanding of the fundamentals of music. This includes at least intermediate level knowledge of the following: pitch, rhythm, harmony, intervals and scales, and sight reading. Second, discover the specific job you want within the music industry and advance the necessary skills required of that job. For example, if you want to be a performer, focus on developing the techniques of your chosen instrument (or voice) and your musicality. Third, create your own opportunities. Many musicians , and other's in creative professions, fall into the trap of waiting for an opportunity to "magically" appear. But if you want to make it in a competitive industry like music, you have to put yourself out there and be passionate and persistent. To use another example, if you want to be a producer/song-writer, create as much music as you can and upload it to as many free platforms as possible such as SoundCloud, Spotify, and YouTube. Don't just apply for entry level production jobs and wait for career to happen. This will help you get noticed by studios and independent creatives looking for someone with your skill set as well as help you build your portfolio for more serious clientele.
I hope the advice I gave was helpful and thorough. There is also many more tips and tricks out there for those seeking a music career, and I hope you use every resource that is available to you.
Best of luck in your future endeavors.
I hope the advice I gave was helpful and thorough. There is also many more tips and tricks out there for those seeking a music career, and I hope you use every resource that is available to you.
Best of luck in your future endeavors.
Updated
Michelle’s Answer
Hello, Liam !
I am glad that you've asked this great question ! I see by your tags that you are interested in being a Musician specifically, so you have already chosen one of the many facets of the music industry and that is a great start !
The basic thing you should focus on right now is experience. It would benefit you to perform at any venues that are in your locale and you can start with whichever school you are currently attending. You will need to practice every day, know a wide range of genres and be around people that are involved in the music field so you can keep updated on the industry and have opportunities to collaborate. You can explore The Network for New Music in your city, they are an orchestra music organization. Your path will greatly depend on what type of music you play or how versatile you are when you are ready for auditions. You will increase your opportunities if you can play a wide variety of types of music. My advice is to not rely on one genre.
Seek out the activities and classes for music at your school. You will need to practice every day and think about a specific path - do you want to go to college and obtain a degree in music, or do you want to do it without college and utilize the resources online and in your community ? You can be thinking about this now and after you have enough experience and connections, you will naturally know when you are ready to go on auditions and what you will need. I always advise taking the academic route to earn a Bachelors Degree because it is in college that you will meet contacts and can be around music all day. You will gain opportunities as a college student to perform and work on projects, too. If you take a non-academic route, you will have to obtain these things on your own and also be around supportive people that will help and be positive for you. Being a Music Major at a college of your choice has it's perks and can be a great help.
You can also become familiar with the Philadelphia Music Video Showcase for which I have left a link for you below. Create videos of your music, with and without a singer, and create a channel for the videos on You Tube. Do this when you feel you are ready. Also, you might want to have someone video any public performances that you do and upload those videos to your channel, too. You can even seek out local student filmmakers to see if there are any opportunities to do musical scores for student films. So, for right now, you will need to learn your music community and get lots of experience, education and versatility under your belt.
I would also advise to start subscribing to Music Industry Magazines. I have left a link to a list of them below. This will keep you informed about the business and perhaps be inspiring as you move along your path.
Just remember, as you build your skills you will eventually know exactly what to do to become a paid musician. It is a special process that will show you the doors to open and you will know how to navigate and direct your career. Give it time. Nothing about being a musician is predictable or set in stone and everyone's journey and career goes differently. It is not so much as what you "need", it is more like making beneficial decisions that will prepare you for what you want.
I hope that this is helpful and I wish you all the best. Never give up and don't let anything or anyone stand in the way of your pursuits ! Just go for it !
NETWORK FOR NEW MUSIC IN YOUR CITY https://www.networkfornewmusic.org/
MUSIC VIDEO SHOWCASE https://www.musicvideoshowcase.tv/
10 MAGAZINES FOR THE MUSIC INDUSTRY https://www.ispytunes.com/post/best-music-magazines
I am glad that you've asked this great question ! I see by your tags that you are interested in being a Musician specifically, so you have already chosen one of the many facets of the music industry and that is a great start !
The basic thing you should focus on right now is experience. It would benefit you to perform at any venues that are in your locale and you can start with whichever school you are currently attending. You will need to practice every day, know a wide range of genres and be around people that are involved in the music field so you can keep updated on the industry and have opportunities to collaborate. You can explore The Network for New Music in your city, they are an orchestra music organization. Your path will greatly depend on what type of music you play or how versatile you are when you are ready for auditions. You will increase your opportunities if you can play a wide variety of types of music. My advice is to not rely on one genre.
Seek out the activities and classes for music at your school. You will need to practice every day and think about a specific path - do you want to go to college and obtain a degree in music, or do you want to do it without college and utilize the resources online and in your community ? You can be thinking about this now and after you have enough experience and connections, you will naturally know when you are ready to go on auditions and what you will need. I always advise taking the academic route to earn a Bachelors Degree because it is in college that you will meet contacts and can be around music all day. You will gain opportunities as a college student to perform and work on projects, too. If you take a non-academic route, you will have to obtain these things on your own and also be around supportive people that will help and be positive for you. Being a Music Major at a college of your choice has it's perks and can be a great help.
You can also become familiar with the Philadelphia Music Video Showcase for which I have left a link for you below. Create videos of your music, with and without a singer, and create a channel for the videos on You Tube. Do this when you feel you are ready. Also, you might want to have someone video any public performances that you do and upload those videos to your channel, too. You can even seek out local student filmmakers to see if there are any opportunities to do musical scores for student films. So, for right now, you will need to learn your music community and get lots of experience, education and versatility under your belt.
I would also advise to start subscribing to Music Industry Magazines. I have left a link to a list of them below. This will keep you informed about the business and perhaps be inspiring as you move along your path.
Just remember, as you build your skills you will eventually know exactly what to do to become a paid musician. It is a special process that will show you the doors to open and you will know how to navigate and direct your career. Give it time. Nothing about being a musician is predictable or set in stone and everyone's journey and career goes differently. It is not so much as what you "need", it is more like making beneficial decisions that will prepare you for what you want.
I hope that this is helpful and I wish you all the best. Never give up and don't let anything or anyone stand in the way of your pursuits ! Just go for it !
Michelle recommends the following next steps:
Updated
Rick’s Answer
Be authentic. Identify your goals musically? Where do you see yourself in 5 years? 10 years? Take as many music classes, or a degree, as you can. Perform wherever you can in your locale. This is all step one. Always have a backup plan to keep money coming in while you pursue your career.