Careers in Music

Do you have a child who enjoys music and is expressing an interest in learning about careers in music? There are many options for careers in music. Some possible options for music careers are  

• Music Teacher
• Composer
• Performer/Singer
• Sound Engineer
• Instrument Maker and Repair Technician
• Music Therapist
• Music Director

If some of the careers in this article seem to be of interest to pursue, then take the time to find out and learn more about them. 

Music Teacher 

With music knowledge and education, a career you may like is that of being a music teacher. It can be rewarding to see students make progress in playing an instrument or learning to sing by a combination of your instruction and their practice between lessons. If you enjoy teaching skills to and encouraging a variety of ages in their knowledge and appreciation of music, then being a music teacher could be a great career fit to match your skills and interests. Music teachers have the option of teaching for a music studio, teaching in a school, teaching from a home studio if that space is available to them, or teaching lessons virtually.  

Composer 

The music that accompanies a movie, television show, or a commercial can add substantially to the viewing experience. There are programs and equipment you can use to compose music on a computer, or you can begin by composing music on paper. You can work for film and television commercial companies, or you can be a freelance composer, finding projects on your own as well as selling your music on online sites. Being a music composer does not necessarily require having post-secondary education, but some education can help in learning more about composing techniques and the music industry. 

Performer/Singer 

If you like playing an instrument or singing in front of an audience, then you might consider a career in music as a performer or singer at events such as

• Weddings 

• Birthdays
• Teas
• Reunions
• Graduations
• Bridal showers
• Christmas or other holiday parties
• Church functions or events
• Festivals, dances, rodeos

Keep in mind that as a music performer or singer at events, you may have to bring your own equipment such as the instrument(s) you will be playing, a music stand, amplifier, microphone, and anything else you need to play or sing at the event. As a performer or singer, you could also compose your own music and then record it and sell the music on online sites or CDs. Another thing to keep in mind is the pay may not be consistent or dependable in this line of work. 

Sound Engineer 

Instead of playing or composing music, another music career that may be of interest is sound engineer. A sound engineer looks after the technical side of a live performance or recording. For a live performance, a sound engineer’s responsibilities include keeping the right sound levels and ensuring that equipment, such as amplifiers and microphones, is properly maintained. For a recording, a sound engineer not only oversees the recording but afterwards looks after the editing, mixing, and mastering of music. For students who like music and have an interest in technology, being a sound engineer is a music career to consider.

Instrument Maker and Repair Technician 

If you like making and fixing things, then making and repairing instruments may be a good way to use your skills. Some specific instruments to make or repair include

• Piano
• Stringed instruments (such as violin, viola, and cello)
• Brass instruments (such as trumpet, French horn, and tuba)
• Wood instruments (such as flute, clarinet, and piccolo)

Another option is to be a piano tuner. A piano tuner checks and tunes the strings in a piano to the right pitch. Pianos should usually be tuned once a year. As a piano tuner, you may tune pianos at a music school, studio or conservatory, or at people’s homes. 

Music Therapist 

Music therapists find the best way to use music for helping clients to heal as music can be a great tool for dealing with past trauma. This career choice requires post-secondary education which could include courses in subjects such as music and psychology, as well as being part of a professional association, as the knowledge gained would be used in working with clients.

Music Director 

Music Directors are needed at churches, in public and private schools, music schools, choirs, conservatories, and homeschool groups. A music director looks after the music selections and programs for church services, schools, choirs, and homeschool groups. They are also in charge of organizing or leading music practices. A music director will usually have either one of or a combination of education consisting of Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM) at a minimum of Grade 8 level, ARCT, or a bachelor’s degree in music, depending on the employer’s job requirements. Some positions of Music Director would be funded while others would be volunteer.

Take the time to explore the options and possibilities of a career in music with your child. Being able to use and share one’s skills and enjoyment of music can help lead to a fulfilling music career.

This article has been written by homeschooling staff writers of The Canadian Schoolhouse (TCS). Enjoy more of our content from TCS contributors and staff writers by visiting our Front Door page that has content on our monthly theme and links to all our content sections.