 Do you find yourself toting around your iPod everywhere you go, jamming on the bus ride or during your walk to school? Are you super excited to go to music class? Do you find yourself staying up late to watch MTV when the network actually plays music videos? If you answered yes to any or all of the above questions, you might want to consider pursuing a career in music. Sure, not everyone can be an American Idol or a Nashville Star, but you don’t need to become a rockstar in order to have a successful music career.
How do I get started?
You’ll first have to figure out what you want to study: composing, performance (vocal or instrumental), music education, business etc. If you want to be a professional musician/singer, part of the application process involves auditioning. You’ll have to play your instrument or sing something for a selection committee. If you can’t make it to an audition—say, if you live on the other side of the country—the college may allow you to submit a video. You’ll also undergo an interview (they want to be thorough, after all).
If you would rather be a teacher or a producer, you’ll most likely have a double major or a music major with a concentration. For example, you could double major in music and business so that you could become a producer, putting together a musician’s albums. You could also major in music and minor in education in order to become a teacher. There is a world of possibilities!
What will I study?
What you are going to study depends on the major you choose. You can have a specialty, like instrumental performance in jazz or vocal performance in classical. If you love music, but you’re shy in front of a crowd, some colleges offer courses in production so you can work behind the scenes during a recording session, a concert or a musical.
Even if you choose performance as your major course of study, you’re not going to get away from the academic classes. You’ll have to learn the history of music and you’ll be taking tons of music theory courses. It’s one thing to have natural talent, but music instructors want to make sure you understand the technical side of music, as well.
Another thing to consider is whether the area of the music industry you would like to go into actually requires a college degree. Though we don't discourage you from getting a higher education, sometimes you can land a gig in the industry without all the debt and then take classes once you're able to afford them. You should carefully consider all of your options before jumping in either direction.
What do I do when I graduate?
Just because you have a degree, you might not get a gig as a professional musician. Even if you know how to read music like a pro, it really doesn’t mean much unless you have the vocal/instrumental talent. Inside tip: musicals and big-name bands usually use local musicians when they perform in a given city. It’s cheaper than hiring a huge entourage of musicians. If you decide to minor in secondary education, you could teach high school. If you want to go to grad school, you could teach college or work for social services conducting music therapy. If you want to be your own boss, you could even start your own business and give private lessons.
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