Employment for Music Professionals Key Terms

Learn employment for music professional key terms to plan your music career

By Rachel Davy, Writer/Editor

There are many career options available for those who love music and want to pursue employment as a music professional. Talent is only part of what it takes to gain employment as a music professional. Education and experience play their parts in the success or failure for those who want careers as music professionals. There are key terms used to describe the employment options available to music professionals. It is vital to learn these terms to weigh options and decide what's best for you. Familiarize yourself with the key terms for employment as a music professional to help make selecting a career choice easier and stress-free.

Composer

A composer writes music for all facets of the music industry including commercials, movies, television and vocal and instrumental performers. To become a composer, students need to study all types of music including how to read it, analyze it as well as music theory and composing.
Try: Learn about what it takes to become a professional composer at Music, Composition and Theory.

Conductor

Conductors lead bands and orchestras in performances. A conductor must know all facets of music as well as how to lead a band or orchestra properly. Conductors must know and understand how to read and analyze music scores and arrangements.
Try: Read the information about the programs offered to help musicians become professional conductors at Conductor's Institute of South Carolina.

Music teacher

Music teachers are required to know about vocal and instrumental music, as well as music history and theory so they can teach students about all aspects of music. Music teachers can work at schools and universities or privately from their own homes. Since music teachers are required to know about so many aspects of music as well as to learn about education, becoming a music teacher takes many years of study.
Try: Find out about how to be a music teacher at All Education Schools.

Instrumentalist or instrumental musician

An instrumentalist or instrumental musician plays one or more musical instruments. Instrumentalists perform as solo artists or with bands and orchestras. To become an instrumentalist, students must learn how to play an instrument exceptionally well. It is important to learn about all types of music including classical and improvisational to become a successful instrumental musician.
Try: Read the overview of what it takes to have a career as a professional instrumental musician at Duke Ellington School of the Arts.

Music producer

Music producers create recordings of vocal and instrumental music. Those who plan on pursuing this career must know and understand music and vocal arrangements as well as music theory and sound engineering.
Try: Gather information about becoming a professional music producer at Mahalo.

Musicologist

A musicologist studies and understands the scientific and scholarly aspects of music. Musicologists study the culture and history of music as well as musical forms, styles and genres. Many musicologists work at universities or publish books and studies about music.
Try: Review the information about becoming a musicologist at ByMusic.org.