What is one good career for a music major?
To help you with your music career, we asked musicians and other industry professionals this question for their ideas on the best positions. From a sound engineer to software development, there are several ideas that may help set you up with a music-oriented career path.
Here are nine careers for music majors:
- Sound Engineer
- Music Director
- Music Therapist
- Music Producer
- Instrument Repair Technician
- Music Educator
- Music-focused Journalist
- Sound Quality Engineer
- Software Developer
Music Director
Before guiding a group of musicians in a performance environment, a music director, usually, a conductor, oversees a band or orchestra’s audition and rehearsal procedure. They must be well-versed in musical scores and are tasked with selecting or composing arrangements for their musicians. A director may be expected to perform administrative duties such as establishing rehearsal schedules and acting as the point of contact between various parties. They can work in universities, concert halls, recording studios, and theater companies.
Axel Hernborg, Tripplo.com
Music Therapist
Although it is a somewhat new career, music therapy is the perfect career path for an individual with a major in music.
Music therapists utilize counseling and music skills to help treat depression, ADHD, dementia, and substance abuse.
Duties include composing music as well as playing instruments and offering therapeutic recordings for clients. The more clients you have, the more diverse your work will become as a music therapist.
Jorge Vivar, Mode
Music Production
A music producer, or record producer, manages studio sessions for bands, singers, and other musicians. They are responsible for guiding the creative visions of a track and providing clear directions to artists and audio engineers to follow for each project. Many music producers are also skilled musicians in their own right, with extensive knowledge on how to blend melodies together to create a cohesive track. Music production is a fine career option for music majors, as they are heavily involved in the creation and distribution of music.
Datha Santomieri, Steadily
Instrument Repair Technician
This is one of the lesser-known great careers for music majors, but there is always a demand for professional instrument repair technicians. The job in question involves repairing and restoring musical instruments that are broken, neglected, or have fallen into disrepair for some other reason.
What’s more, technicians also educate and advise customers about caring for and maintaining their instruments.
Instrument repair technician can be a dream career for music majors, many of whom are skilled players – extremely sensitive to each tone, intimately familiar with the instruments they repair, and with extensive knowledge of precisely how the sound is produced. This career may be an example of turning passion into profession.
Agata Szczepanek, MyPerfectResume
Music Educator
It is no stretch to suggest that music teachers and educators have the most important jobs in the music world. Becoming a music instructor can be a very rewarding and fun career. Music teachers are able to give back to their community by sharing their knowledge and teaching others how to express themselves through music.
Students just beginning their musical journey require a very solid foundation from instructors that will show students the basics in a way that excites them. It is very easy for new students, especially younger students, to feel discouraged and/or bored when first beginning to learn an instrument. A good instructor will not only teach their students in an effective way, but they will also ignite a passion and love for music.
David Ring, MCT – Trading
Sound Engineer
In these times, sound engineers will find job openings wherever they turn. Such a career choice opens up a lot of doors, allowing them to work in every music studio or record company. The ability to set up professional equipment, record instruments separately, or edit music will no doubt prove quite useful as you’re looking for work. Sound engineers can also help in creating soundtracks and music effects in movies or video games, a niche that has grown stronger and stronger in recent years.
Michal Laszuk, PhotoAiD
Music-focused Journalist
If you look in the right places, there are many opportunities out there for writers who are music experts. Aside from traditional music journalism, there are hundreds of music blogs and magazines out there who will pay freelancers, and even employ full-time writers to cover music.
Aside from music magazines and blogs, there are loads of music-related businesses that need content writers.
For example, many musical instrument stores, music venues, and ticketing companies publish their own content in both print and online. If you want to marry a passion for music and writing, then these sorts of opportunities could be perfect for you.
Michael Sandford, Pink Wafer
Sound Quality Engineer
There are many tech companies out there that are struggling to make the best headphones, headsets, and speakers. As a sound quality engineer, you get to ensure a good sound balance on their tech. You are also required to map out the sound effects on these devices and ensure their longevity and safety to users. It provides the best quality of tech for these devices. The good thing is that this job is top-paying since not many people have ventured into it.
Gisera Matanda, WeLoans
Software Developer
This is pretty anecdotal, but I am never surprised when I meet classical musicians in the tech world. As a lapsed classical musician myself, I see a number of parallels between the practice of music and the craft of software development. Intense concentration, application of familiar patterns, structured documentation… it would be easy to confuse whether I am talking about classical music or tech. And that’s the point, classical music is one of the best training grounds for characteristics that tend to make up a high performer in the technical realm.
Trevor Ewen, Southport Technology Group
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