Putting a music degree to work

By Nick Kiekenapp

Whether you are studying music in an academic setting, pursuing a career in the music industry, or educating the next Mozart, you have likely been asked questions like:

I didn’t know you could study music in college. What are you going to do with your degree in music?

Or, if you have already graduated with a music degree, you often hear:

So what’s you real job?

These questions often do not have simple answers, as many professional musicians earn their income via several sources. Post-secondary degrees in Music Performance, Music Education, Music Theory, Music Business, Liturgical Music and Recording Technology are some popular pathways to prepare for a career in music. The technical abilities musicians develop through these different areas of study can lead down a variety of career paths.

What careers do music degrees lead to?

Graduates with music degrees often apply their musical abilities and creative skills in fields such as:

• Touring Musician
• Freelance Musician
• Composer
• Arranger
• Music Director
• Music Teacher (private lessons)
• Music Teacher (K-12)
• Church Musician
• Recording Technician
• Recording Artist
• Booking Agent
• Live Sound Engineer
• Sound and Video Editor
• Producer
• Cruise Ship Entertainer
• Military Musician
• Instrument Repairer
• Music Therapist 

What transferable skills do music graduates have?

Many music graduates pursue careers outside of the music—either as a “day job” in tandem with a music career, or as a different pathway altogether. And while those careers may seem to have nothing to do with music, the fact is that musicians develop a range of transferable skills throughout their intense study of music.

With regard to employability outside of music careers (i.e. a “real job” or “day job”), music graduates have developed soft skills which are valuable in any workplace. Here are some of the soft skills developed through studying music:

• Participate as a team member
• Active listening
• Determined and Persistent
• Quick Learner
• Think Critically
• Meet Goals
• Follow Directions
• Attention to Detail
• On Time
• Improvise
• Synthesize Vast Amounts of Complex Information
• Communicate Well
• Self-Motivated
• Flexible
• Creative Problem Solving

What other skills should I develop for a successful career in music?

Professional musicians often develop strong entrepreneurial skills to maintain a successful career. Whether choosing a full-time music career or keeping a day job for more stability, there are many essential skills required for a successful music career. These skills include:

• Networking
• Social Media Presence
• Self-Promotion
• Grant Writing

Want to learn more? Explore other careers with CareerOneStop’s Occupation Profile.