What Does a Music Professional Do ?
Do you love music? If you’re an expert in air guitar, or are constantly singing the latest hits, then why not turn your love of music into an exciting career? The music industry is constantly evolving and changing with new technology. And with so many streams available, you’re sure to find the niche that’s right for you.
What does a Career in Music involve?
When it comes to music careers, there is as much variation as there is in music itself. Whether you are into contemporary music, musical theatre, composition and music production, or working in the entertainment industry as a DJ, you can have a very rewarding career.
However, being talented isn’t enough to make it in this industry. To be truly successful you need to understand how to write and arrange, use various technologies and know how to promote yourself. Fortunately, there is a great range of courses, including media courses that will teach you these skills.
As music is also part of the entertainment industry, a willingness to work after hours and over weekends is a pre-requisite. You will also need to be creative, love music (obviously), and work hard, as the industry is very competitive. If you think you’ve got what it takes to make it, then read on to discover how to get started.
What Qualifications will I Need?
There is almost an endless list of courses available to study if you’re interested in a music career. But here is a selection to whet your appetite and get you on the right track. A great way to get your start is a Certificate II in Music through TAFE. In this course, you will learn about live performance, music theory, sight reading, and how to record your own music. You will also gain useful insights into the music business.
A Certificate III in Music provides an opportunity to further hone your skills on your chosen instrument and build upon the skills learned in the Cert II course. In addition, you will learn the art of song writing and how to set up and operate a PA system. This is the perfect course to launch your music career. If you have your heart set on becoming a musician or music industry professional, TAFE music offers a Certificate IV in Music. This course is aimed at students who have previous industry experience or have proficiency in an instrument. You will learn advanced theory and recording techniques, as well as how to write business plans and marketing campaigns to sell your music. This course will help you hone your skills and develop excellence for your future as a musician.
A Diploma of Music provides you with a unique opportunity to focus on your intended career in the industry. It is up to you to choose the stream you want to focus on, but some of the available options include stagecraft skills, mixing and recording, performing either solo or as part of an ensemble, arranging, and composition for film.
If a career in the business side of the industry is what you’re after, then the Certificate IV in Music Business is one of a number of online music courses available. This course is aimed at those wishing to become managers, agents or to establish and own their own record company.
Another online music course is the Diploma of Music Industry, a great production course. In this course you will learn what you need to know to forge a career in contemporary music composition and production. Learning will focus on working within a digital audio workstation environment. Areas of study include signal flow, audio and MIDI editing, fundamentals in digital audio and of course, composition and production. If you enjoy a party atmosphere and like to help people enjoy themselves, then a career as a DJ may be right up your alley. The Academy offers a range of DJ courses, designed to give you the basic skills you need to have a successful DJ career. As well as learning how to operate the decks, you could also learn how to produce your own tracks.
For a higher degree music education, there are a few courses you can take including a Bachelor of Music, Bachelor of Fine Arts (Contemporary Music), and a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Music Theatre). All these degrees will provide you with a degree level qualification, and enable you to specialise in your area of choice. If you’re more interested in working in the business area of the entertainment industry, a Bachelor of Entertainment Management will equip you to have a career that combines business management with a creative stream.
Where will it take me?
The music industry is made up of a wide variety of people and jobs. But as music is something that all of us enjoy, finding your niche will mean a career that is both stimulating and enjoyable. Some of the typical roles, (and their annual salaries) in the industry include:
- Musician or Performer ($62,400)
- Composer/Arranger
- Music Producer ($83,200)
- Live Sound Engineer ($53,457)
- Production Assistant ($42,557)
- DJ ($48,000)
- Music Teacher ($68,077) * note you will require a qualification to teach to perform this job
- Stage Director ($76,00)
- Music Business Manager ($75,000)
- Event Manager ($65,000).
Of course, there are some people in the music industry who are extremely successful and would earn well in excess of the average salaries listed above, particularly where royalties are involved.
Employment for music professionals in Australia is expected to continue to grow moderately over the next couple of years.
So, if you love music and want to turn that love into an exciting career, begin your journey today by looking into the wide variety of courses available for you to study.