Career questions tagged music-performance


How do you stand out as a musician in such a competitive field?
I play piano and want to pursue a career in church ministry.

What is the stress load of being a multi-instrumentalist in college as a music and psychology major?
What is the stress load of playing multiple instruments in college. I'm graduating this year playing flute and trumpet and will be continuing both in college.

How do I know that I'm going into the right career path?
I'm a high school senior going into music. I'm majoring in piano, minoring in violin, getting a master's in conducting, and a DMA to become a music professor. In such an uncertain and ever-changing field, how can I be sure that this is the right thing?

I'm an aspiring singer/songwriter. I started a YouTube channel for my music and have been posting since 2018 with very little engagement. Should I stop hoping for something to happen with it? It's very hard not to get discouraged.
I'm an aspiring singer/songwriter.

Would it be necessary to double major, or are there other options?
My current career plan is this: my primary income comes from private piano/voice lessons. Then I also want to be a freelance opera singer, and freelance repetiteur, while also doing solo recitals. I probably want to do two operas a year at most (and I most likely wouldn't do two every year), and then when I don't have an opera gig, try to get a gig as a repetiteur. Obviously, those gigs are by auditions, opera especially, so if I didn't have either or didn't choose to have either at that time, then I would like to tour as a soloist for piano/voice or both. In any given year, one could have more emphasis than the other (one year i have one opera and one repetituer, the next I have one repetiteur and tour recitals). I hope that makes sense. Now, with all of that information, is it necessary to double major or dual emphasis in piano performance and voice performance? I would like to have equal emphasis in both, since I basically just want to do both almost equally. Is there another option? Could I cater my college schedule to just include emphasis in both? How could I do that? Can I have dual emphasis? Please explain! Thank you!

How do I pay off student loans as a music major, emphasis on organ?
At the college I'm thinking of attending, I was awarded a music scholarship that requires me to major in music. I auditioned as a pianist and heard that organists make more than pianists. Any recommendations? I am also considering a different college where I would likely major in chemistry.

What is some advice music majors would provide?
As a high school sophomore, I am working on a career project and have decided to become a band teacher. What advice would teachers who have had their job for a while give to someone just starting with their career? What advice would music students/teachers give to younger people who want to start in this area?

How do I know that I'm making the right choice for my future?
I am a freshman music performance major, and though I can never imagine myself doing anything else, I often wonder whether or not I am making the right career choice for my future.

As a music major, where should I go to college?
I plan to major in music. For my bachelor's degree, is it smarter to go to an in-state school to try to save some money, or is it worth it to try to get into the best conservatory I can? For context, if I go to an in-state school I would be considering the University of Kansas, Kansas State University, and Wichita State University.

How do I get involved with a marching band or a drum corps when my high school doesn’t have one?
I am a trumpet player going into high school next fall. I have been playing for three years and I love it. I’ve heard and looked forward to marching and preforming, and I’ve seen other high schools march before and that excites me. However, my high school doesn’t have one and our entire band has maybe 20 people. How do I get involved and learn to march?

How many auditions did it take you to get your first actual professional music job/gig ?
I’m currently an undergrad vocal performance major and I know the industry can be brutal. How difficult is it exactly and how much rejection should I expect to receive?

Opera Singer?
How exactly does being a freelance opera singer work? How do you get jobs? How many hours a day does an opera singer work during a performance season? Is being an opera singer possible as somewhat of a part-time or a "every once in a while" kind of job? I am also thinking about repetiteur work, private teaching, and solo performing, etc. if that helps answer how well these could work together...

How do others in the musical performance industry get started on a career in their field ( #Spring25 ) ?
I'm pursuing a BM in Musical Performance at TCU as a freshman, specializing in the clarinet.

Is it possible to be a successful musician these days without using social media ?
Is it possible to be a successful musician these days without using social media?

Should I consider a career as a college/university/conservatory professor?
After some consideration, I have wondered if perhaps a music professor would suit me? What does being a music professor include (lifestyle, work-life). Could I teach multiple instruments (specifically piano and voice)? What degree requirements would I need to have? How does one become a professor, and specifically how do I become a professor of multiple instruments? Is performance a part of the job? How often would I perform each instrument (voice and piano)? Thank you!

How do I ensure a prosperous future of financial security for myself while maintaining my studies as a jazz artist at this age?
As a jazz musician in my first year of college, I have dedicated my entire life to studying music and performance. I have been blessed to participate in many prestigious national youth bands that have even gotten to tour the world. Even though this is great and has been extremely rewarding, I know that I need to learn how to actually make money as a musician in this world. I have many options regarding the path I can choose, but am leaning towards becoming a performer who writes her own music, tours the world, and conducts educational events along the way.

What does it takes to become a musician?
I'm interest on pursuing a music bachelor's degree specifically on vocal performance, but I want to know if the degree is necessary to become a musician or how else could I get started on the music-industry as a solo performer.

What type of headphones would you recomend for me to become a singer ?
i read 1 of the answers and they said to get headphones i don't have the headphones i need to become a band/singer

how do i get a music DAW?
i want to start my own band and i don't have a daw or a studio

Orchestral Pianist?
What are the ins and outs of being an orchestral pianist. I know most are part time or are touring/a soloist for a season or something, but I am very interested in learning more. Be as exhaustive as you can.

Could I take private vocal lessons as a piano performance major?
I want to major in piano performance, but I would also really like to get some lessons in voice and choral conducting. Is it possible to take vocal lessons from a voice professor as a piano performance major?

How can I balance learning an instrument while also focusing on vocal training for K-pop auditions?
What are some ways to make my lyrics sound more unique without losing the emotional connection? What are some ways to make my lyrics sound more unique without losing the emotional connection?

How do I begin my music career?
My name is Lancey , a 20 year old Ugandan that loves music especially gospel music. I want to begin a music company and also start singing that's why I want to know how one begins a music carrer

Can i become a doctor of eye and at the same time be a musician ?
I've always want to sing but then I don't want to make it my main or can I??

How to become a rapper?
Tell us everything we need do know to become a rapper! Note: Given the growing interest in the music field, we're inviting our experienced professionals to share their knowledge.

What's something you like about having a career in the music industry?
While I'm working on starting a music career, I want to figure out some things people like about their job in the music industry.

What's something you wish you knew before starting a career in the music industry?
I know there are some jobs where you find out something that would've helped a lot before starting a career, and I want to know everything I can before I start my career. So, if there's anything you wish you knew before starting your career, what was it for you?

Should I begin writing and publishing music (for school concert and marching like bands) to prepare my college resume?
I would like to become a band director and a composer one day for school bands and I was wondering if having published work would help me gain against my “opponents” when applying for college.

What's the first step someone would need to take to start a singing career?
I've wanted to be a singer for a long time, but now that I'm getting closer to graduating, I'm not sure what to do first.

Is there a major I could pursue that would allow me to teach German, Math, and Music?
I love music, math, and German. I would also like to be some form of a teacher as a career, and I was wondering if there was any major I could pursue that would allow me to teach interchangeably between these three subjects.