Careers

Related Skills

• Develop competencies in business management, computers, marketing, or other areas to broaden range of employment possibilities.
• Develop a variety of skills. Become "multi talented."
• Confidence, personality, a positive attitude, and a love of music are important to success.
• Need basic tools of self-promotion.
• Performers often travel frequently and must be flexible regarding their work schedules.
• Gain experience working for a music publisher or other businesses in the entertainment industry.
• Ability to read musical notes accurately
• Ability to make critical observations
• Ability to concentrate and practice musical instruments for long periods
• Good listener
• Good finger responses
• Works well under pressure
• Team player and ability to work alone
• Creativity

Being Successful in the Field

• Finding positions in the music industry requires a combination of talent, training, connections and some luck. Perseverance is required!
• Some jobs may require you to join unions or guilds.

Related Fields

Education

• Teaching
• Private Lessons

Employers

• Day care centers
• Elementary and secondary schools
• Private schools
• Recreation centers
• Colleges and universities
• Conservatories
• Studios
• Self-employed

Strategies

• Acquire teaching certificate for public school teaching.
• Gain experience working with children through volunteer or part-time work experiences.
• Graduate degree required to teach in higher education.
• Specialize in an area such as music, music theory, composition, music history, etc.
• Performance skill on one instrument or voice required.
• Develop business relationships with schools and/or music stores to increase client base.

Performance

• Instrumental
• Vocal

Employers

• Armed Forces bands and orchestras
• Symphony orchestras
• Small ensembles
• Rock or jazz groups
• Dance bands
• Concert soloist
• Clubs and restaurants
• Church choirs
• Community choral groups
• Opera chorus or soloist
• Musical theaters
• Ballet productions
• Recording industry
• Radio, television, and motion picture industries

Strategies

• Develop musical talent and skill.
• Obtain formal training to acquire necessary skills, knowledge, and ability to interpret music.
• Ambition and showmanship are important.
• Join campus bands and choruses, church choirs, and other performing acts.
• Seek competitions, apprenticeship programs, and workshops to gain experience and recognition.
• Opportunities are very limited.
• Most performers have othercareers.
• Auditions are generally required.

Composing/Arranging

• Composing
• Arranging

Employers

• Self-employed
• Record companies
• Publishers
• Muzak
• Motion picture and television industries
• Production companies

Strategies

• Knowledge of composition, harmony, arranging, and theory are important.
• Learnhow to use electronic instruments and synthesizers.
• Develop computer and desktop publishing expertise.
• Skill on one or more instruments and voice are necessary.
• Seek grants and awards through foundations.
• Very few musicians earn living through composing.

Conducting

Employers

• Choirs
• Choral groups
• Symphonies
• Opera
• Armed Forces bands and orchestras

Strategies

• Develop superior musicianship and leadership.
• Acquire extensive experience in performing groups.
• Opportunities extremely limited.
• Gain acceptance into a conductor-training program or related apprenticeship.

Music Therapy

Employers

• Hospitals: general and psychiatric
• Special education facilities
• Mental health centers
• Nursing homes
• Correctional facilities
• Private practice
• Outpatient clinics

Strategies

• Take courses in psychology, social work, or education.
• Earn a master's degreein music therapy and seek certification.
• Volunteer in a rehabilitation setting.
• Must demonstrate a genuine interest in helping people.

Music Libraries

Employers

• Colleges and universities
• Conservatories
• Public libraries
• Radio and television stations

Strategies

• Develop computer and research skills.
• Gain thorough knowledge of music and musicology.
• Earn master's degree in library/information science.

Recording Industry

• Publishing and Editing
• Producing
• Recording
• Engineering
• Manufacturing
• Talent Acquisition
• Promotion/Media Relations
• Publicity
• Administration
• Marketing and Sales
• Product Management

Employers

Production recording studios (most located in New York City, Los Angeles, and Nashville)

Strategies

• Complete an internship at a record company.
• Take business courses to work in management or administration.
• Journalism, public relations, and communication classes helpful for work in areas of promotion.
• Gain sales experience for marketing.
• Must interact well with people and develop persuasion tools.
• Knowledge of electronics, audio engineering, and recording knowledge required for production.
• Work or volunteer at a campus or local radio station.
• Join organizations involved with bringing events and entertainment to campus.
• Work at a retail record store to learn about the industry.

Communications

• Music and Program Direction
• On Air Performance
• Promotion
• Voice Overs
• Copyright/Clearance Administration
• Music License Administration
• Music Editing, Production, and Composing
• Sound Mixing
• Post Production
• Research

Employers

• Radio and television stations
• Virtual reality sound environments e.g. Internet sites, software creators

Strategies

• Take classes in communications, broadcasting, or journalism. Work at on-campusradio station.
• Complete an internship at a television or radio station.
• Develop computer-related skills such as software development and programming.

Miscellaneous

• Sales
• Music Journalism
• Law

Employers

• Music shops
• Record stores
• Instrument manufacturers
• Music-related publications
• Magazines and newspapers
• Entertainment law firms

Strategies

• Music shops
• Record stores
• Instrument manufacturers
• Music-related publications
• Magazines and newspapers
• Entertainment law firms

Other Professions

• Accompanist
• Architectural Acoustic Consultant
• Artist & Repertoire (A&R) Person
• Arts Administrator
• Arts Administrator/Manager
• Cantor/Soloist/Choir Member
• Choral Director
• Church Organist
• Church/Synagogue Musician
• Community Development Specialist
• Composer/Arranger
• Conductor
• Copywriter/Clearance Administrator
• Disc Jockey
• Editor
• Film Music Editor
• Instrumentalist
• Journalist
• Music Copyist
• Music Critic
• Music Director
• Music Librarian
• Music Minister
• Music Promoter
• Music Publishing Specialist
• Music Software Programmer
• Music Store Manager/Owner
• Music Teacher
• Music Therapist
• Musical Booking Agent
• Musical Instrument Repairer
• Musician
• Orchestra Librarian
• Organist
• Piano Tuner
• Professor
• Publicist
• Recording Technician
• Royalties Broadcast Monitor
• Sales Representative
• Singer/Voice Teacher
• Technical Writer

Career Advising

Name	Office	Email	Phone
Mark Fauble	110 Student Services Building	mbfaubl@ilstu.edu	(309) 438-5825

Internship Coordinator

Name	Office	Email	Phone	Note
Andrea Crimmins	Centennial West 312	amcrimm@ilstu.edu	(309) 438-8198	Music Therapy Internships
Cindy Ropp	Centennial West 312	crropp@ilstu.edu	(309) 438-8803	Clinical Internship in Music Therapy