Learn an Instrument, Prepare for a Career

Invisible Career-Path Available Only to Musicians

For a skilled musician, there is an additional career path that is invisible to the non-musician. This is an additional benefit beyond the pleasure of playing music, the attention it brings, and the better academic performance than students who do not learn to play a musical instrument.[1] It is a broad range of extra career opportunities that non-musicians never even consider.

But if you're a musician, you can apply. Let's take a look at these careers that are available only to musicians

Education: Are you a musician who has also studied education? If so, there are numerous music education opportunities that may interest you:

Music educator at a college, conservatory, university
Music teacher at secondary or elementary school
Private music instructor
Music supervisor
Choir director

Therapy: Are you a musician who has also studied psychiatry? You can practice the trade of music therapy in a wide array of settings. Some of the sources of employment for music therapists are the following:

Schools
Universities
Nursing Homes
Mental health clinics
Correctional Facilities
Private practice

Business: Ever wonder what it takes to work in business management? Besides business smarts, an ability to talk the language of music will take you places the non-musican cannot go:

Artist Manager or Agent
Talent Agent
Concert Promoter
Independent Radio Promoter
Music Business Entrepreneur
Music Business Consultant
Record Company Executive
Music Publisher
Tour Coordinator

Performance: Actors are more highly valued if they have a musical education. Today, with so few actors multi-skilled as they were in the era of the large studios, this can be a real advantage. Below are some of the jobs for which an actor who is also a musician may "incidentally" be qualified.

Performing artist
Soloist, instrumental or vocal
Studio musician
Background vocalist
Theatre musician
Accompanist
Church musician
Product demonstrator for instrument manufacturer

Movies / Video Games: If you study movies or video game production, a background as a musician will help you prepare for music-related jobs such as the following:

Conductor
Music Composer
Music Editor
Music Supervisor (to scout for music)
Arranger (to determine the mix of song elements per the conductor or producer's specifications)
Sound designer (of effects to accompany music score)
Jingle writer / composer

From education to video games, there are careers available for those who happen to have a background in music which the rest of us never see. Each of these fields requires time and study for proficiency, but they represent a career path that is nonexistent for non-musicians

Sure, you already knew that playing music could improve your quality of life. Now you know it can improve the quality of your career

[1] Morrison, Steven J. "Music Students and Academic Growth." Music Educators Journal, Vol. 81, No. 2 (September 1994).

With the assistance of
Phillip E. Honstein
Writing & Content Development

Duane Shinn is the author of over 500 music courses for adults including "Pro Secrets: Piano Playing Secrets Of The Pros”. http://www.piano-playing-by-ear.com He is also the author of the popular free 101-week online e-mail newsletter titled “Amazing Secrets Of Exciting Piano Chords & Sizzling Chord Progressions” at www.playpiano.com with over 61,400 current subscribers

Back to Piano Lessons at PlayPiano.com

Play piano lessons for adults on piano chords

Learn piano lessons at PlayPiano.com

Keyboard Workshop was established in 1965 to help piano players of all levels enhance their piano playing ability though the use of chords, styles, rhythms, runs, fills and other strategies. So we've been around the block a couple times, and we know what works! We have taught hundreds of thousands of piano lessons on DVD's, CD's, videos, cassettes, music books, sheet music, chord charts, as well as free piano sheet music and free piano lessons online and instant chord finder from our sister-sites.

Duane is a graduate of Southern Oregon University in Ashland, Oregon with a BS & Masters Degree in Humanities (Music & English literature - a double major) and he is known as "the pianoman" -- the author of over 500 books, CD's and DVD's having to do with all aspects of piano playing. But degrees and education means nothing without the ability to teach so that the student can UNDERSTAND and then APPLY what he or she understands. Take one course and you'll immediately see for yourself why Duane's DVD and CD courses are "one of a kind" -- they actually get you UNDERSTANDING music and then show you -- clearly and plainly -- how to APPLY what you learn to your piano!

Duane has more fun teaching piano than should be legal, and that love of piano playing and music in general is contagious.

No formalities here -- lots of laughs and exciting insights into how to make the sounds you love -- whether that means pop piano or praise & gospel piano or blues piano or ragtime piano or new age piano or -- you name it.

He has worked with many doctors and professional people who otherwise wouldn't be able to attend a scheduled lesson in a studio, because they can do it on their own time. He also works with church pianists and music directors to help them hone their skills, as well as beginners that don't know Middle C from Tweedle Dee, and everyone in-between.

In case you just discovered this page accidentally and like what you see, sign up for our free newsletter below.