Music: Job options

Jobs directly related to your degree

• Musician - an instrumentalist, composer or singer who creates and performs music. This can be recorded in a studio or performed live, either as a soloist or in a group of musicians. It may involve working as a salaried member of a group or could be in the form of freelance work for several organisations. In practice, many musicians undertake other work, such as private tutoring, while they are establishing themselves professionally.
• Secondary school teacher - teaches music to students aged 11-18. Teachers develop schemes of work and plan lessons in line with the national curriculum. They encourage, monitor and record the progress of individual pupils and devise ideas and resources to help students learn.
• Private music teacher - provides instrumental, vocal and music training for children and adults of all ages. Teaching may take place in a school, college or a community-based setting.
• Music therapist - uses music creatively to help clients address social, emotional or physical problems. Works with children and adults of all ages and social backgrounds and in a variety of settings. Seeks to establish an interaction - a shared musical experience - in the pursuit of therapeutic goals. These goals are determined by the therapist's understanding of the client's pathology and personal needs.

Jobs where your degree would be useful

• Arts administrator - manages activities and services which support the arts sector, involving projects and initiatives provided by theatres, galleries, museums, arts festivals and centres, dance companies, community and disability arts organisations, local authorities and arts councils.
• Community arts worker - works alongside teachers, social workers, youth workers and volunteers using the arts to explore issues. The experience may culminate in a performance.
• Sound technician, broadcasting/film/video - identifies the sound requirements for a given task or situation and performs the appropriate actions to produce this sound. Works in a range of industries including broadcasting (radio or television), live performance (theatre, music, dance), advertising, music production and film.
• Editorial assistant - provides assistance in all stages of the publication of books, journals, magazines and a broad range of publicity materials. Supports senior editorial staff with the administration of the commissioning, planning and production. Applications can be targeted at publishing houses devoted to the production and sale of printed music.
• Academic librarian or public librarian - manages information and/or music resources. Increasingly, much of the work involves electronic resources and an increasing amount of time is spent on database and website development.
• Event organiser - responsible for all aspects of organising events from marketing and sponsorship to bookings, catering and equipment hire. A music performance may be the main event or a part of the event. The role is hands-on and usually involves leading or working in a team.
• Retail merchandiser - responsible for the day-to-day management of a department or store, which may be a specialist music store. The main focus of any retail manager's job is to improve the commercial performance of the store by increasing its turnover and maximising profitability.

Other options

When exploring career options in music, it is important to gain as much experience in different musical genres as possible. Listening to live music and performing allows you to assess musical ability, interact with audiences and be exposed to new musical ideas. Some university courses include work placements in areas such as music education and instrumental teaching, recording and studio work, composition and events management. It may also be helpful to pursue paid or voluntary experiences with music-related employers, for example venues that regularly host musical acts or schools.

If you are seeking a career in a different area, it is also important to gain experience. You can do this through university involvement, paid opportunities or volunteer work. These experiences can often be combined with your current study by working in the evenings or on weekends or by pursuing opportunities during the summer holidays.

Think about the type of career you are interested in, since narrowing down your preferences allows you to focus your approach to specific employers.

Although some of the jobs listed here might not be first jobs for many graduates, they are among the many realistic possibilities with your degree, provided you can demonstrate you have the attributes employers are looking for. Bear in mind that it’s not just your degree discipline that determines your options. Remember that many graduate vacancies don't specify particular degree disciplines, so don't restrict your thinking to the jobs listed here. Look at your degree... what next? for informed advice on career planning and graduate employment, or login/register with My Prospects to find out what jobs would suit you, a helpful starting point for self-analysis.

Explore types of jobs to find out more about the above options and related jobs.