Take a Different Note: 7 Unconventional Careers in Music on World Music Day

World Music Day is an annual celebration of music all over the world on June 21.Music is a booming industry and there are many career options other than the usual singing like journalism and therapy

By George

Symbols, alphabets, and words can be put together to form a sentence, and it may make sense. But as the moment goes away, those words become part of the past. Music gives meaning to those words and puts emotions and immortalizes those words. Music has been the soul-stirring element in our lives since humanity started social gatherings and realized that for every situation there is a perfect song. Whether it is the hot coffee with monsoon rain, the most awaited wedding, sailing in the sea, meeting up in a park, or just walking down the lane. Music provides comfort and a sense of liveliness.

 

Today the world celebrates 'Fete de la Musique' or Make Music Day, widely known as World Music day. World Music Day in France is known for promoting amateur musicians. They perform with professional musicians for free of charge.

 World Music Day:7 Unconventional Careers in Music

History of World Music Day

The history of how it came into existence goes back to 1976, when Joel Cohen, an American artist, proposed a collective day for the celebration of music on the Summer Solstice, which is the longest day in a year. A few years later, on June 21, 1982, the culture minister of France, Jack Lang along with the newly appointed Director of Dance and Music, Maurice Fleuret incorporated the 'Fete de la Musique', the celebration of music till the end of the night.

The popularity of the festival reached heights with Brazil, Japan, India, Greece and other 120 other countries following France to accept June 21 as the World Music Day.

Music is another form of freedom. In the most literal terms, the act of 'listening to music' can be termed as the feeling of running into a green field after being locked in a dark room for many days. Artists are known to let out their inner voices and thoughts, their struggles and conflicts, into the various frequencies of sound, providing a sense of relief to themselves and the listeners.

Top 10 music schools in the worldTop 10 music schools in the world

But the music world doesn't just stop at singers and instrument players. Lovers of music can find many opportunities to be around the melting-pot of the music industry and continue to grow their interest. These are the career opportunities that one can take up in the field of music.

Music Journalist

What's the job?

A Music journalist reports about everything in the music industry. They report on the new releases, interview musicians and producers, and find out about all the happenings in the music world.

What are the skills required?

A nose for news that is related to music and exceptional writing skills, which are required by high profile magazines and music newsletters.

What should you study?

One needs to have a Bachelors in Journalism, and a really impressive amount of knowledge in music and the industry to get into the field.

Where will you be working?

Magazines and newsletters are always on a look out for journalists who know music like the back of their hand.

Music Publicist

What's the job?

A Music Publicist takes care of the artists, bands, and studio in the eyes of the public. They set up the interviews, place album reviews, issue press releases, create media contacts and provide stories to media.

What are the skills required?

Extreme awareness and networking with important individuals and groups, in order to keep the clients profile up on the public spot. Management of crisis and quick thinking will add on to the profile.

What should you study?

An undergraduate course in Public Relations, Business Management or Communications can be helpful for someone who aspires to manage the public's view of the artist and their art.

Where will you be working?

A Music Publicist can work for an artist, helping them set their career or they can find themselves in an organization that helps in promotion and relations of an artist or a band.

Business Touring

What's the job?

Business touring involves taking care of the bands or the artists who are on tour by managing the venues, the hotels that the artists are staying at, and managing the budget that keeps circulating in and out.

What are the skills required?

Along with knowledge of places and people which will help out the artists to make their tour successful, managing and organizing skills are of great importance.

What should you study?

An undergraduate degree in management, financing, and budgeting will be helpful, even though a qualification as such isn't required.

Where will you be working?

Tour managers will be working for bands and artists. To start off, one can begin with managing for a friend or a band with whom they have close ties and learn the craft. Word of mouth and networking are the best ways to get clients in business touring.

Music Therapist

What's the job?

Music Therapists focus on therapy in developing the social, physical, mental, emotional and cognitive for people who have cognitive disabilities, Alzheimer, autism, substance abuse problems and many other issues.

What are the skills required?

A music therapist will be required to have utmost patience and be active with their patients. They need to understand the psychological, emotional and mental state and be empathetic.

What should you study?

An aspiring music therapist must have a strong base in health care and medical studies and are therefore required to take up science subjects like biology and chemistry. They must be certified by an organization or institution for taking up therapy as their profession

Where will you be working?

Rehabilitation centers, mental health hospitals are places where one can start their career. An internship will be the best way to kick start. Slowly with experience one can start their own center or clinic.

Music Conductor

What's the job?

A Music conductor is a person who leads an orchestra, a musical ensemble or an opera through the performance. They use visible gestures to control the tempo and various other aspects of the collective music.

What are the skills required?

One needs to be very keen on timing, and a lot of patience is required for continuous practice and perfection. Experience in music of every kind and understanding is a requisite.

What should you study?

A Bachelors in the field of music can be very useful and provide the required skills and add on to the personality and skills of the person.

Where will you be working?

Conductors can find opportunities in various areas like youth orchestra, conductor of pop groups and as guest conductors.

A&R Coordinator

What's the job?

A&R Coordinators are professionals who scout and discover talent. 'A' refers to Artists, and 'R' refers to Repertoire in the term. They find out artists and producers and help in making collaborations.

What are the skills required?

The ability to find out artists and their potential. Recognizing art takes a lot of understanding of it. So knowledge in terms of music is very much required.

What should you study?

A degree in Communications and business can help one out to get into the field.

Where will you be working?

They can work for a specific company or they can work as an agency themselves which helps out aspiring artists and organizations that look out for artists. An aspirant of the field will start as a scout and can go up to become an A&R Manager and the highest position is that of A&R Director.

Music is as vast the oceans, and the chances in there are much like the stars in the sky. With passion one can reach wherever they dream to and if music is your passion, you shouldn't be waiting.

Happy World Music Day!

Online Course On Introduction To The Music BusinessOnline Course On Introduction To The Music Business

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