Music Department Opportunities

Career Opportunities available to Music Majors:

One of the realities of the music profession is that people tend to wear several hats at once, and the musicians that genuinely make a go of this field are ones that can integrate working in several related fields. Following is a list of many of the related fields and job descriptions in the profession. Making a career often requires having one's professional network encompass more than one of these fields.

Career Options for Composition Majors

Schools, Colleges, and Universities

• Composition/Theory Professor
• Classroom Professor
• Adjunct instructor in composition or applied music
• Contemporary music ensemble director
• Composer-in-residence
• Department chair
• Music Librarian
• Secondary school music teacher
• After-school music program instructor
• Workshop or master-class presenter
• Academic journal writer or editor (print or online)

Religious Institution, Missions

• Church music minister
• Worship leader
• Church-music songwriter/composer/arranger
• Music missions

Religious Institution, Missions

• Staff songwriter or arranger
• Music copyist/engraver
• Music publisher
• Studio engineer
• Studio producer
• Film composer or orchestrator
• Video game composer
• Music consultant
• Band member or leader
• Music reviewer/critic
• Music retailer
  

Musical Production Organizations: Orchestra, Opera, and Musical Theatre

• Musical director or producer
• Staff composer or arranger
• Creative design consultant, impresario, administrator

Dance

• Collaborative work with choreographer
• Musical director, producer or consultant
• Dance rehearsal accompanist (improvisation)

Freelance

• Composer on commission
• Songwriter
• Private teacher of theory, composition, songwriting, or arranging
• Workshop or master-class presenter
• Contemporary music ensemble leader
• Solo composer-performer
• Copyist or engraver

Media

• Music Reviewer/Critic
• Broadcaster, podcaster
• Journalist
• Writer
• Multimedia artist or collaborator
• Musical consultant or director for TV, film, video

Career Options for Strings Majors

Performance Opportunities

• Solo Performer
• Chamber Ensembles
• Orchestras

Teaching Opportunities

• Private String Instructor
• University String Instructor
• University Music Class Instructor
• Church ministry/community schools

Administration

• Music Office Administration
• Media Works
  

Career Opportunities for Music Education Majors

Freelance

• Solo/Collaborative Performer
• Composer
• Arranger
• Music Clinician

Music Industry

• Music agent
• Audio production/editing
• Copyist/transcriber
• Cruise ship entertainer
• Event production/management/planning
• Film scoring
• Music store owner
• Lyricist
• Music curator
• Music magazine editor
• Music publishing
• Piano tuner
  

Teaching Opportunities

• Band director
• Choral director
• Community Music School Director
• Conductor
• Music Educator/Lecturer
• Summer Camp Music Director
  

Career Opportunities for Vocal/Choral Majors

Freelance

• Solo/Collaborative Performer
• Choral Conductor
• Private Vocal Teacher/Coach

Music Industry

• Opera Theatre Performer
• Musical Theatre Performer
• Professional Chorus Member
• Popular Singer/Recording Artist
• Vocal Jazz Performer
• Cruise Ship Entertainer

Teaching Opportunities

• Choral Music Educator
• Choir Director
• Band Director
• University Vocal Professor
  

Career Options for Organ Majors

Missions/Church Ministry

• Church Organist
• Church Choir/Music Director
• Music Missions

Freelance

• Organ Builder/Technician
• Composer
• Private Organ/Piano Instructor
• Accompanist/Collaborator

Music Industry

• Organ Salesperson
• Music Publisher/Editor
• Music Magazine/Periodical Publisher/Editor

Teaching Opportunities

• University Organ Professor
• Adjunct Organ Instructor

Career Opportunities for Piano Performance Majors

Schools, Colleges, and Universities

• University Piano Instructor
• Staff Accompanist
• Music Class Instructor
• Artist-in-Residence
• Music Department Chair/Dean
• High School Music Teacher
• Elementary School Music Teacher
• Choral Accompanist
• Choral Administrator

Opera Company/Musical Theatre

• Audition/Rehearsal Accompanist
• Orchestra/Show Pianist/Keyboardist
• Music Librarian
• Program Coordinator
• Administrator
• Musical Director
• Conductor

Dance

• Ballet Class Accompanist
• Modern/Contemporary Dance Class Accompanist
• Gymnastics Accompanist
• Dance Performance Pianist

Missions/Church Ministry

• Choral/Music Director
• Choral Singer
• Choral Accompanist
• Music Missions

Music Industry

• TV Show Pianist
• Multimedia Artist
• Piano Technician
• Large Ensemble Pianist

Freelance

• Solo Pianist
• Clinic/Master Class Teacher
• Music Ensemble Pianist
• Private Piano Teacher
• Arranger
• Composer
• Restaurant Pianist
• Accompanist for Soloist
• Pianist for Vocal/Instrumental Studio
• Conductor