Competition is fierce, and there are a variety of starting points. For the classically trained musician, there are many smaller city symphony orchestras across the country always on the lookout for young players. With enough experience, players can move on to larger orchestras that offer better pay and opportunities. Symphony players often supplement their income by playing in chamber music ensembles, performing as a studio musician and teaching.
For the truly gifted and dedicated musician, a career as a solo artist is attractive. New York City and Los Angeles have many opportunities for musicians to play in studio orchestras for television, movies and musical theater.
There are myriad other possibilities. Rock groups often start out by playing private parties, dances and community events. Singers can earn experience and a living by leading community choral groups or church choirs, and by directing community musical theater productions.
Composing used to be limited to writing songs, jingles or classical music, but with all the electronic media available today, the need for composers has grown. Opportunities abound for composers to write background music for electronic games, websites, Internet advertising and games. Opportunities also exist for composing songs for rock groups; in fact, many groups get a boost from composing music they have written. Music is also needed for school performing arts organizations from elementary through college, orchestras and choirs. Churches also provide opportunities for composers to write music. Some of the most talented and highly paid composers write for Hollywood.
It's worth looking into the requirements for teaching, even part-time. Some specialty areas in music education are musicology, music history, composition and theory, and individual instrument and voice instruction.
Music therapy is a new field that combines health care with the love of music. Music therapists can find jobs in schools, nursing homes, prisons, mental health clinics and psychiatric hospitals. A degree in music therapy is required.
Music dealers need sales staff as well as instrument technicians.
Because of the nature of the music industry and the need for copyright protection, contracts and many other legal matters, lawyers who specialize in music industry law are also needed. There are also positions for software developers who specialize in musical computer programs.
Producers, recording engineers and post-production positions in the recording and film industries are in high demand.
Although positions are limited, some musicians work as music critics for newspapers and magazines.
Professional choirs, symphony orchestras and music schools employ music librarians.
Another job area to consider is the music publishing industry, which employs individuals skilled in writing about music, copyists, editors, marketers and copywriters. Music publishers employ composers to write new material. Sales executives and talent scouts are also in high demand in this industry. Business professionals of all types are in demand by publishers, including accountants, auditors, marketers, managers and publicists.