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Music
Careers
Do you automatically think a career in music means being a rock star or an onstage performer? Well, those aren't the only options. For every rock musician or performer, there are dozens of other professionals who support them in creative and satisfying ways. Here are just a few ideas:
Acoustical Engineer
What's an Acoustical Engineer?
Whether you listen to music on a radio, a computer or a home entertainment system, have you ever wondered what it might be like to make a sound system? Places like Bose, Harmon Kardon and Sony make the equipment, but they need a special kind of designer to help. That person, called an acoustical engineer, is the specialist who designs the systems. Often an acoustical engineer is involved in building the systems too.
Things to Do
- In addition to producing audio equipment, Bose Corporation funds research. Read about some interesting advances in audio technology here.
- Visit the Acoustical Society of America.
- Read How 2.0 column in Popular Science and learn to build a variety of acoustical devices.
- Do a sound check.
Who's an Acoustical Engineer?
Korean-born Du Hyeon Yeo came to the US to study sound engineering at a school in New York Read about him and others at Institute of Audio Research.
Classes to Take
In addition to the classes you take now, think about taking these when you get to high school:
- Accelerated computer courses
- Business classes, such as accounting and business communication
- Electronics
- Science courses, particularly physics
- And of course, music courses
Think Acoustical Engineer might be a job for you?
- Interested in math and science?
- Like to fool around with electronic gadgets?
- Enjoy working with computers?
- Like music?
If you answered yes to these questions, you have many of the skills to be a successful audio equipment manfacturer!
Composer
What does it take to be a Composer?
Being a composer starts with some musical talent, but it doesn't stop there. You'll need to know how to read music and understand the roles different instruments play in each composition, be it an orchestra, a rock band, or just a guitar. And because being a composer, particularly a songwriter, is a competitive trade, it doesn't hurt to have a thick skin and plenty of perseverance.
Salary depends on the type of composing you do. For example, composers who write music for TV commercials can earn from $300 to $50,000 per commercial. A film score composer can earn up to $200,000 per film.
Things to Do
- Read up on a favorite composer. For example, try your local library for the "Why They Became Famous" series.
- Try making up new words to one of your favorite songs.
- You don't have to be Mozart to compose a minuet. Try the Minuet Mixer at the New York Philharmonic's Web site.
- Try National Arts Center of Canada for some musical games.
More Things to Do
- Check the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. This association has been around since 1914 and now boasts nearly 200,000 U.S. composers, songwriters, lyricists, and music publishers of every kind of music. Through agreements with music societies in Europe and beyond, ASCAP also represents hundreds of thousands of music creators worldwide. ASCAP is the only U.S. performing rights organization created and controlled by composers, songwriters and music publishers, with a Board of Directors elected by and from the membership.
Who Composes?
Read about Nobuo Uematsu, a composer who writes the background music for video games.
Or Big Tezz, a songwriter.
Take a virtual trip to the Berklee College of Music and read about students Warren Wolf and Rachel Loy, just two of the many talented people who go to school there.
Classes to Take
In addition to the courses you take now, consider these kinds of classes in high school:
- Music theory
- Musical instruction on your favorite instruments
- Math
- A public speaking course
Think Composer might be a job for you?
- Do you like music and think you have a good ear for tunes?
- Do you have a good eye for detail?
- Do you have a good memory?
- Are you disciplined?
If you answered yes to these questions, you have many of the skills to be a successful composer!
Music Producer
What's a Music Producer?
A music producer is the creative leader of any studio, film, television or radio recording project. Though producers work mainly with recording acts and record labels to make the disks you buy, they also work with composers to produce sound recordings for film, TV and other forms of multimedia.
Producers supervise all aspects of the recording process including contracting session players and overseeing the recording budget. A producer may also help the artist select songs to be recorded. Not only must they be good business people, they must have in-depth knowledge of music.
Things to Do
- You don't have to be Mozart to compose a minuet. Try the Minuet Mixer at the New York Philharmonic's Web site.
- Try National Arts Center of Canada for some musical games.
Who's a Music Producer?
You've probably heard of Quincy Jones. He's been producing music for a long time. He says when he was a kid, he wasn't very good at music. Find out what changed for him.
Meet P.J., a music producer in Boston, Massachusetts.
Are there any female music producers? Find out why or why not here.
Classes To Take
In addition to the courses you take now, consider these kinds of classes in high school:
- Music (theory and an instrument or two)
- Computer classes
- Accounting or money management
- Math
What Are You Like?
- Are you an excellent musician?
- Do you dream about gaining performance experience?
- Are you determined, even when someone tells you to go away?
- Do you like to work with audio equipment, such as microphones and sound modules?
If you answered yes to these questions, you have many of the skills necessary to be a successful record producer.
Sound Engineer
What's a Sound Engineer Do?
Sound engineers (also called audio technicians), make things sound good. As a soundperson, you take what comes over microphones, amplifiers and other sources and adjust the levels of various tones (bass, drums, voice, guitar, for example) to make it all work together. You also listen for things most people never even think about. No one wants to hear papers rustling or throats clearing, so for every performance, a sound engineer makes sure everyone can hear what's going on and that the sound is as free of disturbances as possible. Sound engineers make from $25,000 to $57,000.
Things to Do
- Explore the science of sound. Check your local library for a copy of Janice VanCleave's Physics for Every Kid.
- Check The Society of Broadcast Engineers (SBE), a national organization that educates, certifies and supports all kinds of sound technicians. Once you're in high school, you can join as a youth member and get information about the different fields in the industry, as well internship information and the opportunity to get to know industry professionals.
More Things to Do
- Visit the Women's Audio Mission, an organization dedicated to advancing women in the sound industry.
- Read about the science in DVDs at How Stuff Works.
- Try your own hand at re-mixing.
- Go read a book! Read about the trials, tribulations and zaniness involved in producing The Simpsons cartoon in "My Life as a Ten Year Old Boy" by Nancy Cartwright.
Who's a Sound Engineer?
Angela Piva, a mix/remix engineer and producer.
Korean-born Du Hyeon Yeo came to New York to study sound engineering at a school in New York Read about him and others at Institute of Audio Research.
Classes to Take
In addition to the courses you take now, consider these kinds of classes in high school:
- Accelerated computer courses
- Business classes, such as accounting and business communication
- Electronics
- Science courses, particularly physics
- And of course, music courses
Think Sound Engineer might be a job for you?
- Are you creative?
- Do you like science?
- Do you like computers?
- Communicate well with people?
If you answered yes to these questions, you have many of the skills to be a successful sound engineer!
Technician
What's an Instrument Technician?
Despite the name, an instrument technician (also called a "roadie") does more than repair instruments. He or she provides all kinds of support to touring companies. As a roadie, you may have expertise in lighting, sound checks, and, of course, changing a broken string or tweaking a valve. And you'll probably know how to play a lot of instruments. Whether you specialize in strings or fretted instruments, percussion or brass, you're probably someone who loves them all. And you get to use all kinds of cool tools like mixing boards, pickups and digital records.
Average salary for this job is about $39,000.
Things to Do
- Check the Berklee College of Music Web site for information about all kinds of musical careers.
- Try creating your own instrument at the New York Philharmonic's Web site.
Who's an Instrument Technician?
Karl Kuenning for one. He's written a book about the whole experience. Visit his Web site roadie.net for details.
Kennelly Keys Music specializes in all types of instrument repair. Read about their staff here.
Classes to Take
In addition to the courses you take now, consider these kinds of classes in high school:
- Woodworking
- Metalsmithing
- Electronics
- And of course, music courses
What are You Like?
- Are you creative?
- Do you like science?
- Do you have a good "ear" for music?
- Enjoy working with metal, wood and all kinds of moving parts?
If you answered yes to these questions, you have many of the skills to be a successful instrument technician!
Updated: December 5, 2008