Music Schools & Colleges

Not everyone can be a top-selling rock star, but making a living out of music might could be more feasible than you think. Teaching is just one option. Other job options for graduates of music programs include disc jockey, music journalist and precision instrument repairer/tuner. A creative possibility is becoming a children's musical personality. It may sound silly, but the Australian children's musical group The Wiggles reveals incredible possibilities. Named Australia's richest entertainers, the band earned $45 million in 2009. Music colleges, including those that are online, help students obtain the skills they need. Courses in music colleges might be offered in musical composition, technology and theory as well as performance. Many musicians receive this training through a formal music school for which they need to apply. While an advanced degree is usually required to teach music at the a level, a degree in music education could qualify students to teach at the public school level. Others can teach privately, or seek out a manager to help them find increasingly popular gigs as they work to advance their careers.

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Music careers on and off the beaten path

You will not be alone on your musical career path. According to May 2009 data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, more than 37,000 people were employed as musicians and singers nationwide and they earned mean hourly wages of $29.10. More than 14,000 people were employed nationwide as music directors and composers and they earned mean annual wages of $25.68.

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