https://padlet.com/annabelles739/ad100lwqz2v0 Professional Musician en-us 2017-09-05 11:35:34 UTC 2026-03-15 19:59:19 UTC hello@padlet.com annabelles739 https://padlet.com/annabelles739/ad100lwqz2v0/wish/184696681 Professional Musician: Music performance is a very broad field with many career choices. The most commonly known is Symphonic Musician, or someone who plays in a symphony. There are also many other paths such as chamber musician, soloist, professor, or freelancer. Musicians who freelance may play in a smaller symphony, teach lessons, or play gigs.]]> 2017-09-05 11:45:05 UTC https://padlet.com/annabelles739/ad100lwqz2v0/wish/184696681 annabelles739 https://padlet.com/annabelles739/ad100lwqz2v0/wish/184698068 Undergraduate Degree: Bachelor's of Music, or BMus.
Usually takes 4-5 years, at CIM it takes 5.
There is no special certification needed unless you plan on teaching at a school.
Annual Cost for On Campus Living: $69,404.
Room and Board is $14,870, so if you decide to live off campus when you are an upperclassman, that expense is taken away.
However, 99% of students who attend are given scholarships, and of the scholarships given, over half are half tuition.]]> 2017-09-05 11:51:49 UTC https://padlet.com/annabelles739/ad100lwqz2v0/wish/184698068 annabelles739 https://padlet.com/annabelles739/ad100lwqz2v0/wish/184701377 Graduate Degree: Master's of Music, or MMus.
A Master's Degree isn't required, but it is strongly recommended, and most musicians do it. It is just more time to get better before you have to start auditioning for jobs in the real world.
Annual Cost: $50,739.98
However, most graduate students live off campus, so you can take away the room and board fee of $10,258. Also, 80% of students receive scholarships.
This degree normally takes two years to earn. Some musicians will go on to get doctorate degrees, but that's not very common, and it's usually people who want to become professors.]]> 2017-09-05 12:06:14 UTC https://padlet.com/annabelles739/ad100lwqz2v0/wish/184701377 annabelles739 https://padlet.com/annabelles739/ad100lwqz2v0/wish/185064705 There really isn't much of a career ladder in music. Some young people straight out of college will win jobs in major symphonies. Some people will play in a minor symphony for their entire life, it just depends on the musician.
Entry-Level Position: Symphonic Musician (minor symphony, maybe part time).
Years of experience: 15+
Degree: BMus, usually MMus.
Possible Income: $33,328 (full-time, Alabama Symphony)
Median-Level Position: Symphonic Musician (major symphony, full time, section player).
Years of experience: It depends on the musician.
Degree: BMus, MMus.
Possible Income: $71,256 (ASO)
Advanced-Level Position: Symphonic Musician (principal/asst. principal).
Years of experience: Depends, usually a lot.
Degree: BMus, MMus, maybe Doctorate.
Possible Income: $146,848 (NY Phil).


]]> 2017-09-06 11:34:35 UTC https://padlet.com/annabelles739/ad100lwqz2v0/wish/185064705 annabelles739 https://padlet.com/annabelles739/ad100lwqz2v0/wish/185068778 The skills needed for music are very specific.
1. You need to be able to play an instrument.
2. You need to be able to read music.
3. You need to know how to act professionally, and have good rehearsal etiquette.
4. You need to know how to get along with people even if you don't like them, because when you win a job, you're on trial for a year. If the symphony members don't like you, even if you're a prodigy, you can be fired after that year.
 ]]> 2017-09-06 11:53:59 UTC https://padlet.com/annabelles739/ad100lwqz2v0/wish/185068778 annabelles739 https://padlet.com/annabelles739/ad100lwqz2v0/wish/185070023 1. You are doing what you love. Going to work doesn't suck.
2. Your co-workers are also doing what they love, so the work environment is nice.
3. Music is such a unique career path that you are working with a bunch of like-minded people who you probably get along with very well.
4. Music brings in people from all over the world, with all kinds of backgrounds. There is so much diversity within the music world.]]> 2017-09-06 11:59:04 UTC https://padlet.com/annabelles739/ad100lwqz2v0/wish/185070023 annabelles739 https://padlet.com/annabelles739/ad100lwqz2v0/wish/185070059 1. Your position may not be there forever. Symphonies often face budget cuts, and unfortunately, many symphonies have had to downsize, which means they had to get rid of some positions.
2. If you aren't in a major symphony, there is a constant worry that your symphony might fold, or end. Many minor symphonies have contracts, and when those contracts end, they don't have enough money to continue on.
3. It is very, very hard to win a job, no matter what you're auditioning for. A position opens up, and you might be auditioning against 300 other people who want the same job as you.]]> 2017-09-06 11:59:11 UTC https://padlet.com/annabelles739/ad100lwqz2v0/wish/185070059