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How to become a musician

1. Musician job description

Musician

What is this job like?

Musicians and singers compose, sing, and play music. They perform solo or as part of a group. They perform in sound studios and on stage. They also perform on television and in movies.

Some musicians go on concert tours, travelling all over the U.S. and the world.

Not all their work is performing for audiences. Musicians and singers also spend a lot of time practicing and rehearsing.

Other music jobs include music directors who lead choirs and other musical groups. Arrangers change the style of music. They might turn a country song into a rock and roll song, for example. Composers create new music.

Most musicians and singers work indoors, but some may perform in outdoor concerts. The lights on stage can be hot. Performers often work at night and on weekends.

Some music is very loud and can cause hearing loss. There can be danger from fans, who become excited.

Many musicians, singers, and other music workers can only find part-time work. Some are unemployed between performances. They often work other jobs while waiting for their next performance.

New York, Los Angeles, and Nashville have the most jobs and the most record studios.

How do you get ready?

To be a musician or singer you need musical talent. People who become musicians often learn how to play an instrument at an early age. Some of the most popular instruments are the guitar, piano, and drums. It helps any musician to learn to play more than one instrument.

Many songwriters now write music on computers, so technical skills are handy. Also, skills in song writing or dancing are useful.

To start getting ready for this job, you could join a school band or choir or perform in a school musical. Many community centers and art centers also have bands or choirs. You could also sing or play music with friends. It helps to grab every chance to appear in front of people. You may be able to perform at parties or other events. Musicians and singers have to be able to go on stage in front of lots of people.

How much does this job pay?

Earnings depend on how popular a performer is. But musicians often have to hold down other jobs (called "day jobs") while they're building their careers.

About 40 percent of musicians, singers, and related workers work for themselves. They usually are paid for each performance or recording. Their earnings depend on how many jobs they can get.

Other musicians, singers, and related workers work for organizations for a set amount of pay. The middle half of these musicians earned between $10.81 and $36.55 an hour in 2006. The lowest-paid 10 percent earned less than $7.08. The highest-paid 10 percent made more than $57.37. The most successful musical stars can make much more.

How many jobs are there?

Musicians, singers, and related workers held about 264,000 jobs in 2006. Many musicians and singers work for orchestras and other music groups, ballet companies, and religious organizations. Some perform in restaurants and nightclubs and at weddings and other special events.

What about the future?

Competition for jobs as a musician or singer is strong. Talent alone is no guarantee of success. These jobs are glamorous and some have very high pay, so many people want them. To have a music career, you need a lot of motivation and good luck. Very few people earn enough money to support themselves as musicians or singers.

The number of jobs for musicians should grow about as fast as the average for all occupations through 2016.

Are there other jobs like this?

Actors
Agents and business managers of artists, performers, and athletes
Broadcast and sound engineering technicians and radio operators
Choreographers
Dancers
Directors
Disc Jockeys
Librarians (music librarians)
Precision instrument and equipment repairers (musical instrument repairers and tuners)
Producers
Teachers (music teachers)

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics Last Modified Date: April 29, 2008

2. How to Become a Musician

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit
Many people have dreamed of becoming musicians. Some have natural talent while others have to work harder to master some techniques. Being a musician isn't that challenging, although it's not easy either. It requires commitment, practice, and inspiration. If you follow the steps bellow, you too have a chance of becoming a great musician!

Steps

Buy an instrument, but pick something you fancy. Perhaps you dream of rocking out on a guitar; perhaps you dream of banging on the drums; or maybe you want to try the tuba. Your first instrument is an extension of yourself, so choose carefully.
Learn music theory. To some people, music theory seems like a waste of time. However, music theory is one of the most important parts of playing as well as composing music. Music theory can be learned through books and internet, although you may have more success with a tutor or by attending a musical school. Most musical schools do not require you to go there every day, and they do not interfere with your regular life.
- Also, learn musical history. Learn about different instruments and pieces from different composers. Be sure to listen to lot of music and pay attention to specific techniques and ways to play an instrument.
Learn to read music. While you can play by ear, it can be good if you can learn how to read sheet music. Learn all of the notes and practice a lot on the piano; then, learn how to sight read.
- Sight reading is also a very valuable skill. Many beginners as well as intermediates have trouble reading music, so be sure to practice a lot!
(this all applies to classical music. Most folk music is an aural tradition so reading and sight reading is very much less important!)

Tips

Don't freak out when you see how expensive the instruments are. You can rent them, or hear about good deals from friends. Also, you don't have to buy a grand piano before you learn! Try a keyboard instead.
Musical instruments can almost always be found at pawn shops. If you have a friend that has a decent knowledge of the instrument you play, ask him to go with you so he can help spot the good deals. Craigslist has over 12 million visitors a month with large amounts of musical equipment always available.
It's okay if you get frustrated, it's all part of learning.
Practice, practice, and practice!
Make sure you're learning from someone who already knows how to play your instrument. It may save you money not to take lessons, but in the long run it will help you.
If you have a high speed internet connection, you can go to Google and do a search of 'Learn how to play _____, video'. Then check the different websites for valuable video content. YouTube has a wide variety of lessons available.
Besides hiring some teachers, buy some songbooks and learn to play by yourself.
Find local teachers to give lessons. This is not always as easy as it sounds. bandFIND has compiled a list of musicians willing to give lessons in your area.
Think musically. This is probably one of the hardest things in being a musician. Always know every single note that you're playing. Sometimes people memorize 10 pages of music and play it without any mistakes (by ear) while they have no idea what they're playing. Practice and you'll get there!
Get involved in school musical programs; organize a band; be part of a musical community. Enjoy your music!
Never give up your music just because some idiots call you a geek because you play five instruments. Music is one of the best forms of arts and you should never give up.

Warnings

Try not to fall into bad habits. They may not seem important now, but later it is a different story and it will be difficult to get rid of them.

Related wikiHows

Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Become a Musician. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

3. How to Audition For a Musical

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit
Do you ever think that you can act and sing? Well, perhaps you are just right for a part in a musical. Even though auditioning for a musical may sound quite challenging, if you follow these simple steps, the audition will be fun and even a breeze.

Steps

Choose your song carefully, selecting one well within your voice range. If you can't hit that high B-flat more than nine times out of ten, don't do it. You want to be completely confident about your song. Also, the more you enjoy the song, the more any onlooker will as well. Never sing when you can't: i.e. if you throat is sore or strained!
Make sure your song isn't one which is commonly used, as your director has probably heard "It's a Hard-Knock Life" from Annie or "On My Own" from Les Mis too many times already. A unique song will make you stand out in the director's mind and will set you apart from everybody else. It may seem natural to perform a song from the musical which you are auditioning for, but this can backfire if you don't exactly fit the image the director has in mind.
If you don't do a song from this musical, choose one that is similar in style to those of the show for which you are auditioning. Don't audition for South Pacific with a song from Avenue Q! Look for similar time periods, composers, and themes.
Project your voice! Ever notice that the people who get the big parts are the ones who can speak and sing very loudly! You could be the best actor in the world, but if you're so quiet that you can't be heard above the music, who's going to know about it? Practice ahead of time. Go outside and just belt out whatever comes to mind as loud as you possibly can. (Just don't make it look like screaming) It will help. However, if louder means more off-key, be careful, because nobody likes to listen to a wrong note that is very loud.
Some directors may already have in mind their own interpretation of a character, so you may be at a disadvantage of interpreting it another way. Most open-minded directors, however, will be open to new and interesting interpretations (as long as they are reasonable), and this may go over well with him or her. Just be sure that you commit to something. because a strong commitment to a unexpected interpretation is infinitely better than no commitment at all.
Be confident! Confidence is key--if you look confident (even if you don't feel that way), the directors will probably like your performance more. Having the guts to stand in front of an audience and sing out with confidence is courageous, and they'll like you for it!
Do not worry if you are stopped midway; this is not a bad sign. It either means that the director has seen enough to make a judgment, or is now going to give you instructions on how to perform it differently. It is KEY that you be able to follow instructions and pay attention to notes, and your director wants to see how well you do this.
Always say, "Thank you." afterwards.

Tips

Watch this video for additional tips http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dr5YLg6Q6FY
Drink tea even if you don't like it. It soothes the vocal cords making it easier to sing. Many singers like to drink type of tea called 'Throat Coat' which is especially beneficial to vocal chords. (But dont drink directly before an audition. this tea is best used when you have a sore throat because it contains menthol. It will numb your throat so you will not be able to feel if you are straining and making your sickness worse.)
If you have to choose a monologue (a long speech from a play), choose one that is as close to your age group as possible.
Always try to watch the musical or a video of the performance so you know the whole "theme."
To calm your nerves, you can bite your tongue, but not too hard or you might not be able to sing at all.
Also, listening to music quietly with headphones can have a calming effect.
If an accompanist is provided for your audition, do your best to get the proper sheet music for the song you'll be singing.
1. Plan ahead and give yourself plenty of time to practice.
2. Always give the best performance you can.
3. Try to look natural. Be yourself-- the director wants to see how you will really function on a stage. Don't overdo it!
Every director is different and has different ideas of how an audition should go. Try talking to other people who have auditioned with that director to give you more tips.
Have water on hand. This will help your voice.
Your accompanist is your friend! Be nice to him/her! Also, when he/she asks you what tempo you want don't say "Uhh.. I don't know... Sort of fast?" You need to indicate to the accompanist that you know what you are talking about. Sing a line quietly to her if you can. Write in any cuts in the music beforehand. And for gods sake don't make him/her play from a book! Copy the music before hand and tape it.

Warnings

Try to look proud and confident, but avoid looking arrogant.
Singing a song without any music, such as one you wrote yourself, is a bad idea because the director needs to know that you can stay on key.
Know what not to eat or drink before an audition
- Don't consume orange juice or milk products. These stimulate mucus production, and coat your throat with mucus, which will make you sound bad.
- Don't eat or drink anything spicy, as it may give your voice a hoarse quality.
- Try to avoid soda or other highly carbonated beverages. You don't want to come down with hiccups in the middle of your song.
- If you have already warmed up, do NOT drink any cold beverage, even water! The point of warming up your voice is exactly what it sounds like--WARMING it up. If you drink (or eat) something cold, you'll have to start all over. If you have to drink something immediately before an audition, room temperature water is your best bet.

Related wikiHows

Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Audition For a Musical. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

4. How To Become A Musician according to Gistweb:

Musicians include rock stars, opera singers, folk guitarists, jazz pianists, violinists, drummers and anybody who creates and performs music. Musicians consist of a broad group of artists who play musical instruments, sing, compose, and arrange music in a variety of settings. They perform before live audiences or record in music studios. ¹

The road to becoming an accomplished musician starts at a very early age and involves rigorous study and training. For singers, training begins when their voices mature, and it never ends. Most other musicians start to play their instruments very early in their lives. ²

Learn about the history of the music. Jazz is more like classical music than rock or country. The rhythms, techniques and sub-genres are all tied up with its history. ³

You are learning to become a musician when you realize your instrument has a history. You can't go forward until you travel backwards and learn from those who came before you. Very rarely does someone come along and take an instrument in a new direction without having learned from the Masters. ⁴

Also, learn musical history. Learn about different instruments and pieces from different composers. Be sure to listen to lot of music and pay attention to specific techniques and ways to play an instrument. ⁵

You'll want to learn about music notes, chords, scales, tempo and time signatures. You don't have to be able to read music scores to play an instrument well though it can't hurt to be able to sight-read music. ⁶

You are learning to become a musician when you determine whether music school is for you or not. There are pros and cons. While a music degree will not get you gigs, the process is invaluable if you use the time wisely. ⁷

You can always learn more about music theory, music history and your chosen instrument or instruments. You want to therefore adopt the habit of the eternal student should you wish to become a musician of note. ⁸

You are learning to become a musician when you learn to be nice. Trust me, you'll catch more work with kindness and good manners than trying to be a badass. People really can get along just fine without you, no matter how well you play. ⁹

It is actually the most important. If you don't take anything with you but this, then we have accomplished something. ¹⁰

You may or may not agree with the number, though you cannot avoid the fact that to become even just a good musician takes practice. ¹¹

Network with other jazz musicians to learn about opportunities and exchange ideas. All About Jazz has message boards where you can talk shop. ¹²

It's far too true to be funny, unfortunately. Especially the bit about 99% visual, 1% non-visual. Classically trained musicians who actually have talent have very little chance of success unless they look like a pretty boy or have a great set of *****. ¹³

Make sure you're learning from someone who already knows how to play your instrument. It may save you money not to take lessons, but in the long run it will help you. ¹⁴

References

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