A Musician is an artist skilled in performing, composing, and interpreting music. Musicians can work across various genres and styles, including classical, jazz, rock, pop, hip-hop, and more. They may play one or multiple instruments, sing, or create electronic music. Musicians perform live in concerts, record music in studios, and may also be involved in writing and arranging music for themselves or other artists. Their work can be deeply personal, requiring creativity, technical skill, and a strong passion for music.
Includes music performers. Includes music creators. Includes music leisure instructors. Excludes people performing music composition not for recordings or audiences.
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Musicians work in various environments, including concert halls, recording studios, clubs, and private events. They may also work from home or in practice rooms. The job often requires irregular hours, including evenings, weekends, and holidays. Musicians may spend long hours rehearsing, performing, and traveling, which can be physically and mentally demanding. Collaboration with other artists and professionals is common, requiring good communication and teamwork skills. The work environment can be both exhilarating and stressful, depending on performance schedules and deadlines.
To become a successful Musician, the following educational background and experience are typically required:
Education: While formal education is not always necessary, many musicians benefit from structured training. This can include a bachelor’s degree in music, performance, music theory, or a related field. Specialized programs in specific genres or instruments are also valuable.
Training: Intensive training in a chosen instrument or voice is essential. This can be through private lessons, music schools, conservatories, or self-study.
Experience: Experience is gained through performing, recording, and collaborating with other musicians. Participating in school bands, orchestras, choirs, or local music groups can provide early experience.
Skills: Technical proficiency with instruments or vocal skills, creativity, stage presence, and the ability to read and write music are crucial. Familiarity with music production software and recording technology is also beneficial.
Networking: Building a network within the music industry is important for gaining opportunities and advancing a career. This includes connections with other musicians, producers, and industry professionals.
Ongoing practice, professional development, and staying updated with current music trends and technologies are vital for success in this field. Membership in professional organizations or local music unions can provide access to resources, networking opportunities, and industry support.
ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:
the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.
Accept feedback on artistic performance: Accept feedback, proposed discussions and avenues of exploration about the precision of movements, rhythm, musicality, precision of the performance, interaction with peers and stage elements, areas requiring improvement. Take feedback into account to develop the potential as a performer. Note the choreographers/repetiteur/dance master instructions and the instructions of other collaborators (dramaturge, performers/dancers peers, musicians, etc.), ensuring being on the same page with the direction team.
Organise a repertoire: Sort and order a collection as a whole in such a way that its parts can be found by following the organising principles.
Collaborate with a technical staff in artistic productions: Coordinate the artistic activities with others who are specialised in the technical side of the project. Inform the technical staff of the plans and methods suggested and obtain feedback on feasibility, cost, procedures and other relevant information. Be able to understand the vocabulary and practices concerning technical issues.
Interact with an audience: Convey the artistic values of the art form(s). Respond to the reactions of your audience and involve them.
Memorise lines: Memorise your role in a performance or broadcast, whether it is text, movement, or music.
Work independently as an artist: Develop one’s own ways of doing artistic performances, motivating oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.
Work with composers: Communicate with composers to discuss various interpretations of their work.
Cope with stage fright: Deal with conditions that cause stage fright, such as time limits, the audience and stress.
This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of musician. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.
Musical instruments: The different musical instruments, their ranges, timbre, and possible combinations.
Musical genres: Different musical styles and genres such as blues, jazz, reggae, rock, or indie.
Music literature: Literature about music theory, specific music styles, periods, composers or musicians, or specific pieces. This includes a variety of materials such as magazines, journals, books and academic literature.
Musical theory: The body of interrelated concepts that constitute the theoretical background of music.
These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of musician. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.
Manage musical staff: Assign and manage staff tasks in areas such as scoring, arranging, copying music and vocal coaching.
Select music for performance: Select pieces of music for a live performance. Consider factors such as ensemble abilities, availability of scores and the need for musical variety.
Develop musical ideas: Explore and develop musical concepts based on sources such as imagination or environmental sounds.
Work within communities: Establish social projects aimed at community development and active citizen participation.
Study music: Study original pieces of music to get well acquainted with music theory and history.
Transpose music: Transposing music into an alternate key while keeping the original tone structure.
Supervise music groups: Direct music groups, individual musicians or complete orchestras at rehearsals and during live or studio performances, in order to improve the overall tonal and harmonic balance, dynamics, rhythm, and tempo.
Plan musical performances: Schedule rehearsals and music performances, arrange details such as locations, and select accompanists and instrumentalists.
Create musical forms: Create original musical forms, or write within existing musical formats like operas or symphonies.
Rewrite musical scores: Rewrite original musical scores in different musical genres and styles; change rhythm, harmony tempo or instrumentation.
Orchestrate music: Assign lines of music to different musical instruments and/or voices to be played together.
Promote music: Promote music and participate in media interviews and other promotional activities.
Perform music in ensemble: Perform music in cooperation with fellow musicians, as a part of an ensemble.
Advise on music pedagogy: Assist musicians, transfer knowledge and share experience concerning musical practices. Help musicians in the development of their careers or provide support during rehearsals for shows or for recordings.
Perform for young audiences: Perform at a level accessible to children and young adults while also censoring unadvisable content.
Transcribe musical compositions: Transcribe musical compositions in order to adapt them to a particular group, or to create a particular musical style.
Play musical instruments: Manipulate purpose-built or improvised instruments to produce musical sounds.
Write musical scores: Use knowledge of music theory and history to write musical scores for orchestras, ensembles, or individual instrumentalists. Apply instrumental and vocal capabilities.
Perform musical improvisations in therapy: Improvise music as a reaction to what the patient is communicating, in order to enhance the individual nature of the relationship between therapist and patient. Improvise instrumentally, vocally, or physically to meet client’s therapeutic needs.
Design a music show: Take the necessary steps to create a musical show: decide which musical pieces will be played, decide how the venue will be used, and prepare decoration and lighting, if applicable.
Compose music: Compose original pieces music such as songs, symphonies or sonatas.
Edit recorded sound: Edit audio footage using a variety of sofware, tools, and techniques such as crossfading, speed effects, and removing unwanted noises.
Record music: Record a sound or musical performance in a studio or live environment. Use the appropriate equipment and your professional judgment to capture the sounds with optimal fidelity.
Complete final musical scores: Collaborate with colleagues, such as copyists or fellow composers, in order to complete musical scores.
Manage artistic career: Present yourself and your artistic approach. Position your work in target markets. Promote and market yourself and your oeuvre.
Evaluate musical ideas: Experiment with different sound sources, use synthesizers and computer software, and permanently explore and evaluate musical ideas and concepts.
Sing: Use the voice to produce musical sounds, marked by tone and rhythm.
Participate in artistic mediation activities: Participate in cultural and artistic mediation activities: announce the activity, give a presentation or talk related to a piece of art or an exhibition, teach a class or a group, lead artistic mediation activities, lead or participate in a public discussion.
