The basics
What's it like to be a musician?
Overview
Musicians write lyrics, record music, and perform pieces on a yearly basis. They might play a number of instruments and focus on a particular genre that they love or branch out and perform different styles. What a musician chooses to do is completely up to them and there are no limits to what they are capable of. With that in mind, the life of a musician may not be a stereotypical 9-5 job and requires grit, determination, a purpose, and continual improvement of instrumental skills.
Requirements
There are no requirements for becoming a musician other than being passionate about the music they create. The best thing a musician can do is to perform as often as possible. These shows could potentially be the start of a lifelong career. Some musicians will also get a Bachelor of Music (BM), Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA), Bachelor of Music Education (BME), Bachelor of Arts in Music (BA), or Bachelor of Science in Music (BS) degree. Many people in other careers can join an adult choir, band, or perform in their church or for their family. Musicians are all around us and not all musicians must be successful professionals.
What Can High Schoolers Do?
- Start a band with some of your friends
- Try writing different styles of music and see what you love
- Enroll in classes such as AP Music Theory, Band, or Orchestra
- Take private lessons for your instrument
- Try out for different performing opportunities
- Piano Competitions: https://www.musicalchairs.info/piano/competitions
- Singing Competition: https://americanprotege.com/vocal/
- General Competitions: https://www.musicalamerica.com/pages/?pagename=competitions2020&header
- Audition for your school district’s honor orchestra/band/choir
- Join a music summer camp (marching band or specialized camps)
- Check this website out for camps near you: https://majoringinmusic.com/summer-music-camps/#1505943634635-d10780d0-0182
Please check out the sources below, they have links connecting more websites to further your research!
