Music Education

Brad Finley (www.MyGuitarWorkshop.com)

   From A&R reps in the corporate world of record companies to music teachers, to studio engineers, to session musicians, to working at a publishing company or music library, the types of jobs are plentiful for someone seeking a music career. Of course with popular jobs comes competition and in music you need a solid music education, maybe even a master’s degree. It might be ‘who you know’ that helps you land that great studio gofer gig or there might be a teacher position opening in the music department of your old grammar school, but after you get that job it is more what you know (and the education you got knowing it) that increases your chances of longevity or advancement. And the only way to get this knowledge, beyond interning or nepotism, is having a good music education degree from

a school offering accredited music education courses.     

     Whether it is a traditional college you are looking into or an online music education, it’s always best to get some recommendations from past students, view a list of post-college job placement opportunities and check for the usual accreditations. An online music degree is just as valid as the more ’traditional’ college experience; it is simply up to you which classes you can attend and afford for your music education. And remember, the Internet is a worldwide resource, you can take a class from clear across the world learning totally different aspects of your music career, gaining credits for your music degree even if you take the bulk of your classes at a college near to home.

     For those of you who are looking for a music career in production; mixing or recording…or even inventing, there are plenty of studios that offer internships while you further your education. In fact most music schools have in-house studios you learn in. Professional outside studios will sometimes offer music production education, not affiliated with any music education program, just so you can get some practical ‘hands-on’ experience. And again, if you want a good look around a studio but can’t get there, check for a possible on-line website of that studio, most have them these days.

     As in every other field, education is not only books and classrooms, but real life experiences to; you don’t just get your music degree by studying. In music production education this could be hands-on work; in the field of music education, working prior in the field, even something like being a camp counselor in your early teens, will prepare you in ways you could never imagine. And how ‘bout those all-to-important, low-paying gigs; we all know there is a wealth of real experiences to learn playing live!

The simple sad fact is that a high-school education will not get you very far the days. Almost every person coming of adult age is looking into further education, whether it at a technical school, university or through online education. In music education, whether you are going to be an educator yourself or you’re more interested in music production, the fact of further higher education is no different. Other then in a very few lucky cases, a man or woman needs a degree to get a job, in fact certain music education jobs are requiring masters degrees to really get ahead; the student can get their masters through traditional college courses or get a masters online degree in music education.

Overall, the advantages of music education, whether you are going into production, teaching, legal, are too numerous to name. Music truly is universal language; you get a degree in any of a wide variety of music fields, you could literally work anyplace in the world. It really is a question of finding out what piece of the music business or music teaching you might like to major in and finding the courses, people and places that can further your music education.