Find a local band or musician you like and contact them to request an informal interview. Prepare questions in advance, but be ready to have a conversation where you share about your interests, too!

Career

Day to Day

Interview a local band or musician.

Talk to the music teacher at your school about what you're interested in and ask if there's a band you can join. No music at your school? Find some friends and start a band on your own.

Advice

Join a band—or start your own!

Listen to author Richard Florida speak about the importance of creativity in career stability. How can being creative, no matter what industry or job you're doing, give you an advantage?

Learn about the importance of creativity in any career.

Musicians and Singers

Play one or more musical instruments or sing. May perform on stage, for broadcasting, or for sound or video recording.

Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.

Artistic

Second Interest High-Point

Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.

Enterprising

First Interest High-Point

Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.

Social

Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.

Realistic

Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.

Investigative

Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.

Conventional

Third Interest High-Point

Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed

Perform before live audiences in concerts, recitals, educational presentations, and other social gatherings.

Sing a cappella or with musical accompaniment.

Interpret or modify music, applying knowledge of harmony, melody, rhythm, and voice production to individualize presentations and maintain audience interest.

Specialize in playing a specific family of instruments or a particular type of music.

Sing as a soloist or as a member of a vocal group.

Observe choral leaders or prompters for cues or directions in vocal presentation.

Memorize musical selections and routines, or sing following printed text, musical notation, or customer instructions.

Play musical instruments as soloists, or as members or guest artists of musical groups such as orchestras, ensembles, or bands.

Sight-read musical parts during rehearsals.

Practice singing exercises and study with vocal coaches to develop voice and skills and to rehearse for upcoming roles.

Listen to recordings to master pieces or to maintain and improve skills.

Provide the musical background for live shows, such as ballets, operas, musical theatre, and cabarets.

Audition for orchestras, bands, or other musical groups.

Seek out and learn new music suitable for live performance or recording.

Make or participate in recordings in music studios.

Promote their own or their group's music by participating in media interviews and other activities.

Research particular roles to find out more about a character, or the time and place in which a piece is set.

Learn acting, dancing, and other skills required for dramatic singing roles.

Transpose music to alternate keys, or to fit individual styles or purposes.

Compose songs or create vocal arrangements.

Arrange and edit music to fit style and purpose.

Collaborate with a manager or agent who handles administrative details, finds work, and negotiates contracts.

Compose original music, such as popular songs, symphonies, or sonatas.

Perform in television, radio, or movie productions.

Practice performances, individually or in rehearsal with other musicians, to master individual pieces of music or to maintain and improve skills.

Audio equalizers

Compact disk CD players

Effects pedals

In-ear monitors IEM

Karaoke machines

Laptop computers

Live microphones

Loudspeaker systems

Microphone stands

MP3 trainers

Personal computers

Sound mixers

Tablet computers

Wireless microphones

Acoustica Mixcraft

Chad Butler

Musician/Drummer

Videos

Chad Butler

Milestones

Career

Career Roadmap

My work combines:

My work combines:

Art

Music

Being Creative

Chad Butler

Musician/Drummer

Videos

Chad Butler

Milestones

Career

Career Roadmap

My work combines:

My work combines:

Art

Music

Being Creative

Related Leaders