Musician
What does a musician do?
Musicians are skilled artists with a passion for writing and performing musical compositions. Those with a career in music have expertise in an instrument, such as piano, guitar, percussion, or a particular woodwind, brass, or string instrument. For many musicians their voice is their instrument, and they are hired as singers. If you pursue a musical career, your time would be spent composing, practicing, and performing – perfecting your craft. You may be a solo act or part of a band or symphony orchestra. You could also become a music teacher at a school or offer private tuition depending on your qualifications.
Is a career as a musician right for me?
If you love writing, reading and playing music, you may enjoy a career as a musician. Successful musicians are often confident performing in front of an audience and are self-motivated, resilient and dedicated to continually improving their craft. Strong communication skills and the ability to build professional relationships are also valuable, as musicians frequently collaborate and network with others in the industry. In addition, patience and the ability to concentrate for extended periods are important qualities that can help support long-term success in a music career.
Other skills or attributes that are valuable for a musician include:
An ability to manage change positively and perform effectively in changing environments.
Clear written and verbal communication skills, supported by strong interpersonal skills.
Creative expression, storytelling and original thinking.
The capacity to lead through effective decision-making, accountability, and support for others.
The ability to take initiative, demonstrate personal drive, and maintain a professional attitude.
An ability to work effectively and collaborate with a range of stakeholders.
How to become a musician
A career as a musician can follow many different paths, depending on a person's interests, talents and goals. Musicians develop their skills through practice, performance experience and education, with some choosing to undertake a university degree in music to gain specialised knowledge and industry connections. Over time, they can build a professional career through performing, recording, teaching or composing music.
A career pathway to becoming a musician could include:
- Develop your instrumental, vocal and musicianship skills through regular practice and training.
- Study music at school and gain experience through performances, ensembles and collaborations.
- Complete a Bachelor of Music or other relevant music qualification.
- Build your experience, portfolio and professional network through performances, recordings and industry opportunities.
- Pursue paid work in performance, teaching, recording, composition or music production.
How long does it take to become a musician?
There is no set timeframe for becoming a musician, as it depends on your goals, level of dedication and chosen career path. Many people begin learning music in childhood or adolescence and spend several years developing their skills before performing professionally.
As a general guide, it may take one to three years to learn the basics of an instrument or singing, three to five years to gain confidence performing and develop intermediate skills, and three to four years to complete a university degree in music if you choose to study one. Building significant experience, industry connections and a professional reputation often takes five to 10 years or more.
Because musicians continue learning throughout their careers, becoming a musician is often viewed as an ongoing journey rather than a destination. Many musicians begin performing professionally while they are still studying or developing their skills.
Advance your music career with UniSQ
A degree in music can be beneficial as it provides structured training, access to industry networks, performance opportunities, and specialised knowledge.
Responsibilities and work settings
Practising instruments or vocals to develop and maintain performance skills.
Rehearsing independently or with bands, ensembles and other performers.
Performing music at concerts, events, festivals and venues.
Learning, memorising and interpreting new songs, pieces and performance material.
Composing, arranging and improvising music for performances and recordings.
Recording music and creating content for online platforms.
Collaborating with musicians, producers, event organisers and other industry professionals.
Promoting performances and engaging with audiences through social media and other channels.
Attending auditions, rehearsals, meetings and industry networking events.
Maintaining instruments, equipment and performance materials.
Arts and creative organisations
Media, publishing and broadcasting organisations
Non-profit, charity and community organisations
Primary and secondary schools
Universities and higher education providers
Sport and recreation organisations
Government agencies, departments and councils
Musician FAQs
Related careers
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