Musician
Use your talent to create music and songs. Play, sing and perform to entertain audiences.
Also known as: rock musician, pop singer, pop musician, classical musician
About the job
Salary
Source: LMI for All
Weekly
£810
Average
Monthly
£3,510
Average
Yearly
£42,120
Average
6,000
people are currently employed
High growth
400 more jobs in 5 years
These figures refer to this job and similar ones with comparable skills and qualifications. They only apply to Scotland. Source: Oxford Economics
What it's like
Musicians write, arrange and play songs to entertain and move audiences. You might play an instrument, sing or do both to create music.
You could also produce music electronically using a digital audio workstation (DAW). This is a piece of software that lets you create music from a computer, tablet or even a smartphone.
You might work as part of a band, choir or orchestra, as a solo artist, or as a session or backing musician.
You might make money by performing paid gigs or ticketed live streams. You might sell physical or digital copies of your music. Some musicians earn royalties when their music is played on radio, tv or film.
You'd:
practise and rehearse
look after your voice or instrument
perform in live shows in front of an audience
compose songs and music to perform or learn other artists' music
take part in recording sessions
You could perform music of any style, including:
rock
classical
pop
indie
jazz
folk
You’d promote your act in different ways, such as contacting agents and record companies, setting up a website and making demo recordings. Building an online presence for your act can help and you might need to engage with fans on social media.
You would also arrange gigs and tours or deal with a manager or agent who does this for you. You can also audition for places in bands or orchestras to find work.
There are other ways to make money from music, such as teaching others. There might be opportunities unique to the type of music you play. For example, in classical music you can also be a conductor of an orchestra.
This is a job where you’d need determination and the ability to cope with criticism and rejection. It's a competitive line of work, it might be difficult to make a steady living depending on the type of music you make.
Hours
Environment
Travel
Explore more information about this job
Here are some useful links to learn more about this career:
Trinity College – international exam board for skills in performing arts
Musicians' Union – advice and support for pursuing a career in music
Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music – the UK’s largest music education body
Incorporated Society of Musicians – UK’s professional body for musicians
Creative and Cultural Skills – help and advice for a career in the creative industry
Like the sound of this career?
Browse courses in Scotland related to 'Musician'
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Related industries
Many jobs can be done in lots of different industries. We've highlighted the ones we think are most important for this job.
Creative
Top skills
Skills are things you're good at. Whether you know what yours are or not, everyone has them!
It's useful to learn which ones are important in a job so you know the areas you need to brush up on. It can also help you work out if you're suited to a career.
Here are some of the skills you'll need to do this job:
- recalling
- taking initiative
- self esteem
- creative
- written communication
- verbal communication
- networking
- cooperating
- building relationships
- persevering
- adaptability
Your skills are important
Our unique skillsets are what make us stand out from the crowd. Learn about each skill in depth and discover what employers look for in your applications and interviews.
Getting in
Explore the sections shown for more information about getting into this career.
You might have qualifications which are not shown here but will allow you access to a course. You can compare your qualifications by looking at their SCQF Level. For more information about this, check out the SCQF website.
Always contact the college, university or training provider to check exactly what you'll need.
Colleges and universities will list subjects you'll need for entry to a course. Some useful subjects include:
English
Media
Music
Music Technology
Performance Arts
Skills for Work: Creative Industries
You do not need formal qualifications required to be a musician. Qualifications and experience that show your commitment to music and musical ability can be useful.
Many musicians choose to study music at college or university. For instance, it's more common in classical music to have a degree.
You can enter some National Certificate or National Qualification courses through an audition. Most courses also ask for qualifications at National 4 or 5.
You can enter Higher National Certificate (HNC) or Higher National Diploma courses (HND) with both:
National 4 or 5 qualifications
one to two Highers or equivalent qualifications
To enter a degree course, you'll likely need both:
National 5 qualifications
at least 3 Highers or a relevant HNC or HND
Many universities look for grade 7 or 8 music exams as well as academic qualifications.
Entry for most courses will involved an audition and interview.
If you play an instrument, it can help to pass graded music exams. You could do this through the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM) or Trinity College.
Any paid or voluntary experience within the industry could help build useful contacts. The experience might also help when applying for courses.
For such a competitive industry, you'll need to have a high level of musical talent or skills.
Who you know can also be very important for getting opportunities. You’ll need to network with other people in the industry who can help you.
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