Music Music Whether you want to teach, play, listen or create music, studying it at university offers many exciting opportunities. A straight-forward degree in music provides a gateway into the majority of careers in the music business while music degrees such in performance, technology or business are ideal for those who want to focus their energies in a specific area. As a performer, a music degree gives a very clear indication of your credentials but the hard work is still ahead of you. Whether you are an individual or in a group, proving yourself is a key trait you will have to learn. Individuals looking to join major companies or orchestras will be expected to audition for parts, those looking for more general musical work should seek out opportunities to perform and get themselves heard. Similarly bands must sell themselves to venues, agencies and labels. This normally requires evidence of their popularity, such as a strong fanbase who attend gigs regularly, or a high level of credibility gained from word of mouth or reviews. As a performer your strength is the act of playing music so you should always be on the lookout for the chance to utilise your skills and build a strong CV. University will provide you with many of them. A music degree is very beneficial if you hope to get into the business side of music. Roles here fall into two main categories: producing and selling. Some producers spend their time in the studio creating music with artists and can become as famous as the people they work with, others compose soundtracks to visual media. Producing is ideal for those looking to work closely with music but shy away from the physical performance. Selling involves the marketing of clients and their work either individually or as part of a label and is better for those with an in-depth knowledge of music who are good at talking about it. The largest down to the smallest acts need help ensuring they get maximum exposure, and it is a job with the potential of showbiz perks such as press launches and backstage passes. Teaching music is another option, either as a subject in schools and universities or as an instrument specialist. If you want to teach music as a subject, then a PGCE will be required to work in schools, while a Masters or, more likely, a PhD will be needed for anything higher. Teaching an instrument is often done privately to build up a good reputation. This will involve both advertising for pupils as well as providing lessons that enables all standards to progress up the grades. Music graduates don't always follow a set career path - 8.4 percent of those who finished university in 2010 were in self employment six months on, second only to design studies graduates. Among those who completed a performing arts subject in 2010, nearly a quarter became arts, design, culture or sports professionals with 2.7 percent of those becoming musical instrument players and 2.6 percent musicians. Figures are taken from the 2011 edition of "What Do Graduates Do?".

Music

Whether you want to teach, play, listen or create music, studying it at university offers many exciting opportunities. A straight-forward degree in music provides a gateway into the majority of careers in the music business while music degrees such in performance, technology or business are ideal for those who want to focus their energies in a specific area.

As a performer, a music degree gives a very clear indication of your credentials but the hard work is still ahead of you. Whether you are an individual or in a group, proving yourself is a key trait you will have to learn. Individuals looking to join major companies or orchestras will be expected to audition for parts, those looking for more general musical work should seek out opportunities to perform and get themselves heard. Similarly bands must sell themselves to venues, agencies and labels. This normally requires evidence of their popularity, such as a strong fanbase who attend gigs regularly, or a high level of credibility gained from word of mouth or reviews. As a performer your strength is the act of playing music so you should always be on the lookout for the chance to utilise your skills and build a strong CV. University will provide you with many of them.

A music degree is very beneficial if you hope to get into the business side of music. Roles here fall into two main categories: producing and selling. Some producers spend their time in the studio creating music with artists and can become as famous as the people they work with, others compose soundtracks to visual media. Producing is ideal for those looking to work closely with music but shy away from the physical performance. Selling involves the marketing of clients and their work either individually or as part of a label and is better for those with an in-depth knowledge of music who are good at talking about it. The largest down to the smallest acts need help ensuring they get maximum exposure, and it is a job with the potential of showbiz perks such as press launches and backstage passes.

Teaching music is another option, either as a subject in schools and universities or as an instrument specialist. If you want to teach music as a subject, then a PGCE will be required to work in schools, while a Masters or, more likely, a PhD will be needed for anything higher. Teaching an instrument is often done privately to build up a good reputation. This will involve both advertising for pupils as well as providing lessons that enables all standards to progress up the grades.

Music graduates don't always follow a set career path - 8.4 percent of those who finished university in 2010 were in self employment six months on, second only to design studies graduates. Among those who completed a performing arts subject in 2010, nearly a quarter became arts, design, culture or sports professionals with 2.7 percent of those becoming musical instrument players and 2.6 percent musicians.

Figures are taken from the 2011 edition of "What Do Graduates Do?".