Career Profiles

Music

Our lives hum with sound and move with rhythm from the moment we utter our first cry in the world. The ability to make and enjoy music is a wonderful part of being human, an activity that travels through time and crosses cultures. Music stirs the emotions as it accompanies many of life’s events, reflecting and creating mood. It soothes us in times of grief and inspires us as we celebrate national and international events.

Developments in technology influence composition, performance, production and the distribution of music. Electronic technology makes access easy to a huge range of music. In the morning we can wake to the sound of our favourite band or concert program, continue listening through breakfast and move through the rest of the day to a background of music playing through the headphones of the latest in mobile audio technology. And then there is the magic of live performance where composer, orchestra, conductor and soloists move the audience with the energy of their creative soul and spirit.

The activity of working creatively and analytically with music develops the brain’s capacity to be flexible, to think laterally and to manage complexity. A degree in Music equips graduates with transferable skills, valuable in many areas of employment. Graduates also complete conjoint or double degrees or combine Music with courses in other disciplines such as Law, Commerce, Psychology and the Humanities.

Composers and performers train for years to reach increasingly high standards. Professional musicianship is competitive and only a few reach the stars. It is possible, however, for those with talent and drive to achieve rewarding careers in the creative, reflective and administrative sides of the world of music.

Download a complete copy of Career View on Music below.

Career View on Music is part of the Career View series produced by Career Development and Employmentat Victoria University of Wellington in New Zealand. While the booklet was originally developed for a New Zealand audience, we believe that graduates in Australia will also find the information within it relevant and useful.

Check out the excellent resources available on the Victoria University of Wellington's Careers homepage at www.vuw.ac.nz/st_services/careers .

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