Someone once said, “Those who can, do. Those who can’t, teach.” I have always disliked that expression and its implications. Many fine classical performers can be found on faculties at conservatories, schools of music, and colleges. However, teaching is not for everyone. I am often asked what other music-related career options exist. Many careers combine several non-related fields to produce a specialized discipline. Most often, these pursuits require an undergraduate and/or advanced degree. Following are a few of the most popular options:

•Recording Industry Technicians must be able to read music fluently and work with recording artists to achieve the right “mix” or balance of sound using skills such as editing and splicing. This career combines electronics, music, and computerized technology.

•Music Therapists work in medical centers, hospitals, and nursing homes. They are called upon to perform a variety of services to meet the needs of their patients.

•Ethnomusicologists study the music indigenous to various tribes, cultures, and peoples. Generally, they will spend years living within these societies documenting their music.

•Music Criticism is a fairly new area. Students study the characteristics distinguishing a great performance from an acceptable, mediocre, or poor performance. At least forty colleges in the U.S. offer studies in music criticism.

These examples represent only a sampling of the career options available to musicians who don’t wish to teach.

© Copyright 1998, 1999 Joe Gallant. All rights reserved.