I would like to fulfil my musical passion
What would be the availability or difficulty levels of pursuing a musical career in the future? Will competition be increasingly difficult, or is it important to focus on one specific genre? The entertainment industry is highly based on public opinion, so what would be a considerable path to follow in order to fulfil one’s musical passion?
Iniyan Achyudhan (15) / International Bilingual School at Tainan Science Park, Tainan, Taiwan
The music industry is always in need of innovative, creative, successful artists to introduce different styles and various fusions in this field. But there’s more to a career in music than just performance — it can involve one or many disciplines. The more versatile you are, the more opportunities you will have to work in the music business.
Musicians may perform a variety of tasks depending on their area of specialization. Composers create musical compositions for films, plays, television and concerts. Conductors lead instrumental music groups, such as orchestras, dance bands, and various popular ensembles. Instrumental musicians play any of a wide variety of instruments such as the saxophone, trumpet, piano, guitar, drums, clarinet or flute. Some may be talented enough to play more than one instrument. Singers sing songs on stage, radio, television or motion pictures. DJs bring parties to life, using their mastery of music and beats to entertain crowds.
However, the music business is more challenging to break into than other sectors. There is a lot of competition, but if you hone your skills, build relationships with the right people, and put in the effort, you can pursue some of the careers described above.
The growing popularity of music in recent years has also resulted in increased employment opportunities. Social media has enabled fans to segment themselves into large supporting groups, which allows musicians to make a substantial income based on their talents, endorsements, ads or views. Many use their performing skills in amateur work or as a hobby. As someone rightly said, “It’s a great life, when it works.”
Dr Vibha Gupta, a feature writer, is a Ph.D. in Mathematics from IIT Roorkee. Her book Careers: A Pathfinder and articles in various publications are an attempt to guide students in choosing a career according to their natural strengths, talents and skills.