Musicians include rock stars, opera singers, folk guitarists, jazz pianists, violinists, drummers
—anybody who creates and performs music. Musicians consist of a broad group of
artists who play musical instruments, sing, compose, and arrange music in a variety of settings.
They perform before live audiences or record in music studios. Instrumental musicians
use such items as the saxophone, guitar, drums, piano, or clarinet to create music.
Singers use their voice. Composers are the creators of original music. Orchestra conductors
lead orchestras and bands, and choral directors direct choirs, singing clubs, and other vocal
ensembles. It’s a tough field, but individuals in it
usually feel an inner compulsion to play and share
their music, so much so that they’re willing to sacrifice
a lot. “Music is in the soul, so I must play on and on; it’s a given,” says one saxophonist
who finally signed a major recording contract. Some lucky musicians—orchestra members,
opera singers, and a few pop artists—make a living at their profession. Very few become rich
and famous—Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Paul McCartney, and Aimee Mann are rare
examples—but most musicians are happy just to be able to play for an audience once in a
while.
The serious musician spends a lot of time practicing and rehearsing. “You have to constantly
better your best, for you’re only as good as your last performance,” said one musician.
Musicians also spend a substantial amount of time on the road, traveling to and from performances,
or just seeking performing opportunities. Since most musicians’ gigs are at night
and on weekends, those people who don’t fully support themselves through their art often
take day jobs to cover the bills.
Musicians can play and compose for a variety of sources. The television, motion picture,
and advertising industries employ musicians to perform live shows, score music for movies,
and compose and arrange theme songs for television programs and advertisements. Theater
orchestras provide live music for plays and other productions. Because live audiences and
auditions are a fact of life for musicians seeking to establish a reputation or find a niche, they
must be able to deal with their anxieties and deliver a quality performance in front of any
gathering of people. Musicians face rejection all the time, but the most disciplined individuals
maintain confidence in their abilities; they can never allow themselves to become complacent
if success is the goal. Most of them work at small-time gigs wherever they can—in clubs
and churches and at weddings, birthdays, and bar mitzvahs—while waiting for their big
breaks.
The road to becoming an accomplished musician starts at a very early age and involves
rigorous study and training. For singers, training begins when their voices mature, and it
never ends. Most other musicians start to play their instruments very early in their lives.
Some musicians enter into private study with a highly reputed master musician, while others
pursue a formal training program at a college or university, gaining a degree in music or
music education. Talent, persistence, and having excellent mentors are essential to becoming
a good musician.
For the recording artist, entertainment lawyers have become more of a necessity than
even a manager, whereas musicians who rely mainly on live performances require only a road
manager (if gigs pay enough to salary one) and an independent booking agent. Mastering the
convoluted relationships among agents,managers, lawyers, and other industry professionals
is a job in itself.
Musicians almost never give up music completely. Even when they leave for more stable,
lucrative fields, they often seek out nightclub engagements at nights and on weekends. Take,
for example, director Woody Allen, still playing his clarinet atMichael’s Pub in New York on
occasion. Some musicians find music-related jobs as teachers, songwriters, and even music
therapists. Musicians with vast technical knowledge may find an opening in the specialized
area of instrument repairs and tuning. They may also find jobs as music librarians, critics,
and disc jockeys. Those who enjoy the business side may become concert managers, booking
agents, music industry executives, and publicists. Some go into the sales and marketing of
musical instruments and record store management.