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Do You Need to Go to Music School to Get an Industry Job?

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Tiffany Young
Do You Need to Go to Music School to Get an Industry Job?

Loving music is as easy as playing your favorite song on repeat, but learning music is a whole other case. Many people who venture into the world of making music might not truly understand how much time and dedication they need to devote in pursuit of this craft and end up getting frustrated and burned out after some time.


The world has evolved, and you’re no longer guaranteed a job after college, and you need to make intelligent career decisions. One of the most common questions people contemplating a career in music have is whether formal music education is worth the time and money. 


Enrolling in a music program may seem like a luxury to others, but it may be just what you need to realize your musical potential and establish yourself as a sought-after industry expert. In the rest of this article, I’m going to take you through the pros and cons of music school and if you should consider enrolling in one.


Music Education Is Useful but Not Mandatory

It’s arguable that talent one-ups skill when it comes to music, especially for singers. However, everything other than actual singing requires skills that can only be acquired through training. Jobs such as sound engineering, music producing, and music therapy, among others, all require professional training.


While it’s possible to learn a lot on your own through the plenty of resources available on the internet and from books, there’s only so far you can go on your own. A professional music teacher and a well-curated curriculum would benefit you much more than YouTube tutorials. Even some of the most popular artists you know attended music schools, so you would definitely be in great company. 


Who Should Go to Music School?

As stated before, not everyone will love music classes. Some people that enroll in music school end up dropping out before the end of the first year. This could be because they were not thoroughly prepared psychologically and emotionally for the course, or because music is just not as easy as most people think it is.


While certain musical genres call for less technical proficiency and familiarity with music theory, others will turn you into a complete music nerd. For instance, you'll need to build a proficient background with musical instruments and theory if you wish to pursue a path with genres like classical music.


On the other hand, if you just aspire to write your own music or be a pop star, formal music education isn’t all that important, but it still gives you a competitive advantage over other industry professionals.

 

Even in high school, where students only learn the fundamentals, music majors complain about how challenging and complicated the subject is. In the USA, the average attrition rate for high school music students is a startling 50%. This proves how difficult music theory can be if you aren’t fully committed to the subject.


Only go if you’re Mentally Prepared 

Music school can be one of the best choices for your career, but it can also be a bad decision if you’re not passionate or as prepared as it requires you to be. You should try your best to be prepared for all the obligations that come with not only school, but also with the career and the life it brings with it. Researching and understanding everything that this industry brings with it will tremendously help you get in the right mindset for tackling the challenges ahead.


It Takes More Than Just Music Education To Be Successful in the Industry

Breaking into the music industry is, as you can imagine, not that simple. The competitive nature of the space prevents even some of the most gifted musicians from growing beyond the grassroots level. You need to invest more than just effort if you want to succeed. You must exercise sound judgment and vigorous self-promotion. If you have the necessary talent or skill, this will be significantly easier.


Building Connections Goes a Long Way

Music school presents you with the opportunity to meet people from the music industry and build a network with industry professionals. Also, the music teachers and trainers are themselves professionals that might offer you mentorship and guidance alongside the classes if you ask nicely.


Music School Helps You Build Your Social and Professional Portfolio

No matter the amount of talent or qualifications you have from music education, they mean nothing if you can't market yourself effectively. At a music school, you have the opportunity to build your portfolio by participating in a lot of projects and signing up for gigs, even as a volunteer. Some music schools even offer studio etiquette and contract negotiation classes. In addition, you also learn how to promote your music independently.


You need some people skills alongside your talent and music skills, and going out helps you work on that. A good personality goes a long way in establishing industry friends and work partners. If you’re naturally charismatic, you might just have a nice advantage. 


Being active on social media also helps build a social presence that’s considered by potential employers or collaborators in the industry.  


The Music School You Choose Matters

Top-rated music schools offer a lot more than just music education. They essentially serve as a segway to the industry for their graduates. However, they come at a cost most people are not able to afford. Other music schools, however, manage to offer top-quality music education while still remaining relatively affordable. 


Wrapping Up

While some people might argue that going to a music school isn’t really necessary for a career in the music industry, it sure does help a lot. For singers, the lack of music education doesn’t really have much of an effect like it does to music production and studio workers.


Music school isn’t all about theory and instruments, it also entail training that’s vital in setting you up for success in the industry, which would be a lot more difficult if you were on your own. You can literally go from a no one in the industry to having a successful career. To cap it all off, you don’t have to attend physical classes, most schools have the option to take all your classes online from wherever you want. 

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