Each week we explain the ins and outs of a job area. Today, music
What sort of talents and qualities will I need? A career in music requires talent, dedication and tenacity. Career possibilities in music have expanded greatly in the past few years, but it is still a difficult area to earn a living in.
What are my options? Jobs in music can largely be sorted into categories. Creative careers include composing, songwriting and arranging for all sorts of areas, from advertisements to films and theatre. Performing careers involve people singing or playing music in a band, as part of an orchestra or in a performance, such as an opera. Music production and direction can involve anything from conducting an orchestra to producing a pop CD.
Music education is a real vocation and a way for many to make a living from music. An emerging area is that of music therapy, where music is used to help people with disabilities or emotional difficulties function more successfully.
People rarely work in just one of these categories; most of those working in music will have a number of jobs. Many performing musicians will also teach, for example. Composers might double up as producers.
What qualities will I need? Often people who have successful music careers have odd combinations of skills. Creative careers obviously require a great deal of talent, but, at the same time, people need to be flexible. A fragile ego is no good if you are working on music pieces or arrangements for clients who want you to write something that they have in mind for an ad or a film. A good head for business is also important.
A performer must have a thick skin and be able to deal with criticism. Tenacity is really important. You have to chase jobs in music. Also, make sure you're easy to work with.
Being a music producer requires leadership skills. A producer needs technical ability as well as knowledge of music theory and song structure. Producers need to get on well with colleagues and session musicians.
Music teachers and therapists need patience and a talent for encouraging people who may be lacking in confidence or motivation.
What do I need to get on to a music course? Courses often have restricted entry. This means they can require an audition and interview as well as the points required for the course. Some courses require a minimum mark in Leaving Cert music. It is vital to do your research and contact colleges on time.
What courses are available? Here are the colleges and the courses they offer. Athlone IT: business with music and instrument technology. UCC: music or arts with music. CIT: music. DCU: music performance. Dundalk IT: applied music. DIT: music or music foundation. Limerick IT: music technology and production. UL: Irish music and dance or music, media and performance technology. Mater Dei: religion, education and music for second-level teaching. NUI Maynooth: music technology or music. TCD: music or music education. (Trinity also allows a number of combinations of music and other subjects.) Waterford IT: music.
For more information There are a couple of useful resources: www.newschool.ie, the website of Waltons New School of Music, has fact sheets about careers in music. You can get more details about post-Leaving Cert courses and other options in music on www.qualifax.ie. Individual colleges have detailed information about their own courses; some, such as UL, have useful career sections as well.
If you would like to see a career area covered, e-mail gfaller@irish-times.ie
