A degree in music history offers an engaging and stimulating way to explore the art form and its impact on society. With an increasing demand for music history experts, there is no limit to the potential career paths available to those with this unique background. Whether you wish to pursue a career in academia or the music industry, a degree in music history can open the door to a wide range of opportunities. From teaching music theory, to working in the music industry, to recording music, there are countless ways to use a music history degree. This blog post looks at the various options available to those with a degree in music history, as well as providing advice on how to make the most of it. By exploring the skills and knowledge gained through studying music history, you can understand how to apply them to various career paths.
- Music supervision for film, television, video games and advertising.
- A&R, talent scouting.
- Manage a theater, club or performing arts center.
- Work in the programming or education department of an arts organization.
What can you do with a music history degree?
Here are 15 careers you can pursue with a degree in music history. Please click on the Indeed salary links below for the most recent salary information.
A transcriptionist’s main responsibilities include producing written materials from the words and sounds of audio recordings or live events. They frequently focus on producing text documents for a particular sector, like the medical industry or business development
A music historian who has experience transcribing music sheets from recordings or live performances may find work as a transcriptionist. They have the ability to accurately recognize and write down various musical components, such as the notes and melody, after listening to a piece of music. The words from performances involving music, such as operas or plays, may be transcribed by additional transcriptionists who are knowledgeable about the history of music.
Primary duties: A musician plays one or more musical instruments. They may play for live musical events, recordings or both. The performing of a particular genre or style of music, such as musical theater, classical, rock, pop, or country, is a specialty of many musicians. While some musicians may perform solo, others may do so with a band or orchestra. Depending on factors like their instrument of choice, responsibilities might include practicing frequently, either alone or in a group, applying for jobs, learning new music, and assisting with song arrangements.
Primary responsibilities: A recreational therapist assists their patients by fusing pleasurable or artistic pursuits with therapeutic ideas and methods. Clients who are recovering from injuries, have disabilities, or want to improve their emotional or mental health may be treated by recreational therapists.
These therapists frequently focus on helping their patients with a particular leisure activity, like the arts or sports. Drama, music, or dance therapy are possible specializations for recreational therapists with a background in music history. One’s duties include determining a patient’s specific needs, creating individualized treatment plans, utilizing recreational resources to assist clients in overcoming wellness challenges, and tracking a patient’s progress.
A theater manager’s main responsibilities are to supervise the staff and operations at a theater. They frequently oversee the theater’s general administrative and financial responsibilities, managing budgets and attending meetings with important stakeholders like the board of directors. The artistic decisions made by theater managers, such as selecting the plays or musicals for the upcoming season or corresponding with potential performers to feature Other responsibilities could include negotiating terms of contracts with performers or their estates, allocating resources like staff or props, writing grant proposals, or organizing fundraising events.
A writer’s main responsibilities are to create written materials like newsletters, books, or articles. Professional writers frequently concentrate on producing content for a particular industry, such as marketing or health care. Writing about the music industry, including current music trends, new albums, or recent performances they attended, can be a specialty for authors with a background in music history. A skilled author who is knowledgeable about the history of music might focus on writing about the performing arts.
While some writers may find employment opportunities as full-time employees of one particular company, others may find work as independent contractors or freelancers. Normally, they are in charge of all phases of the writing process, including research, writing an outline, and revising their work. Other responsibilities could include employing SEO tactics, publishing materials in accordance with industry standards, promoting their services, and proofreading for small errors like typos.
Primary duties: A composer creates original music compositions. Many musicians, including those who work in the film and television industries, specialize in a particular musical genre, such as classical music or show tunes. Some of these experts may also produce musical arrangements, which entails altering the orchestration of preexisting songs by, for example, adding instruments.
To aid in the composition process, a composer may use musical instruments or digital music software. Other responsibilities might include working with a lyricist, submitting resumes for positions or commissions, collaborating with musicians to record music, and keeping abreast of the most recent developments in their chosen field or musical specialization.
Curators’ main responsibilities are to create and arrange collections of works of art or artifacts for exhibition at museums, galleries, studios, historical societies, and other places. They assist in coming up with strategies to explain to the general public the significance of their arranged artwork or artifacts, such as through thoughtful arrangements or interpretive placards. A curator with experience in the history of music might focus on creating shows about music, theater, or dance.
Some curators may work full time for a particular museum or other organization, while others may only find temporary employment for things like traveling or one-off exhibitions. Other duties include negotiating acquisition or contract terms, creating grant proposals, locating or keeping track of items, and publicizing exhibitions.
A music executive is a position of leadership within a record label or music production company. They manage one or more aspects of running a record label, such as hiring new musicians, promoting forthcoming albums, creating fresh or updated albums, settling contracts, or organizing musician tours. Depending on their area of expertise, they may also be responsible for hiring or training staff, scheduling studio recording sessions, submitting copyright requests, and managing mass production.
A professor’s main responsibilities are to instruct college or university students. Additionally, they frequently carry out ground-breaking research in their field with the assistance of their academic institution. Depending on the type of professorship they hold, their duties may include giving lectures, facilitating class discussions, grading exams or essays, and meeting with individual students.
In this field, professors frequently have backgrounds in music history. People with experience in the field of music history might also think about becoming professors in fields like music theory, drama, dance, or performance.
Librarians’ main responsibilities are to select, arrange, catalog, and assist patrons in using library resources efficiently. They could work in a variety of libraries, such as public, museum, or university ones. A librarian may oversee many different aspects of a smaller library, including administration, technology, and a variety of library resources, including books and films. However, larger libraries frequently employ librarians who are experts in a particular field or genre of media. A librarian with experience working with various audio formats might prefer to work at a library where they can pursue their specialization.
Depending on their area of expertise, a librarian’s specific responsibilities may vary, but they may include cataloguing resources, responding to user inquiries, assisting users with their research, and auditing the library’s holdings.
An education specialist’s main responsibilities include assisting teachers and school administrators in creating or changing academic strategies, educational standards, and class curricula. They seek to develop strategies that will enable students from all backgrounds to learn more effectively and complete their academic objectives. Education specialists may work closely with teachers or for a school district or educational board at a higher level.
While others might focus on one or more fields, some education specialists may help with enhancing strategies and curricula for all academic disciplines. An education specialist with experience in the history of music might focus on improving methods, lessons, and goals for arts education, including music, visual arts, creative writing, and drama classes.
Archivists’ main responsibilities include researching, evaluating, and organizing historical documents and artifacts. Their objective might be to determine the significance of the artifact or to relate it to other historical details or facts.
While some archivists focus on a particular historical period, others may concentrate on a particular category of artifacts, such as manuscripts, photographs, maps, or films. Music historians who work as archivists might prefer to focus on audio recordings. Depending on their area of expertise and type of employment, specific tasks may include starting public outreach initiatives, figuring out the best way to preserve historical artifacts, maintaining databases, and assisting people in retrieving artifacts from their collections.
A director of public relations’ main responsibilities include managing the staff, operations, and publicity campaigns that affect how the public perceives their organization. They develop their company’s overall public relations strategy and direct other public relations staff members to advertise or correspond while adhering to this strategy. Additionally, a director of public relations typically cultivates and maintains connections with media representatives, such as journalists. Other responsibilities might include managing their department’s budget, creating press releases, distributing PR reports to important stakeholders, and researching data on PR to determine how to improve campaigns.
The main responsibilities of a music teacher are to instruct students in music. Some music instructors might give their students a summary of the various musical genres, concepts, and arrangements. Other music educators may focus on a specific musical style, period of time, method, or instrument, such as teaching students about classical music or piano technique.
Teachers of music may work full-time at a school or instruct students one-on-one. Depending on where they work and their areas of expertise, their duties may include leading rehearsals, monitoring student progress, assisting students in learning to read music, and planning performances for their students.
Among their main responsibilities is being an authority on historical figures, settings, occasions, and trends. Through techniques like examining historical artifacts, reading old documents, and visiting historical sites, they carry out in-depth research. Academic writings or lectures are common ways for historians to communicate their findings to the general public. They might get a job at colleges, research institutes, museums, or archives.
Most historians focus on a particular historical era, like the medieval era or World War II Additionally, historians may choose to focus on a particular aspect of their chosen historical era, such as its literature, politics, or economic trends. History majors in music may prefer to focus on the musical styles and compositions of a particular historical period.
8 more jobs you can do with a music history degree
If you have a degree in music history, you might want to look into these additional eight careers:
4 jobs I’ve gotten with a music degree
FAQ
Is a music degree worth anything?
However, because degrees are pricey, some people might question whether getting a music degree is the best course of action. For the majority of aspiring musicians, a music degree is indeed worthwhile. Degrees in music are necessary to become employed in the music business and to develop well-rounded musicians.
Can you study music history?
Majors in music history investigate the historical development of musical style, technique, and theory as well as the changing social effects of music. Students in this major, which is part of the Department of Music Studies, can concentrate in either voice, piano, or an instrument.
Is music history a college major?
A major in music history examines music of all genres, from all eras and locations. You will study the development of classical music throughout the world. You’ll study ethnic music from African-Americans, Latin-Americans, and Asian-Americans.
What does a music degree get you?
Performer (solo vocalist and/or instrumentalist, session musician, band/orchestra member, musician in the background, performing artist, show band)
