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Career Details

27-2042.00 - Musicians and Singers


Play one or more musical instruments or sing. May perform on stage, for broadcasting, or for sound or video recording.


Key Facts
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Bright Outlook
Career Details
Green Job
Career Details
Current Employment
173,300
Estimate
Forecasted Employment
179,300
Estimate
Change in Employment
+6,000
Estimate
Change in Employment %
+3.5%
Estimate
Tasks
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Tasks
The tasks listed below can be performed to prepare you for a career in this field.
Core
  • Perform before live audiences in concerts, recitals, educational presentations, and other social gatherings.
  • Sing a cappella or with musical accompaniment.
  • Interpret or modify music, applying knowledge of harmony, melody, rhythm, and voice production to individualize presentations and maintain audience interest.
  • Specialize in playing a specific family of instruments or a particular type of music.
  • Sing as a soloist or as a member of a vocal group.
  • Observe choral leaders or prompters for cues or directions in vocal presentation.
  • Memorize musical selections and routines, or sing following printed text, musical notation, or customer instructions.
  • Play musical instruments as soloists, or as members or guest artists of musical groups such as orchestras, ensembles, or bands.
  • Sight-read musical parts during rehearsals.
  • Play from memory or by following scores.
  • Practice singing exercises and study with vocal coaches to develop voice and skills and to rehearse for upcoming roles.
  • Listen to recordings to master pieces or to maintain and improve skills.
  • Teach music for specific instruments.
  • Provide the musical background for live shows, such as ballets, operas, musical theatre, and cabarets.
  • Audition for orchestras, bands, or other musical groups.
  • Seek out and learn new music suitable for live performance or recording.
  • Make or participate in recordings in music studios.
  • Promote their own or their group's music by participating in media interviews and other activities.
  • Make or participate in recordings.
Generic
  • Perform in television, radio, or movie productions.
  • Practice performances, individually or in rehearsal with other musicians, to master individual pieces of music or to maintain and improve skills.
Supplemental
  • Research particular roles to find out more about a character, or the time and place in which a piece is set.
  • Learn acting, dancing, and other skills required for dramatic singing roles.
  • Transpose music to alternate keys, or to fit individual styles or purposes.
  • Direct bands or orchestras.
  • Compose songs or create vocal arrangements.
  • Arrange and edit music to fit style and purpose.
  • Improvise music during performances.
  • Collaborate with a manager or agent who handles administrative details, finds work, and negotiates contracts.
  • Compose original music, such as popular songs, symphonies, or sonatas.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Knowledge
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Knowledge

The items listed below are organized into sections that contain knowledge useful for pursuing a career in this field. Each section also contains a "Percentage of Importance" statistic that shows how relevant an item is to the occupation.
 Fine Arts
  • 92%
    Knowledge of the theory and techniques required to compose, produce, and perform works of music, dance, visual arts, drama, and sculpture.
 English Language
  • 66%
    Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
 Foreign Language
  • 58%
    Knowledge of the structure and content of a foreign (non-English) language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition and grammar, and pronunciation.
 Communications and Media
  • 54%
    Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
 Psychology
  • 52%
    Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
 Education and Training
  • 51%
    Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
 Customer and Personal Service
  • 51%
    Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Tools
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Tools
The tools listed below include machines, equipment, tools, and software that is useful for individuals who are interested in this career.
 Keyboard instruments
  • Accordions
  • Musical organs
  • Pianos
  • Synthesizers
 String instruments
  • Acoustic guitars
  • Autoharps
  • Banjoes
  • Cellos
  • Clavichords
  • Double basses
  • Dulcimers
  • Harps
  • Harpsichords
  • Mandolins
  • Violas
  • Violins
 Brass instruments
  • Alto horns
  • Alto saxophones
  • Baritone horns
  • Bugles
  • Euphoniums
  • French horns
  • Mellophones
  • Sousaphones
  • Trombones
  • Trumpets
  • Tubas
 Audio and visual equipment
  • Amplifiers
  • Audio equalizers
  • Clip-on microphones
  • Compact disk CD players
  • Compact disk CD trainers
  • In-ear monitors IEM
  • Karaoke machines
  • Live microphones
  • Monitor microphones
  • MP3 trainers
  • Studio microphones
  • Universal serial bus USB microphones
  • Wireless microphones
 Woodwind instruments
  • Bagpipes
  • Bassoons
  • Bb clarinets
  • English horns
  • Musical cornets
  • Musical flutes
  • Oboes
  • Piccolos
 Percussion instruments
  • Bongo drums
  • Handbells
  • Kettle drums
  • Maracas
  • Marching bells
  • Marimbas
  • Orchestral cymbals
  • Timpani
  • Vibraphones
  • Xylophones
 Musical instrument parts and accessories
  • Capos
  • Cymbal stands
  • Digital tuners
  • Drum mallets
  • Effects pedals
  • Effects racks
  • Electronic metronomes
  • Finger picks
  • Guitar stands
  • Instrument mutes
  • Sheet music stands
  • String cutters
  • String winders
  • Stringed instrument bows
  • Vocal processors
  • Wooden drum sticks
 Wave and sound physics materials
  • Instrument tuning forks
 Computers
  • Laptop computers
  • Personal computers
  • Tablet computers
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Technology
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Technology
The technologies listed below include machines, equipment, tools, and software that is useful for individuals who are interested in this career.
 Computer game or entertainment software
  • Acoustica Mixcraft
  • Apple GarageBand
  • Audacity
  • Avid Technology Pro Tools
  • Avid Technology Sibelius
  • iZotope Ozone
  • MakeMusic Finale
 Content authoring and editing software
  • Appointment scheduling software
  • Blogging software
  • FacebookHOT
  • Instagram
  • Microsoft ExcelHOT
  • Microsoft WordHOT
  • YouTubeHOT
 Educational or reference software
  • Cantovation Sing & See
  • Singing Success
 Information exchange software
  • Email software
  • Snapchat
  • Twitter
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Certifications
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Certifications
The certifications listed below are useful to pursue if you are interested in a career in this field.
No specific certifications are listed for this career
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Licensing
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Licensing
The licensing information below is organized into sections and is useful for pursuing if you are interested in a career in this field.
No specific licensing information is listed for this occupation in the area you have selected.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Related Programs
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Online Programs related to this career, offered by participating institution(s), are listed below.

Clicking on the Degree programs in the list below will take you away from the Careers page.
INSTITUTION
PROGRAMS
Laurel Ridge Community College
Southwest Virginia Community College