What Can You Do With a Music Degree? 10 Career Paths

The idea that a music degree leads only to performance careers is a common misconception about studying the arts.

In reality, the question "what can you do with a music degree" has far more practical answers than most expect. Whether your passion lies in performance, production, composition, or management, such a degree builds the foundation for a range of professions both within and beyond the arts.

Key Takeaways

• Music degrees prepare you for careers in performance, education, healthcare, media production, business, and more.
• Transferable skills like discipline, project management, and collaboration make music graduates valuable across industries.
• Many specialized roles, like music therapy, require additional certifications beyond your degree.

What is a Music Degree?

A music degree is a structured program that helps students build professional competence in music. Most programs include coursework in performance, theory, history, composition, and music technology. Depending on your concentration, you might focus on classical performance, jazz studies, music education, music business, musicology, or applied areas such as therapy or production.

As Carly Flaagan, Director of the Music Therapy program at the University of North Dakota, explains, music-based professions often look deceptively simple from the outside. "When you look at a Music Therapy session, you walk in, you're going to see something that looks really fun, simple, basic — two or more people engaging in music-making or music listening of some sort." What isn't immediately visible, she notes, is the clinical reasoning behind every choice. In the therapist's mind, "there's intense clinical decision-making happening at every stage of the session," which is why formal training is required.

Flaagan explains that becoming a music therapist requires a degree, a six-month internship, and board certification, supported by coursework in neuroscience, anatomy, psychology, and music. This academic foundation allows therapists to actively shape musical elements in ways that support therapeutic goals in the moment, rather than simply facilitating musical activity.

Bachelor's programs typically take four years to complete and combine classroom learning with ensemble work, recitals, and internships. Many also incorporate courses in music business, giving students practical knowledge of contracts, royalties, and promotion. These skills support a wide range of professional paths, including performance, composition, education, and applied music careers.

Career Paths with a Music Degree

A music degree can lead to many rewarding directions. Some potential paths that connect your musical training with different professional settings include:

Music Performer

Performance remains one of the most recognized careers in music. Performers may work as soloists, orchestra members, band musicians, or session players. Daily activities often include rehearsing, recording, and performing for live audiences.

A performing career calls for skill, consistency, and flexibility. Many musicians combine income sources such as teaching, recording projects, and live events while developing their artistic profiles. Networking and an understanding of the business side of music support steady work and professional growth.

Music Teacher / Educator

Music education takes place in schools, studios, community programs, and online lessons. Teachers introduce students to instruments, theory, and performance while encouraging confidence and creativity.

Public school teachers usually need certification in addition to a music degree. Their work involves planning lessons, conducting ensembles, organizing performances, and assessing student progress. Private instructors set their own schedules and fees, building a student base around their area of expertise.

Teaching offers stable employment and the satisfaction of guiding learners at different stages. Many educators also continue to perform, maintaining their connection to active musicianship.

Music Composer / Songwriter

Composers and songwriters create original pieces for artists, media, and live productions. Their work involves expressing ideas through music and collaborating with performers, directors, and producers to realize a shared vision.

Career opportunities exist in publishing, licensing, and freelance projects. You might write for film, advertising, or recording artists. Building a portfolio and understanding copyright procedures helps secure royalties and protect intellectual property.

Creative skill, organization, and persistence contribute to long-term success. Many composers begin with smaller collaborations before progressing to larger productions.

Music Producer

Producers guide the creative and technical process of recording music. They work with artists and engineers to shape a project's sound, manage sessions, and prepare tracks for release.

This role requires both musical and technical understanding. Producers often use digital audio workstations, microphones, and editing tools while helping performers achieve their best results. Communication skills are essential, as producers coordinate artistic goals with time and budget considerations.

Many begin their careers as engineers or assistants, gaining studio experience before managing full productions. A record of reliable, high-quality work leads to consistent projects and professional recognition.

Sound Engineer / Audio Technician

Sound engineers manage audio quality in studios, concert halls, theaters, and broadcast environments. Their work involves setting up equipment, running soundchecks, mixing performances, and resolving technical issues during recording or live events.

This path requires technical knowledge of mixing consoles, audio software such as Pro Tools, and a variety of microphones. Problem-solving skills and the ability to remain focused under pressure are essential, particularly during live productions.

Certifications in audio engineering can strengthen your qualifications, although practical experience carries the most weight. Many engineers begin by assisting professionals or volunteering at venues to build skills and industry contacts.

Music Therapist

Music therapists use structured musical activities to support mental health, physical rehabilitation, and emotional well-being. They may work in hospitals, schools, senior centers, or private clinics, helping clients manage pain, improve communication, and express emotions in healthy ways.

This specialized field requires clinical education in addition to musical training. The University of North Dakota's Music Therapy program is the only undergraduate degree of its kind in the state. It combines classroom study with clinical practice through a four-year curriculum and a six-month internship, preparing students for national board certification.

Graduates work with individuals of all ages across diverse settings.

Arts Administrator / Manager

Arts administrators coordinate the work of orchestras, theaters, festivals, and cultural organizations. Responsibilities include managing budgets, marketing events, organizing logistics, and securing financial support.

This role fits individuals who enjoy working with artists while focusing on planning and coordination. Strong project management, communication, and fundraising abilities are key to keeping organizations productive and financially sustainable.

Many administrators begin in entry-level positions, gaining familiarity with operations before moving into leadership roles. A background in music supports an understanding of artistic goals while business knowledge ensures effective organizational management.

Music Journalist / Critic

Music journalists research, write, and report on developments in the music industry. They review performances and recordings, conduct interviews, and provide commentary for magazines, websites, and broadcast platforms.

Strong writing and analytical skills are central to this work. Journalists meet deadlines, pitch story ideas, and cultivate a personal writing style that connects with readers. Building relationships with editors, publicists, and artists provides access to new material and professional opportunities.

Many begin by writing for blogs, student publications, or local outlets to develop portfolios. Some continue freelancing for flexibility, while others pursue staff positions at media organizations.

Film, TV, and Game Scoring

Composers for visual media create music that enhances storytelling in film, television, and interactive entertainment. Their work helps shape mood, reinforce character development, and guide audience response.

This field demands collaboration with directors, producers, and sound teams to synchronize music with visual pacing. Technical fluency is important, as composers use digital audio workstations, virtual instruments, and live recording sessions to produce final scores.

Most begin by creating music for short films, student projects, or independent games. Each project expands their portfolio and demonstrates versatility across styles and genres.

Music Business and Entrepreneurship

Entrepreneurs in music manage independent labels, booking agencies, production companies, or music technology ventures. They combine artistic understanding with marketing, finance, and leadership.

This path appeals to self-motivated individuals who enjoy building and managing projects. Work may involve representing artists, producing events, or developing digital platforms that connect musicians and audiences. Knowledge of contracts, royalties, and audience engagement strategies supports sustainable business growth.

Many start small, testing ideas while performing or working in related music roles. Courses in business or mentorship from industry professionals help refine strategies and encourage long-term stability.

Transferable Skills from a Music Degree

A music degree cultivates a wide range of abilities that extend into many professional contexts. Through its combination of performance, analysis, and collaboration, music study develops habits of focus, precision, and creative problem-solving that employers consistently value.

Some such transferable skills include:

• Discipline: Strengthened through regular practice, rehearsals, and performances that require preparation and sustained attention to detail.
• Creativity: Enhanced by composing, interpreting, and refining musical ideas, encouraging innovation and adaptability.
• Collaboration: Gained through ensemble participation, where listening, cooperation, and shared responsibility are essential to group success.
• Organization: Practiced by coordinating rehearsals, planning performances, and managing long-term projects within defined timelines.
• Communication: Refined through teaching, performing, and presenting, fostering clarity, confidence, and responsiveness to audiences and peers.

How to Choose Your Music Career Path

Selecting a music career begins with understanding your own motivations and strengths. Consider the aspects of music that engage you most, whether performance, composition, teaching, production, or therapeutic practice. Reflect on how you prefer to work, whether it be independently, collaboratively, or in educational or administrative settings, as these preferences often indicate which paths will be most fulfilling.

Exploring potential careers through research and experience helps clarify your direction. Speak with professionals, attend workshops or industry events, and pursue internships to gain insight into daily responsibilities and required skills. These experiences also reveal where further study or training may be necessary.

Some professions within music call for additional qualifications. For example, music therapists complete clinical training, while educators pursue teaching certification. Planning your education timeline with these requirements in mind ensures a smooth transition from degree completion to professional practice.

Professional networks also play a central role in building a career. Connections with professors, guest artists, and peers often lead to collaborative projects and employment opportunities. Maintaining involvement in campus ensembles, regional organizations, and online music communities strengthens both professional relationships and visibility within the field.

Shaping Your Future in Music

A music degree develops the artistry needed to perform, compose, and teach while also providing the discipline and professional understanding valued across many industries. You are never confined to a single path; music graduates build fulfilling careers wherever sound, communication, and human connection intersect.

Music therapy represents one of the most distinctive pathways within this field. It transforms musical understanding into a clinical practice that promotes emotional health, communication, and rehabilitation. The University of North Dakota's Music Therapy program offers a curriculum that integrates musical study with supervised clinical experience, guiding students toward board certification and professional readiness.

For those seeking an academic environment that links musicianship with meaningful service, UND's Music Therapy program provides a strong foundation for both artistic and professional growth.

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