Music Programs and Degrees

Music is called the universal language. Professional musicians, singers, composers, conductors, and music teachers all get to speak the language every time they go to work.

Practice, Practice, Practice... and Career Training

Particularly for performing musicians, years of playing or singing are required to develop great skill. However, formal training through a college degree can supplement practice with a solid grounding in music theory, composition, or performance. If teaching is what you'd like to do, you will need a bachelor's degree, and possibly a master's or PhD degree. Given the often erratic schedules of many musicians, which frequently include work during nights and weekends, online degree offerings offer helpful flexibility.

Sounding the High Note

Music teachers and musicians who are under contract with symphonies, orchestras, or film and television music ensembles have more job security because of their steady work schedules. Wages for musicians as a group vary widely, depending on the type and frequency of performances. The mean hourly wage for musicians in May 2008 was $28.28 per hour, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.