Musicians and Singers
Tasks Include:
- 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.
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The data sources for the information displayed here include: O*NET™; US Department of Labor (BLS); Virginia Workforce Connection. (Using onet291)
Projections Quick View:
Virginia: +8.4%
National: +2.1%
Education
Bachelor's Degree
Job Zone:
Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
Income Range:
No Data
Median Earnings:
National
No Data
State
No Data
Regional
Musicians and Singers
Description
Career Cluster: | Arts, Audio/Video Technology & Communications
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Play one or more musical instruments or sing. May perform on stage, for broadcasting, or for sound or video recording.
The data sources for the information displayed here include: O*NET™. (Using onet291)
Musicians and Singers
Education
Required Level of Education
- Bachelor's Degree = 29.07%
- Less than a High School Diploma = 19.24%
- Master's Degree = 17.15%
- High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED) = 12.14%
- Doctoral Degree = 9.33%
- Some College Courses = 8.56%
- Post-Doctoral Training = 3.33%
- Post-Baccalaureate Certificate - awarded for completion of an organized program of study; designed for people who have completed a Baccalaureate degree but do not meet the requirements of academic degrees carrying the title of Master. = 0.85%
- Post-Secondary Certificate - awarded for training completed after high school (for example, in agriculture or natural resources, computer services, personal or culinary services, engineering technologies, healthcare, construction trades, mechanic and repair technologies, or precision production) = 0.32%
Related Work Experience
- Over 4 years, up to and including 6 years = 14.90%
- Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years = 13.09%
- Up to and including 1 month = 12.05%
- Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years = 10.71%
- Over 10 years = 9.78%
- Over 8 years, up to and including 10 years = 9.72%
- None = 9.45%
- Over 3 months, up to and including 6 months = 9.08%
- Over 6 years, up to and including 8 years = 7.74%
- Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year = 3.46%
On-Site or In-Plant Training
- None = 62.68%
- Up to and including 1 month = 9.81%
- Over 1 month, up to and including 3 months = 7.05%
- Over 10 years = 6.82%
- Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year = 5%
- Over 3 months, up to and including 6 months = 3.71%
- Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years = 2.65%
- Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years = 2.29%
On-the-Job Training
- None or short demonstration = 40.28%
- Anything beyond short demonstration, up to and including 1 month = 19.54%
- Over 3 months, up to and including 6 months = 11.16%
- Over 10 years = 9.61%
- Over 1 month, up to and including 3 months = 8.33%
- Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year = 4.44%
- Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years = 3.11%
- Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years = 2.69%
- Over 4 years, up to and including 10 years = 0.84%
The data sources for the information displayed here include: O*NET™. (Using onet291)
Musicians and Singers
Tasks
Core Tasks Include:
- 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.
Supplemental Tasks Include:
- 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.
Tasks Include:
- 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.
The data sources for the information displayed here include: O*NET™. (Using onet291)
Musicians and Singers
Knowledge
% | Subject | Description |
---|---|---|
88.50 | Fine Arts | Knowledge of the theory and techniques required to compose, produce, and perform works of music, dance, visual arts, drama, and sculpture. |
53.75 | English Language | Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar. |
The data sources for the information displayed here include: O*NET™. (Using onet291)
Musicians and Singers
Skills
% | Subject | Description |
---|---|---|
59.50 | Speaking | Talking to others to convey information effectively. |
56.25 | Active Listening | Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times. |
56.25 | Monitoring | Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action. |
53.00 | Reading Comprehension | Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents. |
53.00 | Social Perceptiveness | Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do. |
50.00 | Critical Thinking | Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems. |
50.00 | Coordination | Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions. |
The data sources for the information displayed here include: O*NET™. (Using onet291)
Musicians and Singers
Abilities
% | Subject | Description |
---|---|---|
72.00 | Oral Comprehension | The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences. |
72.00 | Oral Expression | The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand. |
68.75 | Hearing Sensitivity | The ability to detect or tell the differences between sounds that vary in pitch and loudness. |
62.50 | Written Comprehension | The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing. |
62.50 | Auditory Attention | The ability to focus on a single source of sound in the presence of other distracting sounds. |
62.50 | Speech Recognition | The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person. |
62.50 | Memorization | The ability to remember information such as words, numbers, pictures, and procedures. |
62.50 | Speech Clarity | The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you. |
59.50 | Originality | The ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem. |
59.50 | Near Vision | The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer). |
56.25 | Speed of Closure | The ability to quickly make sense of, combine, and organize information into meaningful patterns. |
53.00 | Written Expression | The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand. |
53.00 | Flexibility of Closure | The ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material. |
53.00 | Finger Dexterity | The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects. |
53.00 | Manual Dexterity | The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects. |
50.00 | Fluency of Ideas | The ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity). |
50.00 | Information Ordering | The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations). |
50.00 | Perceptual Speed | The ability to quickly and accurately compare similarities and differences among sets of letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns. The things to be compared may be presented at the same time or one after the other. This ability also includes comparing a presented object with a remembered object. |
50.00 | Arm-Hand Steadiness | The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position. |
The data sources for the information displayed here include: O*NET™. (Using onet291)
Musicians and Singers
Work Activities
% | Subject | Description |
---|---|---|
79.75 | Performing for or Working Directly with the Public | Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests. |
73.25 | Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships | Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time. |
71.00 | Processing Information | Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data. |
70.50 | Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events | Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events. |
69.00 | Thinking Creatively | Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions. |
65.75 | Getting Information | Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources. |
62.50 | Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People | Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people. |
62.00 | Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates | Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person. |
56.50 | Making Decisions and Solving Problems | Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems. |
54.25 | Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge | Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job. |
53.25 | Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work | Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work. |
52.75 | Analyzing Data or Information | Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts. |
52.00 | Developing and Building Teams | Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members. |
51.50 | Performing General Physical Activities | Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling materials. |
50.50 | Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings | Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems. |
The data sources for the information displayed here include: O*NET™. (Using onet291)
Musicians and Singers
Work Styles
% | Subject | Description |
---|---|---|
91.00 | Dependability | Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations. |
87.00 | Attention to Detail | Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks. |
81.75 | Cooperation | Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude. |
81.50 | Achievement/Effort | Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks. |
81.00 | Persistence | Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles. |
79.00 | Stress Tolerance | Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high-stress situations. |
77.25 | Self-Control | Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations. |
73.75 | Adaptability/Flexibility | Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace. |
69.50 | Initiative | Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges. |
66.75 | Social Orientation | Job requires preferring to work with others rather than alone, and being personally connected with others on the job. |
66.50 | Concern for Others | Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job. |
64.75 | Independence | Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done. |
60.75 | Integrity | Job requires being honest and ethical. |
59.75 | Leadership | Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction. |
57.25 | Analytical Thinking | Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems. |
54.75 | Innovation | Job requires creativity and alternative thinking to develop new ideas for and answers to work-related problems. |
The data sources for the information displayed here include: O*NET™. (Using onet291)
Musicians and Singers
Work Values
% | Subject | Description |
---|---|---|
77.83 | Relationships | Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service. |
72.17 | Achievement | Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement. |
55.50 | Recognition | Occupations that satisfy this work value offer advancement, potential for leadership, and are often considered prestigious. Corresponding needs are Advancement, Authority, Recognition and Social Status. |
The data sources for the information displayed here include: O*NET™. (Using onet291)
Musicians and Singers
Work Context
% | Subject | Description |
---|---|---|
92.00 | Importance of Being Exact or Accurate | How important is being very exact or highly accurate in performing this job? |
91.60 | Work With Work Group or Team | How important is it to work with others in a group or team in this job? |
91.40 | Physical Proximity | To what extent does this job require the worker to perform job tasks in close physical proximity to other people? |
84.60 | Contact With Others | How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it? |
81.40 | Spend Time Sitting | How much does this job require sitting? |
80.80 | Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls | How much does this job require using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls? |
79.80 | Indoors, Environmentally Controlled | How often does this job require working indoors in environmentally controlled conditions? |
75.20 | Time Pressure | How often does this job require the worker to meet strict deadlines? |
74.20 | Face-to-Face Discussions | How often do you have to have face-to-face discussions with individuals or teams in this job? |
71.80 | Level of Competition | To what extent does this job require the worker to compete or to be aware of competitive pressures? |
70.20 | Electronic Mail | How often do you use electronic mail in this job? |
69.00 | Importance of Repeating Same Tasks | How important is repeating the same physical activities (e.g., key entry) or mental activities (e.g., checking entries in a ledger) over and over, without stopping, to performing this job? |
65.20 | Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions | How much does this job require making repetitive motions? |
64.00 | Freedom to Make Decisions | How much decision making freedom, without supervision, does the job offer? |
63.20 | Coordinate or Lead Others | How important is it to coordinate or lead others in accomplishing work activities in this job? |
61.80 | Sounds, Noise Levels Are Distracting or Uncomfortable | How often does this job require working exposed to sounds and noise levels that are distracting or uncomfortable? |
61.40 | Frequency of Decision Making | How frequently is the worker required to make decisions that affect other people, the financial resources, and/or the image and reputation of the organization? |
58.80 | Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results | What results do your decisions usually have on other people or the image or reputation or financial resources of your employer? |
55.20 | Deal With External Customers | How important is it to work with external customers or the public in this job? |
The data sources for the information displayed here include: O*NET™. (Using onet291)
Musicians and Singers
Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
- Overall Experience
- A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
- Job Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
- Examples
- Many of these occupations involve coordinating, supervising, managing, or training others. Examples include real estate brokers, sales managers, database administrators, graphic designers, conservation scientists, art directors, and cost estimators.
- Education
- Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
The data sources for the information displayed here include: O*NET™. (Using onet291)
Musicians and Singers
Earnings Benefits*
Region | Entry Level | Median | Experienced |
---|---|---|---|
United States | No Data | No Data | No Data |
Virginia | No Data | No Data | No Data |
Region | Entry Level | Median | Experienced |
Alexandria/Arlington | No Data | No Data | No Data |
Bay Consortium | No Data | No Data | No Data |
Capital Region Workforce Partnership | No Data | No Data | No Data |
Central VA/Region2000 | No Data | No Data | No Data |
Crater Area | No Data | No Data | No Data |
Greater Peninsula | No Data | No Data | No Data |
Hampton Roads | No Data | No Data | No Data |
New River/Mt. Rogers | No Data | No Data | No Data |
Northern Virginia | No Data | No Data | No Data |
Piedmont Workforce | No Data | No Data | No Data |
Shenandoah Valley | No Data | No Data | No Data |
South Central | No Data | No Data | No Data |
Southwestern Virginia | No Data | No Data | No Data |
West Piedmont | No Data | No Data | No Data |
Western Virginia | No Data | No Data | No Data |
* Earnings Calculations:
Regional Earnings:
Entry = Annual mean of the lower 1/3 wage distribution;
Experienced = Annual mean of the upper 2/3 wage distribution.
National and State Earnings:
Entry = Annual 10th percentile wage;
Experienced = Annual 75th percentile wage.
The data sources for the information displayed here include: US Department of Labor (BLS); Virginia Workforce Connection. (Using onet291)
Musicians and Singers
Employment Projections
USA: 2023-2033
Virginia: 2022-2032
Regions: 2020-2030
Current | Projected | % Change | |
---|---|---|---|
United States | 169,300 | 172,800 | +2.1% |
Virginia | 975 | 1,057 | +8.4% |
Region | Current* | Projected | % Change |
Alexandria/Arlington | No Data | No Data | No Data |
Bay Consortium | No Data | No Data | No Data |
Capital Region Workforce Partnership | No Data | No Data | No Data |
Central VA/Region2000 | No Data | No Data | No Data |
Crater Area | No Data | No Data | No Data |
Greater Peninsula | No Data | No Data | No Data |
Hampton Roads | No Data | No Data | No Data |
New River/Mt. Rogers | No Data | No Data | No Data |
Northern Virginia | No Data | No Data | No Data |
Piedmont Workforce | No Data | No Data | No Data |
Shenandoah Valley | No Data | No Data | No Data |
South Central | No Data | No Data | No Data |
Southwestern Virginia | No Data | No Data | No Data |
West Piedmont | No Data | No Data | No Data |
Western Virginia | No Data | No Data | No Data |
The data sources for the information displayed here include: US Department of Labor (BLS); Virginia Workforce Connection. (Using onet291)
Musicians and Singers
Related Occupations
Related Occupations
The related occupations here have similar general capabilities and interests; career explorers may also be interested in the related occupations:- Music Directors and Composers
- Actors
- Choreographers
- Dancers
- Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary
- Talent Directors
- Musical Instrument Repairers and Tuners
- Music Therapists
- Producers and Directors
- Poets, Lyricists and Creative Writers
- Sound Engineering Technicians
- Self-Enrichment Teachers
- Disc Jockeys, Except Radio
- Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys
- Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators
- Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
- Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
- Athletes and Sports Competitors
- English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary
- Historians
Careers in Performing Arts Pathway:
- Actors
- Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes
- Choreographers
- Costume Attendants
- Dancers
- Disc Jockeys, Except Radio
- Entertainers and Performers, Sports and Related Workers, All Other
- Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance
- Media Programming Directors
- Media Technical Directors/Managers
- Music Directors and Composers
- Musicians and Singers
- Producers and Directors
- Talent Directors
The data sources for the information displayed here include: O*NET™. (Using onet291)
Musicians and Singers
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CareerOneStop Arts, Audio/Video Technology & Communications Videos
Overview
Occupations
The data sources for the information displayed here include: New York State Department of Labor; New Jersey Department of Labor; California Occupational Information Coordinating Committee; CareerOneStop. (Using onet291)
Musicians and Singers
Military Training
The following military job classifications are available for this occupation:
- Musicians, General
- Not Occupationally Qualified, General
The data sources for the information displayed here include: Defense Manpower Data Center. (Using onet291)
Musicians and Singers
Proficiency Ratings
These proficiencies are scored on a scale from 1 to 5 with 1 being not
important to the job and 5 being extremely important to the job.
The data sources for the information displayed here include: O*NET™. (Using onet291)
Musicians and Singers
Titles
- Accompanist
- Baritone
- Bassoonist
- Bugler
- Cellist
- Choir Member
- Church Organist
- Clarinetist
- Concert Pianist
- Concert Singer
- Double Bass Player
- English Horn Player
- Flutist
- Guitar Player
- Guitarist
- Harpist
- Horn Player
- Instrumentalist
- Musician
- Oboist
- Opera Singer
- Organist
- Percussionist
- Pianist
- Piano Player
- Piccoloist
- Rapper
- Soloist
- Tenor
- Timpanist
- Trombonist
- Trumpet Player
- Trumpeter
- Violinist
- Violist
- Vocalist
The data sources for the information displayed here include: O*NET™. (Using onet291)
Musicians and Singers
Related Schools
- Averett University
- Bluefield University
- Brightpoint Community College
- Christopher Newport University
- Eastern Mennonite University
- Emory & Henry University
- Ferrum College
- George Mason University
- Hampton University
- Hollins University
- James Madison University
- Liberty University
- Mary Baldwin University
- Norfolk State University
- Old Dominion University
- Radford University
- Randolph-Macon College
- Roanoke College
- Shenandoah University
- Southern Virginia University
- Southwest Virginia Community College
- Sweet Briar College
- Tidewater Community College
- University of Lynchburg
- University of Mary Washington
- University of Richmond
- University of Virginia-Main Campus
- Virginia Commonwealth University
- Virginia Highlands Community College
- Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
- Virginia State University
- Virginia Union University
- Virginia Wesleyan University
- Washington and Lee University
- William & Mary
The data sources for the information displayed here include: O*NET™. (Using onet291)