The world of Music : From passion to paycheck

Music is said to be a universal language and the food for the soul, and there are many talented musicians who have been gifted with the rare talent of creating music in different ways. The field of Music can be very enriching and benefiting in terms of career prospects too.

The students who are interested students have to choose from a range of options such as performing professionally,teaching, sound editing & recording, arranging, composing, music, virtual reality, software development, sound environment creation (for the internet, games, and programmes), music production & radio jockeying etc..

Production/Direction

Music direction and production could be one of the much rewarding and accomplish a career in the field of Music.

The professionals can find many opportunities in the field of television as well as in the film industry. The competition, however, is brain boggling and may take a lot of time for someone to make an impression in the industry.

Teaching

While a number of schools employ the music teachers, the private music - teachers are in demand too. With the boom in economy & the reality shows like the 'Indian Idol' & 'Star Voice of India' that seek to capture the fancy of the television viewers, an ever-increasing no. of youngsters are now keen on learning music. The students who have been trained already are taking private lessons of the beginner students in order to make extra money.One of the foremost benefits of teaching privately is, that the working hrs are flexible in most cases. Editing & sound recording is another popular option for the music lovers. Sound editors very often deal with the complex electronic equipment.This profession may require the knowledge of audio science. The popularity of the gaming culture amongst the youngsters has created options in the field of virtual reality sound creation too.

Radio Jockey

The heightened growth in Radio Jockeying has been a result of an increase in the stature of the radio industry in India. The shows that are hosted by different Radio jockeys are completely their responsibilities. Radio jockeying as a profession has gathered steam in the last few years owing to the remarkable growth of the radio industry across the country. The success of each radio station vastly depends upon its radio jockeys (RJs). The Radio Jockey must have in-depth insights in several genres of music in order to keep listeners hooked onto the station. Besides playing music and hosting the shows, the RJ is needed to interview the celebrities, manage contests at the radio station.

Music Therapy

Quite contrary from conventional vacations, the music therapy is gradually gaining noticed as an important medicinal science. According to expert musicians, the musicians and music therapists, human react to the different types of sounds in different ways. These therapeutical sounds could be used to render therapy to the people experiencing physical pain, depression, and stress etc.

Right Chord

Personal motivation and the ability to work in a team, showmanship, talent along with the technical know-how, the confidence & the ability to work under deadlines are the crucial skills required to succeed in the field of music business. A vibrant personality is a must for RJs and performers. Music performers may require additional and specialised knowledge of the music theory.

Remunerations:

The profile of work in the music industry is interesting but the industry is rewarding too. According to the people from the music industry, the music teachers in school earn almost 2 lakhs per annum, the private music teachers and instructors earn around Rs 3000 per students for 3 - 4 sessions in a week. The sound editors can earn within a range of Rs. 10000 - 50000 in a month, varying according to the talent and the versatility.

The professional music composers normally quote in the range of Rs 10,000 - 20,000 per-song, apart from the charges between Rs 5,000 - Rs 10,000 for arranging the songs. The Professional rock - bands charge about Rs 10,000 for one performance. The experienced Radio - Jockeys could earn around Rs 30,000 in a month, the fresh graduates who are seeking to become RJs, could earn anywhere between Rs10,000 - Rs 15,000 in a month.

Institutes and Colleges

Some of the institutes and universities in India that offer degrees and diplomas in music are:

• Bengal Music College
• Bangalore University
• Ramjas College in University of Delhi
• University of Calcutta
• Government Music College - Indore
• Bharatiya Sangeet Mahavidyalaya - Gwalior

Source: Shreya Shikha, City Journalist - Patna, CollegeDekho