Can You Build a Career in Music? Of Course You Can!
So you’ve finished school and you’re finally free. You want to start channelling your passion for music into the exciting career you’ve been daydreaming about – but you’re not sure where to start.
Maybe some adults in your life have told you to focus on a ‘real job’ instead. You’ve heard that old adage “do what you love, and you’ll never work a day in your life”. But you’re unsure what a career in music actually looks like. You know that if you just had the chance, you could really make something of yourself in the music industry.
If any of this rings true, then you might be surprised to know you’re already part of an emerging community – the next generation of musicians, artists and entertainment managers who, more than anything want to pursue a career in an area they’re passionate about. A survey conducted by Year 13 captured the views of over 3,000 Gen Z’s to understand the jobs and careers they’re most interested in. The report found:
- More than half (52%) of young people say their passions fall into the categories of creative/artistic,
- 30% say they want a career in the arts and entertainment industry, and
- 12% say they want a career as a musician, ahead of some traditional careers including law, health and engineering.
Take it from us, we’re here to tell you that you absolutely can build a career in music, and we can help you do it!
How Can You Kickstart Your Music Career?
Make Connections With Other Students
Everyone’s journey in music is unique, but nobody ‘makes it’ alone. Along with the other aspiring musicians and entertainment professionals, you’re going to grow, collaborate, work on projects, start bands, study, graduate, and develop all together. At its heart, music and entertainment is an incredible collective effort.
When you study at AIM you’ll be involved in multiple collaboration projects. These are units of study that bring together a group of students from various disciplines – instrumentalists, songwriters, entertainment managers, vocalists and producers – to work on a project together. These experiences replicate what it’s like working in music in the ‘real world’. And even better, whatever you create becomes part of your portfolio of work that will help you with your future career. Your career in music begins when you start studying at AIM, helping you build experience and connections with future music collaborators.
Our student collaborative work is often performed at our Open Days. Come along and see for yourself the incredible works created by our talented students.
Learn From Industry Mentors
When you study at AIM, you’ll be taught by academics with successful careers in music and entertainment – most of whom are still practicing. Throughout your course they will guide and mentor you as you build your skills and expertise in your chosen field.
“I’m really thankful for teachers like Nick and Penny that share their career experiences and the reality of the musical theatre industry, such as audition room etiquette, rehearsal preparation, and the current fashion of the industry. I’m not just prepared with skill sets here at AIM but also getting prepared for the real world. I think that’s invaluable!” – Hannah Chiang (Student)
You’ll also have access to industry professionals and AIM alumni through events and partnerships. AIM has strong industry partnerships, which have developed over time and continue to extend into new and emerging areas of music. Check out our industry partners.
Work It!
Everyone’s journey in music is different. You might already be gigging, or even releasing some of your worn music. Or you might not have any experience. You might be surprised to learn the truth: it’s not actually a big deal to start out after school with no experience. It’s really the experiences you gain over the next few years that can have a bigger impact on your future direction.
The next five to ten years after school are going to be an important period of trial-and-error, and this can come in many different forms.
Although it might sound confusing, you will actually gain a lot of practical work experience through studying at AIM. Our courses will prepare you for a career in music. You can learn the essentials of the industry and choose units of study that will best prepare you for your next step. Units such as music publishing, artist management, and marketing, can complement your specialised focus on composition, performance or creative technology.
There are many valuable opportunities to gain experience built into the AIM experience, offering lots of different real-world facilities and activities to take advantage of.
For example, at AIM, students have the opportunity to participate in studio sessions, perform in productions to a live audience, collaborate on real world projects, utilise cutting-edge facilities and studios containing Digital Audio Workstations (DAW), sample libraries, synthesisers, audio plugins, and mastering software. Plus, they can help administer the student-run record label, 2030 Records.
“AIM has defined my path by introducing me to very relevant people in the music industry, it has also been a brilliant breeding ground for me to grow and expand my personal reputation as a musician which has in turn given me several beautiful opportunities for performance and work!” – Wessa Mitra (student)
Here are some more ways you can gain experience, without having to wait for someone to hire you:
Internships and placements: Just like every other industry, the music industry has its own variety of structured internship and placement opportunities. Find an industry organisation you love and ask them what internships they offer.
Our Bachelor of Arts and Entertainment Management includes a industry replacement in your final year of study. Students have interned at music publishers, artist management firms and record companies and many go on to secure a job after completing their placement.
Volunteer a lot: Music festivals, local community radio stations, community venues, independent music labels, non-profit music industry startups: these are all excellent training grounds for young volunteer music industry professionals to learn the ropes and make contacts. Be prepared to work for free and you will learn some invaluable lessons.
DIY everything: Whether you’re an aspiring musician who needs concert experience or you want to run your own venue as an entrepreneur, ‘Doing It Yourself’ is a fun way around the hiring barrier. Organise your own mini-gigs, productions, or small festivals, start your own band, launch a social media channel, or organise your own studio and recording sessions. Just get together with some friends, brainstorm and go for it.
Above all, remember to stay curious. Now is the right time for experimentation: after all, how do you know if you’re going to like a career if you never tried it? The reality of many jobs can be very different from how they seem on the outside.
Early Entry Options
If you’re super keen, passionate and ready to get started on your music career before you’ve even sat your ATAR exams, did you know there’s an option for early entry into the Australian Institute of Music? You don’t even need your ATAR yet.
You just have to choose a course, submit an application, and then successfully complete an audition for AIM’s Early Entry program. Once you’ve done that, you’ve already secured your place for the following year- before you’ve even finished school.
Ultimately, the path you choose will depend on your individual interests, talents, and career goals. By combining passion with purposeful study and diverse practical experience, you can set yourself up for a really fulfilling career in music and entertainment – even straight from school with an empty resume.
