Job profile: Musician

Music legends such as Mozart and Chopin or exceptional talents such as the Chinese pianist Lang Lang and the Italian composer Ludovico Einaudi have made it. They reap fame for their work and are known all over the world. Many people see this as success in the music industry. They believe that all other musicians are poor wretches who have to work hard to earn a living.

But the truth is different: There is a broad middle class. The majority of these artists have a relatively stable income. They may not be world stars, but they are not poor either. And in the opinion of many artists, that is a good thing, because they have dedicated themselves to art. It is much more important to them to make good music and inspire the audience.

Of course, there are also those who have set themselves the goal of conquering the world with their music and selling one record after another. But especially in classical music, this poses a great challenge for up-and-coming talents, as the competition is fierce. However, with a lot of discipline and practice, this dream could become a reality.

On the one hand, artists produce music, such as the composer Hans Zimmer, who became famous for his fantastic film music. On the other hand, musicians (instrumentalists) interpret pieces of music by composers, songwriters and authors. Guitarists, drummers, pianists and saxophonists, for example, use their instruments for this purpose. Most musicians have usually committed themselves to one genre (e.g. classical music, jazz), but blends of styles are also possible. Artists love to have the freedom to let off steam and express themselves creatively.

Musicians can perform on stage as solo artists or be part of a group. For example, they can play in the orchestra pit under the stage as an orchestra member in theaters, operas or musicals and accompany live performances. Pop or rock bands, for example, rehearse a repertoire of cover songs, arrange their own songs, play them at concerts and record them in the recording studio for later release.

They can also be booked as party bands for various occasions or hired as regular bands for the musical entertainment of TV shows. They are also used to record jingles for radio or television commercials. In the end, solo artists can pursue almost exactly the same activities as bands, with the difference that they make music alone and therefore have less instrumental variety.

Professional musicians spend a large part of their work on personal practice sessions to optimize their own skills. They also rehearse new pieces of music. This takes up a lot of time, as musicians sometimes even completely dispense with their sheet music for performances and play from memory.

Many musicians also earn some extra money by teaching music privately or at various training centers. They teach interested people how to play instruments, teach composition, songwriting or other topics.

Industries in which musicians find employment:

• Film, television and radio

• Musical theater, opera, operetta and musicals

• Advertising and web

• Show events

• festivals

Musicians are masters of their instruments and prove their distinct musicality time and time again. Nevertheless, they are not satisfied with the status quo. They strive for perfectionism and are constantly looking for new ways to inspire their audience and win over fans.

Ambitious and determined, they pursue their individual goals and are not discouraged by setbacks. On the contrary - they learn and continue on their path stronger than before. Because they know: Success does not come overnight.

They also have good communication skills, which benefit them greatly when networking. They are aware that consistently making contacts and investing in their fan base is another piece of the puzzle to success.

Successful musicians are risk-takers, otherwise they wouldn't be where they are now. They were brave enough to send their audio demo to a label, buy new and expensive equipment or move to another city where the music scene is booming and sources of inspiration never dry up.

However, all of the above qualities and skills are of little use to musicians if they are not well organized and do not follow an action plan. Good planning of your own time and prioritization of tasks is therefore essential. Successful musicians are also organizational talents and good at coordinating tasks.

If you want to work in the classical music genre, training cannot begin early enough. Young children are already being trained in early musical education and encouraged to practice for hours on end. This is because places are limited and only the best get a place. Getting a job without a classical music degree is almost unthinkable in this segment.

In other genres, things are a little more relaxed. Studying at a college or university is not absolutely necessary. However, it is obvious that, for example, only musicians who "really have what it takes" are hired or accepted into bands. As a rule, these are musicians who have a solid education. They do not always have a degree from a renowned training institution, but have taken private lessons from a music teacher, for example.

If you would like more detailed information on how exactly to become a musician, what it takes and what requirements are necessary, then take a look here: How to become a musician?

A musician's earnings depend first and foremost on the genre in which they work. In Germany, Schlager, pop music and German rap are very popular. As a result, salaries for musicians in these segments are rising. International success also plays a major role. A distinction is also made between self-employment and permanent employment.

The exact composition of salaries for self-employed musicians has become increasingly unclear over the years. This is because very few artists today can live from the sale of their albums or downloads alone. A large part of their income also comes from ticket sales for concerts, live appearances at various events on television or radio, merchandising and other income from advertising, social media and GEMA.

In theater and state orchestras, permanently employed musicians are usually paid according to a collective agreement. This means that the larger the orchestra, the higher the musicians' earnings. Daily rates vary between 160 and 240 EUR and rehearsals are remunerated at around 80 EUR. If musicians are booked on a regular basis, they can earn around EUR 2,000 to EUR 2,600 gross per month. Of course, these figures can vary depending on the region.

As the music industry is very diverse, musicians have various opportunities for further development.

For example, most musicians acquire an additional qualification to be able to teach as a music teacher or lecturer. As a second mainstay, this is easy money.

Thanks to their strong musical skills, instrumentalists can also try their hand at composing. Both instrumentalists and composers also have the opportunity to engage in songwriting and write lyrics to their music. So it stands to reason that some musicians even go on to produce their own music or support up-and-coming talent. There are also musicians who can sing and are used as additional (background) singers in bands, for example.