A catalyst for evolution and growth in the training and support of musicians.

• A Career in Music –
  What Does It Really Take?
  
• Why (or why not) Go into Music?
  
• Choosing a Music School
  
• My Teen the (Starving?) Musician
  

Preparation

• The Young Musician’s Challenge:
  Enter College as an “Expert”
• Life as a College Music Major
  

Connection

• NEW - Performing Arts College Fair Tips
• College Audition Tips
• The Art of Networking: Hustle and Self-Promotion 101

Experience

• Musicians' Lifestyles: Creating a Life in Music
• Getting Started Now
• Musician Profiles—remember, no one does just one thing!

Reflection

• see the rest of the Articles on this website.
  

A Career in Music
Some Ideas for Aspiring Pros
By Janis Weller

Welcome to the Elision Institute pages for those young musicians considering a career in music (and their teachers, parents and supporters). The music scene can be a fabulous way to make a life, but it’s not an easy path, and it’s often not as glamorous as it might first appear. The more you know going in, the better decisions and choices you’ll be able to make. Knowledge and awareness will give you a head start toward tailoring a music career that best matches your talents and interests with the music world’s needs and opportunities.

Whether you are a high school student just beginning to explore music career options, a committed undergrad musician well on your way to realizing your dreams, or a new graduate embarking on auditions, interviews, teaching and the gig scene, these pages can help you on your journey ahead. There’s also lots of helpful information here for teachers who work with young musicians considering a career in music.

Be sure to talk with your private teacher, your school music directors, professors, pros in the biz and other trusted adults in your life to get their opinions and thoughts too. As you gain a deeper awareness of your own talents and your unique temperament and personality, and as you also begin to understand some of the ways the music world works, then you can start to create a meaningful and interesting career path that is a good fit for you.

In this section there are brief articles that connect with each of the topics in the continuous path illustrated above. This career circle is ongoing, and can be entered at any point whether you are early in your training or well into your career as a musician. There are many ways to use this circle as a career development tool, but more on that later.

— School and college music directors and teachers —
The Elision Institute can tailor workshops on these and other topics for your students. For more information, see Consulting, or contact us directly at JWeller@ElisionInstitute.org

Sketched artwork in articles created by Chris Weller, Copyright 1998.


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