Musicians and singers
Career Overview
This group includes musicians, singers and teachers of vocal and instrumental music. Musicians and singers:
- Perform with orchestras, choirs, opera companies and popular bands in establishments such as concert halls, lounges and theatres and in film, television and recording studios
Music teachers:
- Teach in conservatories, academies and private homes
Job Titles
Duties
Musicians:
- Play one or more instruments as soloists or as members of a musical group before audiences or for recording purposes
Singers perform the following duties:
- Sing musical arrangements as soloists or as members of vocal groups before audiences or for recording purposes
Teachers of music or voice:
- Teach technique, interpretation and music theory to students through private or group lessons
Special duties
Musicians and singers usually specialize in specific types of music such as classical, country, ethnic, jazz, opera or popular music.
Earnings
Earnings is income that workers receive in exchange for their labour. Depending on the type of employment, earnings can be in the form of wages (hourly), salaries (fixed monthly or annual) or self-employed earnings.
Work Environment
# Workers Employed
5,635% Employed Full Time
14%Key aspects of the work in this occupation:
- Work usually takes place in an indoor setting, but can also takes place outdoors in varied weather conditions
- Workers may be exposed to sounds loud enough to affect hearing
Career Pathways
Career path information is currently not available.
Related Careers
Occupational Interests
It’s important to understand what kinds of occupations align with your interests.
For more about occupational interests visit Skills for the Future Workforce > Characteristics.
Here are the top occupational interest(s) for this career profile:
Education, Training and Skills
- Musical training from a university or college or through private instruction is usually required.
- Members of orchestras and other professional classical musicians and singers usually require a university degree in music.
- Musical talent and ability, as demonstrated during an audition, are important hiring criteria.
- Membership in a guild or union related to the occupation or type of performance may be required.
Education programs in B.C.
The following program areas are related to this occupation:
- Music Related
Skills
Every job calls for a certain set of skills. Knowing those skills is the first step in finding a good career fit.
Here, you will find the 10 most relevant workplace skills. Some are more important to achieving success in a certain career than others. These skills may come naturally to you or you may need to gain them through education, training and experience.
See the list of work-related skills below, ranked in order of importance for this career. Check out the list and see if this career matches your skills—take that first step!
Talking to others to share information effectively.
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.
Keeping track of and assessing your performance, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Actively looking for ways to help people.
Managing one’s own time and the time of others.
Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Labour Market Statistics
Discover data, facts and information that have been gathered and analyzed. Learn about the characteristics of the economy and labour market in B.C.
Employment
Find out about employment types and trends by region and industry.
Employment
5,635Employment by Region
| Region | Employment | % Employment of this Occupation |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 90 | 1.6% |
| Kootenay | 130 | 2.3% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 3,885 | 68.9% |
| North Coast and Nechako | 45 | 0.8% |
| Northeast | 15 | 0.3% |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 420 | 7.4% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 1,055 | 18.7% |
Labour Market Outlook
The B.C. Labour Market Outlook is a 10-year forecast of the expected supply and demand for labour in the province. It’s usually updated every year. The purpose is to provide British Columbians with the knowledge to make informed decisions on careers, skills training, education and hiring.
Forecasted Job Openings (2024-2034)
2,490Forecasted Job Openings
Forecasted Employment Growth Rate
Composition of Job Openings
Job Openings by Region (2024-2034)
| Region | Job Openings | Avg. Annual Employment Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 30 | 2.0% |
| Kootenay | 30 | -0.3% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 1,690 | 1.4% |
| North Coast and Nechako | 10 | 2.1% |
| Northeast | Not available | Not available |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 260 | 1.8% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 470 | 1.5% |
Industry Highlights
Learn about the opportunities in B.C.'s major industries, including employment trends, earning potential, locations of work and more.
Forecasted Job Openings by Industry
| Industry | Job Openings (2024-2034) |
|---|---|
| Educational Services | 1,630 |
| Information, Culture and Recreation | 680 |
| Repair, Personal and Non-Profit Services | 60 |
| Retail Trade | 40 |
| Professional, Scientific and Technical Services | 30 |
Resources
-
British Columbia Music Educators' Association (BCMEA)bcmusiced.ca
-
Canadian Federation of Music Teachers' Association (CFMTA)www.cfmta.org
-
Canadian Federation of Musicians (CFM)www.cfmusicians.org
-
Music BC Industry Associationmusicbc.org
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