SUNY Orange

Performing Arts: Music

Arts & Communications Major

OCCUPATIONAL SUMMARY

This two-year program prepares students to enter the employment world in a field connected with music. Students choose one of three areas of concentration: Music, Music Business, or Jazz/Commercial. Generally, students who are serious about music will spend considerable time honing their skills with their instrument of choice far beyond the associates degree. If performance is the direction desired, further study is recommended and a requirement for true proficiency to develop. Many universities, colleges, and music conservatories supplying the baccalaureate and masters degrees are located in the metropolitan area. Musicians, singers, and related workers play musical instruments, sing, compose, arrange, or conduct groups in instrumental or vocal performance. They also spend a great deal of time practicing, alone or with their band, orchestra, or other musical group.

For someone to go into the music "business," it is also recommended that another course of study follow the associates degree. Attending a school such as Five Towns located in Huntington, New York would be advantageous to begin a career in the arts business. Internships are available through artistic ventures in New York City where opportunities abound to make connections with people in the field.

Another avenue for the music business is retail: selling and servicing musical instruments; selling or distributing sheet music and related literature; selling music-related items including all of the above and servicing musical instruments rented to music students at all levels of education.

Beyond the music business and performance is the field of education. Teaching instrumental or choral music provides many opportunities for employment in both the public and the private sectors. Of course, a bachelor's degree followed by a master's degree are requirements to work in education at any level. Opportunities to teach music are expected to grow at an average rate in elementary schools and in colleges and universities, but at a slower rate in secondary schools.

Another field in the music business would include those jobs requiring apprenticeship as well as courses of study. People who work on them use a highly skilled craft which they developed over a lengthy time period. These technicians work in four specialities; band instruments, pianos and organs, violins, and guitars. A small number of technical schools and colleges offer programs in instrument repair; some music stores with large repair shops can hire trainees to learn the work as they assist. Such a course of study under the direction of experienced technicians can last two to five years.

RELATED JOB TITLES FOR
PERFORMING ARTS: MUSIC
(Many jobs require more study than a two-year degree)

Choral Director Conductor Teacher
Musician Singer Arranger
Piano Tuner Instrument Repairer Store Manager/Owner
Orchestrator Copyist Librettist
Lyricist Songwriter  

SOURCES

*Occupational Outlook Handbook published by the U.S. Department of Labor

*America's Top Job for People Without a Four-Year Degree. Fifth edition by J.Michael Farr. 2001 JIST Works, an imprint of JIST Publishing, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana

*150 Great Tech Prep Careers. Andrew Morkes, Managing Editor, Career Publications. 2001 Ferguson Publishing Company, Chicago, Illinois

*Orange County Community College - College Catalog 2002-2003.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL (845) 341-4444

HOURS OF OPERATION

8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. – Mon, Tues, Thurs & Fri

8:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m. – Wed