Exciting Career Prospects in Music

Author: Sanyukta S. Kashalkar

Article:
Gone are the days when music was merely considered to be a
hobby, or a good way to pass time. Music today is much more than
a vocation. It has to have passion and zest. It is very
competitive and youthful. And therefore this article has to be
young; having the flavour of something new, probably because I
am young, my readers will also be young, and it is the youth who
make what the present day India is all about - a Young and
Dynamic India. Thus foraying into the vast ocean of Music, and
especially into Hindustani Music, many young buds like me are
likely to be concerned about their careers in this field. With
the growth of the entertainment industry, which comprises of all
sorts of faculties and organizations, like the film industry,
advertisement industry, radio and television industry etc.,
music has become a highly respectable and lucrative career
option. But unfortunately, many of us from a small town like
Allahabad are unaware of where music is actually turning to.
Well, in this fast paced age, where everything has converged to
the era of “Nano” (I am talking of the latest technology
that has zoomed up like a Sapaat Taan of the Gwalior Gharana), I
better express my views in a simple, direct, but a comprehensive
manner. First things First - What is Music? Let us first know
what Indian music in brief is all about. “Geetam, vaadyam
tatha nrityam, triyam Sangeet muchchyate”, a maxim from the
granth …#34; Sangeet Ratnakar by the famous musicologist
Sharangdev. The above maxim says that Indian classical music,
which is a school of thought, comprises of three different arts
which are: (a) Vocal, or Singing (the expression of sound
vocally like Khayal, Ghazal, Bhajan etc.); (b)Playing of a
musical Instrument (the expression of music through an
Instrument like Sitar, Veena, Harmonium etc.) and last but not
the least, (c)Dancing (The expression of music bodily through
the art of Dance).

No matter how you express it, these three arts are
interdependent on each other. This is true of either the styles,
or Paddhatees, in Indian music -- the North Indian Music and the
Carnatic Music. The growth of the entertainment Industry has
opened many new avenues and vistas for those who want to
seriously pursue their love for music professionally. The field
of Music (Singing, Dancing and Playing of Instruments) offers
many different kinds of jobs based on a person’s interest and
capabilities. Broad categorizations of jobs available in the
music industry include -

1. Teaching: One of the most traditional trades in music. Those
who prefer a one to one interaction can start their very own
music school where they can teach / train other aspiring
singers. You can open coaching class for training students for
scholarships and competitive exams such as the Sangeet Natak
Academy, MHRD, NET, for shows like Sa Re Ga Ma etc., jingles for
ad campaigns. This is no doubt a very lucrative career option as
well. Nevertheless I would like to suggest, come out of this and
explore some other options as well! 2. Sound Recording: For this
you need to be a trained sound engineer, or a trained sound
recordist, a combiner or an editor. But for this one must know
the latest computer softwares in the market, recording gadgets
and should be able to manage the recording instruments and the
techniques easily. Singers too with a good trained voice can
sing at recording studios and lend their voices as back up
voices etc. 3. Concerts / Performances and Live Shows: A
professional singer/instrumentalist, or a freelancer, has the
choice to perform in front of a live audience at concerts and
live shows, including marriage parties, birthday parties and
religious functions etc. 4. DJ’s, VJ’s & RJ’s: Those who
are not directly into singing, but enjoy music all the same, can
become a DJ (Disc Jockey), RJ (Radio Jockey) and VJ (Video
Jockey). All three deal with music. However, what differentiates
them is the medium they use to reach the audiences. A VJ
presents music on Television, an RJ presents music on Radio and
a DJ presents music at live shows, or Discos. 5. Instrument
Repairing / Instrument Manufacturing: This industry has a lot of
scope and prospects, particularly in large urban towns. The
traditional as well as modern electronic instruments, or
instrument substitutes, are spreading their wings and are
getting accepted across the world. A career in this focused zone
can not be ignored in today’s world. 6. Event Management/
Organizer: You need to be creative and an instictive manager, or
a supervisor. One can organize music shows. After all, what does
SpicMacay do? Or, why to go that far, the music conferences
organized by Prayag Sangeet Samiti every year too are an
example. Wonder, they may be looking to outsource the management
of the event to some one who can deliver. 7. Music Therapists:
Examples are plenty where music has been successfully utilized
for therapeutic purposes. It has been used even for increasing
crop , or milk production. One can setup a clinic in a Spa, like
that is done by an aroma therapist or a gemologist etc and cure
people and do something for a social cause.

8. Music Composer: This is one of the most creative and
innovative field in music where, “You Make Music”. Yes, you
will make people tap and rap to your music. This seems to be
very interesting but at the same time it has to be an
intelligent work done. A music director, or a composer, must
know various kinds of music. Suppose, you are given a task to
make a track which has the ‘feel’ of Arabic music or Boul
geet or Lavani. Did you notice, I said ‘feel of’…, That
means it should present the mood of Arabic music (or Boul or
Lavani), but at the same time it should not be totally Arabic
music.

9. Music Arranger: His job is different than that of the music
composer but is not exactly what people think. He has to
‘arrange’ music of a song or background scores. One needs to
have a great knowledge of various instruments, sounds etc. and
should be able to setup a network of all kinds of music
professionals whose services can be harnessed as per need of the
Music Director.

10. Orchestration: Remember “Maihar Band” of Ustad
Allahuddin Khan! Another one of Zubin Mehta? I can suggest some
more names like, Beethoven, Mozart, Hyden etc. All of them
created music using various instruments and instrumentalists and
created history. 11. Website or Software Designer: I am not
joking. If you are a software professional, or a website
designer, you can create a music website of your own and also a
software and people will admire you.

12. Paper Reading: If you have a good understanding of music,
you can write a paper and read it to discerning audiences. That
means explain your research or project to an audience. If you
know how to use power-point of Ms Office in Windows you can make
a power-point presentation and can give lecture using it.

13. Music restorer: This means you can restore music recordings
like, CDs, Cassettes, Videos, Tapes and create you own archive
or a library.

14. Music vendor: You can sell music by opening a music shop
etc..

15. Others: Go on for music in Hotels, Airlines, Railways, Army
Bands which are fancy and equally professional with fixed
salaries.

There are many Institutions offering training in Music like
Music Departments in various known Universities, autonomous
bodies like Gandharva Mahavidyalaya, Prayag Sangeet Samiti and
Bhatkhande University etc. Make sure to check the course
schedule before enrolling.

Whichever field you choose, if you want to seriously pursue a
career in music, you must get professionally trained. A strong
professional training will help you to make your space in this
highly competitive industry. Make sure to train well for a good
number of years to gain confidence and go a long way in your
career because music is a performing art where you cannot afford
to have a phobia for stage or Manch as we call it. Try to
‘think’ beyond the routine. After all, a major part of our
music is based on the simple theory of Khayal. Thus be bold and
come forward because you have opted for the most wonderful and
creative subject which can never be measured. Believe me!

About the author:
Hi I am freelance writer and want to write for music.