Making a career choice is a serious decision. Students must take time to think about their interests and abilities to figure out which career will be the best for them. It must be something you would enjoy doing regularly and it must help fulfill your future aspirations. Often you will hear people telling you to do what you love, which is true. But your career choice should also take into consideration your unique abilities. Selecting a career considering the skills you’re good at will help you to stand out from the crowd.
The “Theory of Multiple Intelligence” proposed by Howard Gardner (a Harvard psychologist) in his book “Frames of Mind” talks about the different types of intelligence. According to him, human intelligence can be divided into eight types. Musical intelligence is one of them.
People who make career choices based on their dominant intelligence tend to do well because that’s what they are good at. If you are someone with high musical intelligence, consider careers that will allow you to use this strength to excel professionally. Today we will share the best career options for people who score high in musical intelligence. But first…
What do we mean by musical intelligence?
Understanding music in terms of its sound, tone, rhythm, harmony, and melody is a sign of musical intelligence. Musically intelligent people enjoy and appreciate music at an emotional level. They connect with it better and, therefore, are good at expressing their thoughts and feelings through music. Their strong musical awareness allows them to pick up the nuances of various music styles and genres. Hence, you should not be surprised if you see some of them play a tune they heard for the very first time!
People with high musical intelligence can compose and perform musical pieces. Musical instruments are their best friends! If you enjoy music and observe its criticalities, and unlike your friends, if you love playing a musical instrument and people appreciate your sense of music, you are a musically intelligent person.
12 Go-to career options for people with high musical intelligence
1. Singer
As a singer, you will be performing vocal music in a recording studio or in front of a live audience. Singers know how to sing songs and musical pieces. They follow all the rules of music and so can sing well, which is pleasing to the ear. If you have been singing for a long time and think you are good at it, consider building a career in singing.
Your job as a singer will be to work in unison with music composers and use your voice to create melodious songs. You will also be involved in rehearsals, recording sessions, music promotions, and live concerts. Singers are highly regarded for their talent, and there will always be a need for singers to create great music.
2. Music Teacher
Do you remember your music classes in school? How did your music teacher help you learn music and musical instruments through fun tasks and activities? Being a music teacher is a rewarding career. You earn a livelihood and also get to teach and imbibe a love for music in other people. In this profession, you will be responsible for creating lesson plans, conducting sessions, evaluating your students’ performances, and more.
You will also have the flexibility to choose where you wish to conduct your classes. It could be at a school, in a community hall, or even at your home! Depending on your expertise, you can teach vocal music, a musical instrument, or both.
3. Music Composer
A music composer is someone who writes music compositions. All the songs and musical pieces you listen to are the brainchildren of a music composer. These are the professionals who give a tune and background music to lyrics. They are the ones who put it all together. Most music composers create and record musical compositions for tv shows, movies, commercials, etc.
Using their exceptionally high musical intelligence and creativity, a music composer creates musical pieces that are in tune with the video to leave a lasting emotional impact on the listeners. So, if you love composing music and dream of working with producers and directors to reach a vast audience, you can consider becoming a music composer.
4. Record Producer
A record producer is a professional who is responsible for the final product of a music piece. Their prime role is to ensure that the music produced is of the highest quality and meets industry standards. To get this done, record producers hire studio musicians for the recording process. They also set schedules and monitor the recording process to get the best output.
While singers and musicians may sometimes feel overwhelmed by their need for musical precision, they do understand and appreciate it when the final product is worth the extra effort they put in because of the record producer’s goal to make it sound as good as possible.
5. Symphony Conductor
If you have ever seen a classical music performance by an orchestra or a choir, you would have definitely seen a symphony conductor. It is that one person you see holding a baton and guiding the singers/ musicians during their performance. Their role as conductor is to ensure the team is playing it altogether. They serve as a messenger to convey the score to the musicians through baton movements or hand gestures.
You can also find them doing rehearsals with their team of musicians before final performances to make sure they are playing music in harmony. Sometimes, symphony conductors also work with guest conductors and soloists to direct memorable musical performances.
6. Songwriter
People who are good at words and have a great sense of music can look forward to a career in songwriting. As a songwriter, you will be responsible for coming up with beautiful lyrics for songs belonging to different genres. You will have to consider the mood of the setting and write the lyrics that complement the mood. Although songwriters work individually, they do have to collaborate with music composers and producers when needed.
Some songwriters also prefer writing songs and pitching them to music publishers and other professionals in the music industry to seek new opportunities. Do you think you can create lyrics that will resonate with listeners and leave a lasting impression? If it’s a “yes,” you could have a bright future as a songwriter.
7. Session Musician
Session musicians are music professionals hired by producers to support singers by playing the musical score during a recording session. Many of them have expertise in playing multiple instruments such as keyboard, guitar, drums, etc. A session musician participates in rehearsals before the final recording. This is done to minimize mistakes and retakes during the recording session.
In collaboration with the record producer and singer, session musicians work toward producing high-quality music that listeners can enjoy for years to come. Becoming a session musician is a great way to keep your love for musical instruments alive as you get to play the ones you love, even at work!
8. Music Therapist
Are you a believer in the healing power of music? If yes, a music therapist could be your ideal career choice. As a music therapist, you will use music to minimize stress and help people deal with their problems in a better way. Music therapy is beneficial for people of all ages and abilities. So, you will be responsible for enhancing the health and mental well-being of people belonging to a wide age group.
Music therapists provide their services in hospitals, rehabilitation facilities, mental health clinics, and even schools. Your job will entail conducting examinations, creating treatment plans, organizing therapy sessions, and keeping track of a patient’s progress. In a nutshell, you will be able to employ the therapeutic benefits of music to help your patients heal and live healthier lives.
9. Disk Jockey
For those of you who love upbeat music and high-energy environments, you will love the job of a disk jockey. Commonly known as a DJ, this person instills life in indoor or outdoor spaces by playing different types of music to create a fun, dynamic atmosphere. As a DJ, you will be using modern musical equipment such as CDJs and turntables to remix songs and create lovely transitions to keep people engaged.
Generally, DJs perform at events and parties where people look forward to having a good time. As good music equals good times, having a good DJ is vital for an event’s success. If you have a knack for good music and love interacting with people, a career as a disk jockey may interest you.
10. Jingle Writer
A jingle is a short song with a catchy tune that’s easy to remember. These are memorable and attention-grabbing. As a jingle writer, you will be writing interesting musical compositions with lyrics that can be used for marketing and advertising purposes. You can often hear jingles in advertisements for various goods and services.
Jingle writers collaborate with producers and advertisers to create music, lyrics, and record demos. The main objective of a jingle writer is to produce music that communicates the company’s message and sticks in the minds of listeners, ultimately promoting brand awareness and boosting sales.
11. Sound Editor
The job of a sound editor entails improving the audio component of movies, tv shows, games, and other kinds of media. This is done to create an engaging and impactful audio experience for the audience. As a sound editor, one has to arrange and manipulate sound recordings in the post-production phase to generate a mesmerizing audio output.
A typical workday involves job responsibilities like adding sound effects, adjusting levels and equalization, ensuring the audio component is in tune with the visuals, and so on. If a career in sound editing interests you, receiving training in elements such as sound production, audio engineering, and sound mixing can help you to upskill, thus, opening doors to many opportunities in the field.
12. Music Critic
An individual who reviews and analyses musical compositions, recordings, and performances is known as a music critic. They share their views on the style, structure, and lyrics of a musical piece as well as judge its quality and artistic value. Being a critic is a job full of responsibility.
People will look up to your reviews to understand whether a musical piece is good or not. Educating audiences on music will also be your responsibility. You will have the power to alter the perception of audiences. Therefore, presenting your reviews fairly with no biases is essential if you become a music critic.
Concluding thoughts
Musical intelligence is not limited to people who love playing or creating music. It is also present in those who love to hear and appreciate music. These people have a keen ear for the subtleties of music, which others do not have. Identifying your dominant intelligence based on your unique qualities can help you zero in on the right career path for you. If you think musical intelligence is your superpower, the career options mentioned above will make a good choice for your professional growth. By utilizing your musical talent and creativity, you will surely excel by performing your best at the workplace.
I am Priyanka Sonkushre, a writer and blogger. I am the person behind “One Loving Mama,” a mom blog. Equipped with a Bachelor’s degree along with an MBA, my healthcare background helps me deeply understand learning difficulties. I know how challenging it can be for parents to find the right resources to help their children excel in life. So, here I am to blend my healthcare expertise with my parenting experience to create valuable and helpful resources for parents and teachers supporting children with learning differences. If you wish, you can follow me on Facebook and LinkedIn.