Music Careers
A sampling of current positions held by music alumni:
- Private Voice Teacher
- Opera/Oratorio Singer
- Audio Engineer
- Freelance Musician
- Director of Music & Worship Arts
- Piano Studio Owner
- Library Director
- Dietitian
- Registrar
- Youth Pastor
- Choral Director
- Orchestra Teacher
- Private String Instructor
- Associate Director of Renaissance Studies
- Elementary Music Teacher
- Minister of Music & Worship
- Technical Writer
- Violinist
- AV/IT systems specialist
Overview
At GC we believe musical expression is a human manifestation of the divine creative impulse and, as such, serves as a window into the individual soul, a bridge between human beings, and a means of shared religious experience.
About the Coursework
The music department at Goshen College is dedicated to the cultivation of excellence in the areas of musical performance, pedagogy, and scholarship. We offer a major with five possible concentration areas: generalist, education, business/technology, worship, and piano pedagogy. There are also research and performance endorsement options.
In addition to coursework, music majors must also demonstrate keyboard proficiency and participate in recitals, ensembles, and a senior recital/lecture/project.
Possible courses include:
- History of Music
- Song Leading
- Piano Literature
- Music Technology
- Advanced Music Theory
- Conducting
- Vocal Methods & Pedagogy
- Principles of Marketing
For a full list of requirements and courses, refer to the course catalog.
Possible Career Paths
Music graduates are currently working in public and private schools, colleges and universities, in private teaching, music technology, professional performance, in church music ministry, and in music business. Some are also practicing music therapy, for which an undergraduate degree in music education is recommended. Many music graduates have gone on to earn degrees at our nation’s most prestigious graduate schools.
The list below provides several career options, but it is not exhaustive. Please note that some positions require additional education.
- Artist Relations Representative
- Arts Administrator/Manager
- Booking Agent
- Business Manager
- Choir Director
- Composer/Arranger
- Conductor
- Copyright Specialist
- Instructor
- Instrumentalist
- Lyricist
- Manager of Record Company
- Marketing Coordinator
- Music Critic
- Music Librarian
- Music Minister
- Music Promoter/Advocate
- Music Software Programmer
- Music Therapist
- Music Video Producer
- Musical Theater Performer
- Orchestra Director
- Organist
- Pastor
- Performer
- Piano Technician
- Private Piano Instructor
- Producer
- Professor
- Public Relations Specialist
- Publicist
- Recording Technician/Engineer
- Road Manager
- Sales Manager
- Soloist
- Songwriter
- Sound Engineer/Technician
- Stage Manager
- Studio Musician
- Talent Agent
- Teacher
- Technical Writer
- Tour Coordinator/Marketer
- Voice Coach
- Worship Leader
Additional Resources
- Young Musicians Career Corner
from the American Federation of Musicians - Careers in Music
from Artists House Music - From the National Association for Music Education
- A Career in Music Therapy
from the American Music Therapy Association - From the Occupational Outlook Handbook: