So You Want to Be a Musician? Here's What You Should Know

Over the years, I’ve had the chance to sit down with many young students thinking about majoring in piano performance and pursuing a career in music. Some want to be concert pianists, others dream of becoming music teachers. Almost all of them ask for advice, and I always begin with one simple question:

Why do you want to do this? Why do you want to be a pianist?

Why do you want a career in music?

It’s a simple question, but also the most important. I don’t ask this to be discouraging-but because the decision to pursue music professionally is a serious one, and it deserves honest reflection.

The Truth About a Career in Music

Let’s be real. Becoming a performing artist or music educator isn’t easy. The job market is limited. Career paths usually fall into a few categories: solo performer, chamber musician, collaborative pianist, or teacher-either privately, in schools, or at the college level.

Some students say, “I love music. I’ve been playing for years. Why not make it my career?” While passion is essential, simply liking music isn’t enough. Unlike many other academic fields, music demands years of intense training from a young age. It requires an enormous investment of time, discipline, and financial resources. And even after all that, there’s no guarantee of financial stability or job security.

I’m not saying this to be discouraging. In fact, I say it because I care. I want every student to go in with eyes wide open and a heart that truly understands the kind of commitment this life takes.

Unless you love music so deeply that you can’t imagine your life without it, unless it’s the first thing you think about when you wake up-then it’s worth considering other paths as well. And that’s okay! You can still have music in your life. I know many professionals in other fields who continue to play and perform for joy. Music is a lifelong gift that doesn’t have to be your job to be meaningful.

If You’re Committed, Know Your “Why”

But if, after considering all of this, you still feel a deep conviction that music is your path, then you need more than passion. You need clarity of purpose.

Practicing eight hours a day won’t get you far if you don’t know what you’re working toward. A clear goal gives direction to your efforts and makes your journey more focused and productive.

For example, if you want to become a teacher, then your time, courses, and experiences should reflect that. Spending all day in a practice room might not be the most effective way to prepare. On the other hand, if your dream is to be a solo performer, chamber musician, collaborative pianist, orchestra musician, then your priority also changes even within that same role.

Even if you and your classmates are in the same music program, your journey should look different based on your unique goals. So don’t wait until graduation to figure it out. Start setting clear, achievable goals early. Build experiences that support your vision. Because once you're out of school, you're largely on your own…without professors or career counselors to guide your next steps.

Finally, pursuing a career in music is deeply rewarding, but it’s also incredibly demanding. It requires self-awareness, grit, and a long-term vision. You have to love it enough to endure the sacrifices. And be clear enough about your goals to make the most of your time and training.

And REMEMBER. Choosing not to pursue music professionally doesn’t mean giving it up. You can still play, perform, and keep music in your life in a meaningful way.

In future posts, I’ll dive deeper into the two major career paths in music-performance and education-and what it takes to succeed in each. Stay tuned!