Jose Padilla's List: College Research Project

• Musicians: Job Outlook and Career Information for Becoming a Professional Musician
• Recording artists and rock stars we know from radio and MTV have glitzy jobs, but those jobs are the hardest to get and keep.
• Career Definition: Professional Musician
• n the music industry, a record company's featured acts--such as rock bands, R&B vocal groups, jazz musicians, rappers/hip-hop artists, even classical solo and ensemble performers--generally create albums in Los Angeles or New York City (though the country music business is in Nashville, Tennessee), promote the album in the media and go on concert tours around the U.S. or internationally. Yet regardless of the Musician's line of work, persistence is critical in maintaining that career, or in simply getting gigs.
• Preparing for a Career as a Musician

• Required Education for a Career in Music

   

  In popular music, performance experience takes precedence over academics; some famous Professional Musicians and songwriters, such as Paul McCartney and Phil Collins, can't read sheet music. However, for a musician who needs to learn and play compositions that aren't his or her own, such as a sideman or orchestra member, a Bachelor of Arts or Master of Arts in Music emphasizing composition, music theory or a particular instrument, is highly recommended.

• Skills Needed for a Career is a Professional Musician

   

  Obviously, a singer or instrumentalist should perform well, but he or she should also have enough stamina to play songs for at least 20 minutes (sometimes two hours) and perhaps tour around the U.S. or the world from two weeks to over a year to play almost nightly. Song writing and dancing ability can also be beneficial for a Professional Musician. Otherwise, one needs to learn to play others' songs, whether in freelance work (where the practice is called playing 'covers') or in an orchestra ensemble (in which case, one must read sheet music).

• Career and Economic Outlook for Music

   

  Rich and famous Musicians notwithstanding, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics website, www.bls.gov states that some 40% in the music field (in singing, playing or other capacity) are self-employed and paid by the gig. If playing for organizations, singers and Musicians can earn a fixed wage in a union like the American Federation of Musicians. In 2006, according to www.bls.gov, Musicians' median hourly pay ranged from $10.81 to $36.55. Around 264,000 people were employed as Musicians, singers or in a similar capacity, www.bls.gov also says.

6 more annotations...

• Training, Other Qualifications, and Advancement
• Musicians, singers, and related workers play musical instruments, sing, compose or arrange music, or conduct groups in instrumental or vocal performances.
• Musicians play one or more musical instruments. Many musicians learn to play several related instruments and can perform equally well in several musical styles.
• Singers use their knowledge of voice production, melody, and harmony to interpret music and text.
• Composers create original music such as symphonies, operas, sonatas, radio and television jingles, film scores, and popular songs.
• Arrangers transcribe and adapt musical compositions to a particular style for orchestras, bands, choral groups, or individuals.
• Full-time musicians with long-term employment contracts, such as those with symphony orchestras or television and film production companies, enjoy steady work and less travel.
• Most instrumental musicians work closely with a variety of other people, including colleagues, agents, employers, sponsors, and audiences.
• Training, Other Qualifications, and Advancement
• The National Association of Schools of Music is made up of 615 accredited college-level programs in music. Courses typically include music theory, music interpretation, composition, conducting, and performance, either with a particular instrument or a voice performance. Music directors, composers, conductors, and arrangers need considerable related work experience or advanced training in these subjects.
• A master's or doctoral degree usually is required to teach advanced music courses in colleges and universities; a bachelor's degree may be sufficient to teach basic courses.

• Employment  About this section 

   

    <!-- Employment Content -->  

  Musicians, singers, and related workers held about 240,000 jobs in 2008, of which 186,400 were held by musicians and singers; 53,600 were music directors and composers. Around 43 percent worked part time; 50 percent were self-employed.
• Employment change. Employment of musicians, singers, and related workers is expected to grow 8 percent during the 2008–18 decade, as fast as the average for all occupations.
• Job prospects. Growth in demand for musicians will generate a number of job opportunities, and many openings also will arise from the need to replace those who leave the field each year because they are unable to make a living solely as musicians or singers, as well as those who leave for other reasons.
• Median hourly wages of wage-and-salary musicians and singers were $21.24 in May 2008. The middle 50 percent earned between $11.49 and $36.36. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $7.64, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $59.92
• Median annual wages of salaried music directors and composers were $41,270 in May 2008. The middle 50 percent earned between $26,480 and $63,200. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $16,750, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $107,280.

14 more annotations...

• What is this job like?
• Musicians compose, sing, or play music. They might perform solo or as part of a group. They perform in sound studios and on stage. They also perform on television and in movies.
• Other music jobs include music directors who might lead choirs and other musical groups. Arrangers change the style of music by turning a country song into a rock and roll song, for example. Composers create new music.
• Many musicians, singers, and other music workers can only find part-time work. Some are unemployed between performances, so they often work other jobs while waiting for their next performance.
• How do you get ready?
• You need musical talent to be a musician or singer. People who become musicians often learn how to play an instrument at an early age. Some of the most popular instruments are the guitar, piano, and drums. It helps any musician to learn to play more than one instrument.
• How much does this job pay?
• Earnings depend on how popular a performer is. But musicians often have to hold down other jobs while they're building their careers.
• About 50 percent of musicians, singers, and related workers work for themselves. They are usually paid for each performance or recording. Their earnings vary greatly and depend on how many jobs they can get.
• Other musicians, singers, and related workers work for organizations for a set amount of pay. In May of 2008, these musicians had average hourly wages of $28.28.
• How many jobs are there?
• Musicians, singers, composers, music directors and other related workers held about 240,000 jobs in 2008. Many musicians and singers work for orchestras and other music groups, ballet companies, and religious organizations. Self-employed musicians may perform at a variety of events and venues.
• What about the future?
• Competition for jobs as a musician or singer is very strong. Talent alone is no guarantee of success. These jobs are glamorous and some have very high pay, so many people want them. To have a music career, you need a lot of motivation, talent, and good luck. Very few people earn enough money to support themselves as musicians or singers.
• The number of jobs for musicians should grow about as fast as the average for all occupations through 2018.

13 more annotations...

• Social workers help people overcome problems and make their lives better. They might work with people who are homeless, sick, or having family problems. Or they might help students who are having trouble in school.
• One of the ways social workers help is by finding resources for people. For someone with family difficulties, social workers might find a parenting class or support group. For a homeless person, they might find a place to live and a career training program. For a student, they might find a mentor or a learning disability expert.
• They research what kinds of help people need. Then, they set up programs to provide that help. They might focus on child abuse, poverty, violence, and other problems.
• Many social workers give counseling. They talk to people about their lives and help them to understand and solve their problems and to make plans.

• There are three main types of social work.

     
    
  • Child, family, and school social workers. Some of these workers find foster homes for abused or neglected children. They also help parents learn how to care for children better. Other social workers help with adoptions. Social workers in schools give students and teachers advice about learning problems, behavior problems, and social problems, like bullying or shyness. Other social workers help elderly people and their families.
     
  • Medical and public health social workers. These workers help people who are sick or who have health problems for a long time. They give advice to people and their families about how to deal with being sick. They also find services to help, such as nutrition classes or nursing care.
     
  • Mental health and substance abuse social workers. These workers are sometimes called clinical social workers. They help people with mental illness, upset feelings, or drug or alcohol abuse. They might provide talk therapy to people in order to identify their problems and find ways they can get better. They might also reach out to the community, finding people who have problems and offering help. Some of these workers teach classes about how to make a budget, deal with anger, or get other life skills.
• No matter their focus, most social workers spend the day in an office. Some travel to the people they help. Sometimes, they meet with people in the evening or on weekends. Many social workers have their own businesses.
• How do you get ready?
• Social workers must go to a 4-year college. Many social workers also need additional schooling to get the jobs they want. Some people stay in school longer to earn a doctorate degree.
• In college, social workers learn different ways to help people. They also take social studies classes, including psychology (how and why people act and feel the way they do), sociology (how people act when they are in a group and what problems groups have), economics (how people get and use resources and how economies work), and ethics (how people decide what is right and wrong). Students also learn by watching experienced social workers.
• Before they can get a job, social workers need a license, certification, or registration. The rules for getting these things depend on the State where you live. Workers can also get a certification from the National Association of Social Workers. This certification makes it easier to get some jobs.
• How much does this job pay?
• The majority of social workers are child, family, and school social workers. In May 2008, these workers had average yearly wages of $43,120.
• How many jobs are there?
• There were about 642,000 social worker jobs in 2008. More than 4 out of 5 jobs were in health care and social assistance or government agencies.
• What about the future?

• Between 2008 and 2018, jobs for social workers are expected to grow faster than the average for all occupations. Jobs working with older people will grow especially fast because there will be more people who are old and need help. Jobs helping people who are addicted to drugs and alcohol will also grow quickly. Jobs in schools will grow because there will be more students with special needs.

     

  In cities, competition for jobs might be strong. It might be easier to find jobs in rural places.

14 more annotations...

• Social work is a profession for those with a strong desire to help people. Social workers help people deal with their relationships with others; solve their personal, family, and community problems; and grow and develop as they learn to cope with or shape the social and environmental forces affecting daily life. Social workers often encounter clients facing a life-threatening disease or a social problem requiring a quick solution. These situations may include inadequate housing, unemployment, lack of job skills, financial distress, serious illness or disability, substance abuse, unwanted pregnancy, or antisocial behavior. They also assist families that have serious conflicts, including those involving child or spousal abuse.
• Social workers practice in a variety of settings, including hospitals, from the obstetrics unit to the intensive care unit; in schools, helping children, teachers, and parents cope with problems; in mental health clinics and psychiatric hospitals; and in public agencies, from the employment office to the public welfare department. Through direct counseling, social workers help clients identify their concerns, consider solutions, and find resources. Often, they refer clients to specialists in various areas, including debt counseling, child care or elder care, public assistance or other benefits, or alcohol or drug rehabilitation programs. Social workers typically arrange for services in consultation with clients, following through to assure the services are helpful. They may review eligibility requirements, fill out forms and applications, arrange for services, visit clients on a regular basis, and provide support during crises.
• Clinical social workers
• Those specializing in child welfare or family services may counsel children and youths who have difficulty adjusting socially, advise parents on how to care for disabled children, or arrange for homemaker services during a parent's illness.
• Social workers in child or adult protective services
• Mental health social workers
• Health care social workers
• School social workers
• Occupational social workers
• Although some social workers work a standard 40~hour week, many work some evenings and weekends to meet with clients, attend community meetings, and handle emergencies.
• Employment
• Social workers held about 585,000 jobs in 1996. About 4 out of l0 jobs were in State, county or municipal government agencies, primarily in departments of health and human resources, mental health, social services, child welfare, housing, education, and corrections. As government increasingly contracts out social services, many jobs ate likely to shift from government to private organizations in the future. Most jobs in the private sector were in social service agencies, community and religious organizations, hospitals, nursing homes, or home health agencies. Although most social workers are employed in cities or suburbs, some work in rural areas.
• Training. Other Qualifications and Advancement
• A bachelor's degree is the minimum requirement for many entry-level jobs. Besides the bachelor's in social 'work (BSW), undergraduate majors in psychology, sociology, and related fields satisfy hiring requirements in some agencies, especially small community agencies. A master's degree in social work (MSW) is generally necessary for positions in health and mental health settings. Jobs in public agencies may also require an MSW. Supervisory, administrative and staff training positions usually require at least an MSW. College and university teaching positions and most research appointments normally require a doctorate in social work.
• Job Outlook
• Employment of social workers is expected to increase faster than the average for all occupations through the year 2006. The number of older people, who are more likely to need social services, is increasing rapidly. In addition, growing concern about crime, juvenile delinquency, and services for the mentally ill, the mentally retarded, AIDS patients, and individuals and families in crisis will spur demand for social workers. Many job openings will also stem from the need to replace social workers that leave the occupation.
• Earnings
• Based on limited information, social workers with an MSW had median earnings of about $35,000 in 1997, while social workers with a BSW earned about $25,000. According to a Hay Group survey of acute care hospitals, the median annual salary of full-time social workers with a master's degree was $35,000 in 1997. The middle 50 percent earned between $32,300 and $38,700. The average annual salary for all social workers in the Federal Government in nonsupervisory, supervisory, and managerial positions was about $46,900 in 1997.

16 more annotations...