Right now, it’s easier than ever for musicians to broadcast themselves. Whether through social media, video-sharing platforms like Youtube, or music platforms like Spotify and Apple Music, there’s no shortage of ways to share your creations. With the sheer number of DIY musicians out there, though, getting your music heard is an entirely different problem. Some amateur musicians might even find themselves longing for something more. Maybe a professional career in the industry? If that sounds like you, there are quite a few ways to go about it. But one of the most beneficial ways overall is attending a music school.
If you have a solid internet connection and the money to spend on tuition (not to mention scholarship and loan opportunities), attending a music school online may be your best bet. Especially in the time of a major pandemic, most people hardly want to go to a physical campus at all. That’s why many major universities and technical institutes have started offering their programs through an online music school.
One of the most striking benefits of attending an online music school is the fact that your instructors will already be industry experts themselves. They won’t just have teaching experience, but years of hard work in the very industry that you’re trying to break into. They’ll be able to offer insights you won’t find in textbooks and personalized lessons based on their own firsthand experience. They’ll be able to teach you how to overcome creative blocks, navigate the trickier parts of the industry, and build and maintain connections with other artists.
Your courses, despite being online, will still be incredibly hands-on. The feedback you’ll receive from your instructors will be constructive and in real-time. Of course, you’ll want to invest in a good webcam and your own equipment, but these will be tools you’ll likely use for the rest of your career, given that more and more industries are moving towards online communication than ever before.
At the end of your program, you’ll receive either a degree or a certificate in your area of study. This will, of course, increase your chances of getting a job exponentially and could even secure you a higher income than you might have gotten without one. Certificates of completion show employers that not only do you already have experience but that you have the determination, willpower, and passion needed to finish a project.
Lastly, the networking opportunities you’ll find will be invaluable as you progress in your career. The students and teachers that you’ll work with are not only peers and mentors, but potential colleagues. You’ll probably find yourself, even as a student, working with established artists and recording professionals who might be so impressed with your work that they decide to hire you before you graduate.
There are ample opportunities to build your career as a musician on the internet, and while you certainly don’t have to get a degree to become successful, music schools will provide you with a solid foundation for achieving it. The industry is, after all, notoriously difficult to make a name in. If you decide to pursue an education in music, always be sure to do your research and see which schools are right for you. Wherever you go, you’ll have the opportunity to work on industry-standard equipment, build real-world skills, and even make the kinds of connections that will propel your career in the future.
