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Exploring Career Opportunities in Music Production

Music is an integral part of our lives. We seek it in happiness and sadness, we need different types of music for different occasions. Working in an industry that crafts and produces something indispensable comes with many opportunities and rewards.

If you want to be a professional musician, you are probably already working on some of your skills. A music production course can further broaden your horizons and open up more career paths in the industry.

What is Music Production?

Music production is a versatile job. It includes all the creative and sometimes technical steps around composing, recording, editing, mixing, and mastering a track. A complex and multi-step process, music production involves attention to detail, proficiency in various fields, and a strong sense of the aesthetics of the sound.

A music producer is someone who oversees (and partakes in) this entire process, collaborating and working with each person involved in these steps.

Professions To Help You Build Your Music Career In India

As an artist, you could have a rewarding career by working in an industry that makes emotional connections with millions of people. You could also become a vocalist, music producer, composer, sound engineer, and so much more.

Here’s a list of some of the highest-rated jobs in the industry –

1. Musician/Artist

If you are a trained singer or have expertise in playing an instrument, you could work on diversifying and expanding your skills, networking with people in the industry, and attending auditions. You can work with music producers, composers, and other artists to produce novel tracks and songs. A beginner musician, depending on their specialization, the company they are working with, etcetera, can make between ₹3.5 and ₹4.5 LPA in India.

2. Sound Designers

As the title suggests, sound designers work with composers and musicians to source, mix, and edit sounds. They play a vital role in enhancing the impact of a track or a song. They are required to understand the auditory/musical as well as the technical parameters of any music in order to record the perfect soundtrack. Sound designers have a deep knowledge of sound synthesis, composing multi-layered tracks, audio compression, and DAWs (Digital Audio Workstations).

One of the most employable careers, these professionals are required to acquaint themselves with all the technological innovations needed to keep up with the latest trends. The initial earnings of a sound designer can range between ₹3-4.8 LPA and can go up to ₹9-12 LPA and beyond with experience.

3. Music Composer

Composing music primarily involves writing music and scores, and sometimes even lyrics. They create detailed notes and instructions on different elements in a song – Vocal ranges, melodies, instruments used, chords, and so on.

Along with creating compositions, they also arrange and rearrange musical notes to create new tracks and work closely with both artists and technical professionals. Beginners can expect to earn about ₹3-5 LPA and work up to ₹15-18 LPA with relevant experience.

4. Music Educator

If you are fascinated by the academic side of the discipline, there are multiple niches you can specialize in to become an instructor/educator/facilitator at Colleges offering a Music Production degree. The role of an educator includes teaching fundamentals of music, introducing them to various styles/Gharanas, working on the learners’ practical skills, facilitating networking and collaborating to provide students a platform for industry exposure, and much more. As a music educator who’s just starting out, you can earn around ₹3.5-5 LPA in major Indian cities.

5. Music Industry Professional (Technical)

Apart from being a musician, producer, composer, and sound designer, there are other plethora of jobs in the industry that are integral to creating and producing a perfect track/song. With specialized skills in tools and equipment handling, DAW, knowledge of instruments, etc., you can become an audio engineer, music arranger, mixing engineer, instrument specialist, Foley artist, and so on. Since there are diverse roles, the salary varies too. For instance, a mixing engineer can earn ₹4-6 LPA, Foley artists around ₹3.5-7 LPA, and instrument and other technicians up to ₹3.9-6.5 LPA as new professionals.

What can you do after a Specialized Course in Music Production?

Formal courses in music production are designed to nurture the already present qualities in students, acquaint them with different forms and styles, and provide them with all the necessary tools and guidance that would help them choose the right career path.

There are a number of jobs in music production that you can choose from as a trained professional. Depending on your skills, and interests, you could work in diverse positions as a professional in music production or other technical/management-level jobs.

The most popular job roles after completing a Music Production Course are Production Assistant and Music Producer. These people work closely with a team right from the initial to the final stage, including the post-production and distribution stages.

Music Producer

Working closely with the entire team, they oversee the process right from the start till distribution. These professionals are required to manage the budget, work on the details of the craft, and work with sound engineers and technical professionals. They weigh in on major decisions related to hiring, selecting music, shaping the songs by coupling music and lyrics, mixing and mastering tracks, and other post-production processes. Salaries in Music production can vary with individuals earning around ₹3-8 LPA in the beginning and working their way up to ₹15-25 LPA or more with experience and upskilling.

Production Assistant

Integral to the music industry, production assistants work alongside music producers, technicians, and artists and assist them through various roles. They control recording sessions, mix and master music, collaborate with singers and musicians, select sounds/tracks, and oversee budgets. Starting with ₹3-4 LPA, their salaries can go up to ₹8-12 LPA with experience and specialized skills.

How to become a music producer in India?

There is a vast music industry with numerous opportunities and scopes for music production in India. To become a professional music producer in India, you can start by working on your musical and technical skills. You could also pursue a course in music production to master DAW and other software and have a detailed understanding of the discipline.

Prepare a portfolio of your work, collaborate with artists and other music producers, and apply for internships. Try and build a small, minimal studio setup and produce samples so you can connect with industry professionals. These would enable you to get the right industry exposure.

Proficiencies needed for a successful music career

Formal courses in music production make you industry-ready by providing knowledge and training in some of the key areas –

Formal courses in music production make you industry-ready by providing knowledge and training in some of the key areas –

1. Music theory

A deep understanding of melody, structure, chords, and rhythm is key to being proficient in music theory. You need a strong foundation and a clear knowledge of the fundamentals of music and the principles of creating a track.

2. Technical proficiency

Technical skills include being familiar with recording, audio mixing, operating analog and digital audio systems, MIDI programming, and being well-versed with DAW like Logic Pro, Ableton Live, and others.

3. Sound recording and engineering

The know-how of creating/sourcing sound, editing and fine-tuning, routing, handling microphones and other tools and equipment, and having an in-depth knowledge of DAWs, dynamics processing, audio effects, and equalization.

4. Sound design techniques

Being acquainted with digital music production, accessing and creating sound effect libraries, proficiency in synthesizers, and creating multi-layered tracks are some of the main sound design techniques you would need to learn as a professional. Scoring, designing, and composing audio is a must-know to get into any entry-level Sound design job.

Conclusion

Music is ingrained in every part of our culture, so a music career implies the possibility of working in diverse fields with numerous opportunities. It opens up ways to bring different people together and connect with them through your art.

If you are looking for the right course, AAFT offers multiple UG and PG degrees/diplomas and other courses in music production and related fields. These courses would equip you with all the skills and knowledge you need to make your mark in the music industry. With internships, seminars, projects, and other exposures to the technical aspects and the business of music, you’d be in for a comprehensive, creative, and fun journey into the world of music.

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