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How to Write a Music Resume or CV (With Music Resume Example)

Posted by CV Nation on Oct 23, 2019

An in-depth guide to writing the perfect musician resume or CV, with a music resume template you can use now.

If you’re a musician or you're pursuing music-related roles, you’ll need an effective music resume. Whether you're looking to secure gigs or land a role in an orchestra, it's vital that your resume articulates your musical competencies and experiences in the most effective way. This comprehensive guide will help you prepare a high-quality music resume that provides you with a greater platform of landing a job interview.

Many aspiring musicians aren’t aware that they need a CV. There is a misconception that all music related roles are filled by word of mouth and recommendations.

This is not true. A resume is a key tool in a musician’s search for gigs and work. Use this guide to ensure you don't miss out on exciting opportunities in the music industry.

Depending on the country you live in, you may refer to this career document as a CV or a resume. But we use these terms interchangeably.

There is no distinction between a music resume and a music CV. Whether you refer to the document as a CV or resume, the design, layout, content and presentation should be exactly the same.

Who needs a music resume or CV?

All musicians need a resume. Resumes are a vital tool for musicians, enabling hiring managers learn about you and develop a knowledge of your skill set.

Resumes for musicians are different than resumes for other professions. Instead of including your work experience like you would with other resumes, you break your resume up into separate ‘performance sections’. If you’re an instrumentalist, these sections might be titled ‘orchestra’ or ‘chamber’.

You may also need to include information such as voice type and tour history. Of course, the amount of information you include will depend on your experience and the type of music you specialise in.

But how do you format your music resume? How do you go about presenting your music experiences and skills in a professional manner?

In this guide, we'll walk you through the entire process, step-by step.

Music Resume Example

Include your contact details

Include your name and contact details at the top of your resume. Don’t write the words ‘Curriculum Vitae’ at the top of the document. This is unnecessary as the reader can clearly see that the document is your CV.

You are not required to include your full address. Your town/city and country will suffice at this stage of the application process. Ensure to insert your phone number and email address too.

Include a professional profile

The next step is to write a professional profile, often called a personal statement. A professional profile is a short introduction to your resume, under 100 words in length. It should demonstrate your musical abilities and encourage the hiring manager or employer to consider you as a potential employee.

What should your professional profile touch on?

Your professional profile should draw attention to your music experience, the instruments you are adept with, performances you have participated in and any awards you have won.

After reading the professional profile, the reader should have a good idea of what you can bring to the table and who you are as a musician.

But how can you convey this in under 100 words?

Identify two or three of your key experiences and skills. Focus on these and keep the sentences short. Use concise, engaging language.

Here is an example of a musician’s professional profile:

“Highly professional musician, with over 5 years’ experience performing in the string and brass section of orchestras. Experience extends to playing violins and brass instruments alongside over 50 musicians. Possesses additional expertise in singing and recording, having sold over 50,000 classical music singles.

Passionate about creating wonder with audiences and enlightening them with new musical experiences. Enjoys teaching students in the use of brass and string instruments, as well as supporting them with preparation for live performances”.

In the sample professional profile from this musician’s resume, we get a full picture of the musician’s experiences, specialties and skills in just 63 words.

This professional profile touches on the musician’s experience with string and brass instruments, as well as their teaching and recording experience. It also draws attention to their passion for music and commitment delivering high-class performances.

Include your key skills

Now it’s time to focus on your skills.

In this section, it’s a good idea to include a small number of bullet points that showcase your key skills. While you likely possess many more skills than just a few, including a large list won’t make any of your skills stand out.

So select a small number of your key skills and areas of expertise, and use bullet points to ensure they make an impact on the reader.

What skills should be included on music CVs and resumes?

The most important skills to draw attention to on your music CV or resume are your music specialisms.

For example, if you’re experienced in brass and string instruments, focus on those. If you’re experienced at teaching music, include teaching as a skill.

Your musical skills are the most important skills to highlight. Other soft skills can also be drawn upon in your CV, but in this initial key skills section, focus on your musical competencies. These are the skills that are most important in supporting your application for music-related roles or to music colleges.

Other skills that may be relevant for music CVs include music composition, music reading and music techniques.

Of course, only include skills if you do in fact possess them. We would never recommend lying on your CV.

Include your performance experience

As previously mentioned, music CVs and resumes don’t follow the traditional CV and resume format of including your work experience. Instead of listing your work experiences, you will split your performance experiences up based on types of music performances .

The performance experience section will be the largest section of your music CV or resume. In most cases, this section will take up over one and a half pages (or most of one page if you’re preparing a one-page resume).

Add a heading that most effectively describes your performances. This might be ‘orchestra’, ‘violin’ or ‘piano’.

Then, under this heading, add the positions you held in the area of music. The only other information that should be included is the dates, the instrument, the name of the music organisation, the section/type of performance and whether you were a permanent or temporary musician.

Include the positions in reverse chronological order. Repeat this process until you have included all your music performance experiences.

Here is an example of how your performance experience should be formatted in your resume.

In the sample above, notice how the individual hasn’t used descriptions. Including descriptions for your music roles is not expected or necessary. It’s clear to the reader – who will most likely be a music professional – what your role encompassed. As such there is no need to go into detail.

Don’t list high school or university performances, unless you have little to no experience. We will go into more detail later in this guide regarding how to prepare a music resume if you have no experience.

Include your awards & honours

Include music-related awards or honours, if you’ve received any. Also, add any scholarships that you’ve received to study music at university or school. If you’ve received grants to perform or study music, draw attention to those too.

Awards and honours are a great way of showing how your musical talent has been recognised in the past.

If you haven’t been presented with awards or honours, consider including recognition for your musical ability from college or high school. For example, did you win a music competition while studying at college? Or did you receive a music award while studying at high school?

If so, these are all great achievements that demonstrate your musical talents.

Here is an example of how this violinist included awards and honours in his resume:

In this example, the violinist highlights his success in winning an international violin competition. This showcases his excellent violin proficiency – having won a violin competition at international level. It also shows his commitment to his profession, as he travelled across the world to compete in the competition.

Include your education and training details

The next step is to include your education.

Don’t worry if you don’t have a degree in music. Not all employers are looking for music degrees in your CV or resume.

Depending on your level of performance experience and your academic achievements, you may want to insert your education section at the start of your CV or at the end of your CV. If you have little performance experience but have undertaken valuable music education, the education section should be the focal point of your CV. As such, it should be placed at the start of your CV.

Likewise, if you’ve acquired a great deal of performance experience, this should be the main focus of your CV. Whatever your level of experience, keep in mind that it is most beneficial to draw attention to your strongest assets first.

How do you format your education details?

First, include the degree or qualification obtained. Then add the dates of study and the name of the university or college.

If you’ve studied higher education, you don’t necessarily need to include your high school education details. However, this is not always the case. If you excelled in high school, there is certainly no harm in showing your excellent GCSE and A level grades. This is especially true if you achieved good grades in music, whether it be at GCSE or A level.

Ensure to include any music-related training that you have undertaken. For example, if you’ve completed a course in playing the cello, add this to the education and training section of your resume.

If you’re a singer, ensure to draw attention to any singing techniques you have mastered. These may include lip trill techniques or techniques to increase your vocal range.

Include your recordings (if necessary)

If you’re a musician or an instrumentalist who has produced any records or featured on any records, include a section titled ‘recordings’. This section isn’t relevant to all musicians. Many musicians, such as those who play in orchestras, may not have any recordings.

Include the title of the recording or project, followed by the date of the recording, the name of the producer, the record label and your role.

Here is an example of how a recording may look on your music resume:

“The Beatles (1964), Lead Singer/Guitarist, Beatles Producer, Beatles Record Label”

Writing resumes or CVs for music teachers

If you’re writing a music teacher CV or resume, include a section titled ‘teaching experience’. If you don’t have any performance experience, this section will take place of your performance experience section.

How do you format your music teaching experience?

Include the job title, followed by the subjects taught, the company name/school name, location and dates of employment.

Unlike in the performance experience section, it is appropriate to include some descriptions for each position. In these descriptions, describe the key information relating to your role as music teacher. For example, touch on the musical proficiency of the students you taught. Were they high school music students or higher education music students?

Additionally, draw attention to your achievements and successes as a music teacher. Did a high number of your students achieve excellent GCSE grades? Did you receive excellent Ofsted feedback? If so – or if you have any similar achievements – highlight them on your CV or resume.

Keep the descriptions and the achievements concise, and use bullet points to ensure they stand out.

When writing about your achievements as a music teacher, it’s always beneficial to use numbers and statistics. This makes your achievements stand out and provides evidence to back up your achievements, which greatly improves the effectiveness of your CV or resume.

Here is an example of how numbers can be used to improve music teacher’s CVs or resumes:

“Taught the year 11 music class, which achieved a pass rate of 88% A* - C”

In the example achievement above, the use of numbers really draws attention to the music teacher’s ability as a teacher. The hiring manager and recruiter can envision how the teacher can add value to schools through effective teaching.

Other than the performance experience section - unless you have performance experience - the rest of your CV or resume should follow the steps outlined in the guide if you’re pursuing roles as a music teacher.

Music resumes or CVs for college applications

If you’re applying to study music at college or university, you will probably be required to submit your resume with your application. Music resumes play a large role in admissions officer’s decisions. The steps outlined in the guide will enable you to prepare an effective music resume for college applications.

If you have no professional music experience, include any music experience you gained in high school. Did you perform in a high school band? Were you part of a high school music club? If so, these are the experiences your resume should focus on in place of performance experience.

If you’re writing a music resume for college applications and have little or no performance experience, make your education and training section the focal point of your resume. Of course, you probably haven’t undertaken significant education at this stage, but draw attention to any courses or training programmes you have taken part in.

In some cases, you may have the option of submitting a music supplement to colleges to support your application. The music supplement can contain music samples, recordings and videos.

Music resumes or CVs for those with no experience

Don’t worry if you have no music experience. You can still prepare a professional resume that impresses hiring managers and lands you a job interview.

As with music resumes for college applications, it’s important to make your education and training section the focal point of your CV. If you don’t have any training in music, it’s time to get yourself out there. Undertake training in the field of music you want to pursue. When you’ve completed training programmes, you have a platform to improve your resume.

If you have performed music in high school, include this experience in the performance experience section. You wouldn’t normally include high school performances in a music resume, but if you have no experience, it’s a great way to showcase your musical qualities.

How long should music resumes or CVs be?

Ideally, music resumes and CVs should be one page long. If you have a lot of performance experience, you may need to extend your resume or CV to two pages.

If you’re struggling to trim your CV or resume down to two pages or to one page, alter the margins of the document to allow the content to take up more white space. In Microsoft Word, we recommend margin sizes of around 2 cm (0.78”).

If you’re still struggling to reduce the number of pages, try lowering the font size. Although, we don’t recommend lowering font sizes below 9.5.

Which fonts should you use in your music resume or CV?

Use a font that is professional in appearance, such as Times New Roman, Arial or Calibri. Avoid fancy fonts that are over the top or difficult to read.

Include a link to your LinkedIn profile

If you have a LinkedIn profile, include your URL alongside your contact details. If you don’t have a LinkedIn profile, it’s time to start preparing one.

LinkedIn provides a great platform for people in all vocations to build their professional brand and develop connections with key decision-makers in their industry. Musicians can benefit from LinkedIn just as much as those in other professions.

Before adding a link to your LinkedIn profile, customise your LinkedIn URL so it is easier to remember and more attractive on your resume or CV.

To do this, log in to your LinkedIn profile, then click ‘Settings’. Click ‘Edit your public profile’, and then click ‘Customise your public profile URL’. Then you can choose your own customised LinkedIn URL.

Should you include a photo on your music resume or CV?

If you’re applying for roles in the UK, United States or Canada, don’t include a photo on your resume. If you’re applying for roles in continental Europe – other than in Holland – then you should usually include a photo on your resume.

For in-depth information on which countries require photos on CVs and resumes, take a look at our article on the topic .

Careers in music

According the United States Department of Labor , there were 187,600 jobs in the music industry in the United States alone as of 2018.

In 2017 in the UK, 91,153 people were employed as musicians, singers, composers, songwriters or lyricists, according to Statista . This doesn’t include those employed in recorded music and music production.

As can be seen in the statistics, the music industry offers significant employment opportunities. While there aren’t expected to be notable increases in the number of music jobs in the coming years, notable decreases have not been forecasted either.

Nevertheless, there is strong competition for jobs in music. As such, it’s vital to have a professional resume or CV that effectively articulates your skills and experiences.

We hope you have found this step-by-step guide helpful. Feel free to use our music resume examples to enhance your search for gigs.

I f you would like further help with preparing a professional music CV or resume, feel free to explore our Premium CV package .

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How to write a music resume?

We live in a world that is crippled with competition.

No matter how many gigs you land or shows you play at, your ideal musician job is just not within reach.....and you don't seem to know why.

There is no dearth of musicians in this world, and the need to make your mark is at an all-time high.

Your resume can make all the difference.

But the need of the hour is to write an ATS-targeted music resume. An average resume won't do. For all we know, a poorly constructed music resume is why you're not getting shortlisted!

By the end of this guide, you will become self-sufficient in composing music resumes from scratch and you will learn:

• How to correctly frame your music resume
• How to make your musician resume look more professional?
• How to enhance the readability of your resume?
• How much does a musician earn?
• What should I put on my resume for music?

Music Resume Job Description

What do musicians do?

Not one particular thing.

A musician’s area of expertise may differ depending from musician to musician.

While some specialize in the bass, some specialize in playing the light guitar, or the violin, or the cello, or the harmonica - and the list goes on and on.

A musician’s life is vivacious and alive. It has the promise of showmanship embedded in their DNA.

A musician may begin their career performing at gigs, and if they become famous enough, they may go on to live the dream life of selling their solo albums worldwide!

The life of a musician is one that is smeared with the thrill and love for music.

Like most unconventional professions, the life of a musician is a gamble. So if you are keen on starting a music career, you should be ready to pursue your passion and see it all the way through – even if it means sacrificing your youth to live this dream!

If the prospect of breathing and living in music excites you, then read on!

We are determined to get you your dream musician job!!

Before we begin, get your resume professionally reviewed by our AI-powered Resume Review Service to get a detailed report on your existing resume within seconds!

Music Salary: How much money will you make as a musician?

According to the salary figures quoted on various websites, the average salary according to:

• Payscale : A musician or singer makes approximately $14 - 116 per hour
• Ziprecruiter : A professional musician makes $19k - 88k per year
• Glassdoor : A musician makes $30k - 71.9k per year

What should I put on My Music Resume?

When it comes to curating the perfect musician resume, you need to compose the sections that we have mentioned below:

• Personal Information
• Profile Title
• Summary/Objective
• Key Instruments
• Professional Experience
• Key Performance
• Certifications (if any)
• Additional Information (if any)

Also Read: Which sections are necessary for a music resume?

Music Resume: Professional Experience

The professional experience section of your musician resume is the heart and soul of your music resume.

This section is to your music resume what your music performance is to your music career.

If you can manipulate this section, you will have a better shot at getting shortlisted for the music job of your dreams!

Here's what you can do to perfect this section:

• Use the STAR Format
• Use one-liner points to talk about your roles & responsibilities
• Use grouping & highlighting

It is a more detailed and comprehensive guide on composing the professional experience section.

Also Read: The importance of a good professional experience section

Music resume format:STAR Format

Use the STAR format to structure each one-liner point in your musician resume. This helps you effectively curate your resume and makes it attractive to the recruiter.

Before we discuss this, here's what the STAR in the STAR format stands for:

• S stands for Situation . It discusses the situation that you are assigned a certain task in
• T stands for Task . Here-in, you describe the task/activity that you were assigned in a certain situation to attain a specific goal
• A stands for Action . This is the part where you describe the action that you undertook to meet the task that you were assigned
• R stands for Result . Here, you describe the result of your actions by talking about your accomplishments in the form of performance figures

Framing points in your Music Resume

When it comes to composing your music resume, there are two things that you should know:

• Do not use paragraphs
• Use one-liner points

Given below are two examples demonstrating why you should do this:

"As part of my roles & responsibilities as a music teacher in Western Classical Academy, I was responsible for a range of tasks that were not limited to teaching music to students. The highlight of my career was when I prepared students for 3+ talent shows and one secured the 2nd position in a cello competition: a landmark achievement as the academy did not have a single star performer in the field of a cello before I joined the academy as a music instructor. Other responsibilities include curriculum design for over 100 students and collaborating with other teachers to put together 3 musicals in a year. The main areas of my expertise included teaching oboe, cello, violin, guitar, harmonica, and percussion to a total of 10 batches of students with 50 students in each batch".

• Administered the design of a study curriculum with a focus on metronome for 100+ students
• Taught oboe, cello, violin, guitar, harmonica, and percussion to 5+ batches
• Collaborated with 5+ art teachers and senior students to direct 3+ musicals annually
• Prepared students for 3+ talent shows leading to a student securing the 2nd position in a cello competition

Framing Points: Analysis

The key takeaways from the above 2 examples are listed below:

• Example 1 and 2 are saying the same thing. While example 1 does so in approximately 10 lines, example 2 can communicate the same message in 4 crisp one-liner points
• Example 1 is hard to read as it is bulky and does not have any line breaks. This is the biggest disadvantage of composing this section in paragraphs - it distracts the recruiter from reading your resume in its entirety
• On the contrary, example 2 has an advantage over example 1 as it is reader-friendly. This encourages the recruiter to quickly skim through your music resume
• Example 2 makes your musician resume easy to read, and easier to comprehend. This ensures that at least your resume is doing the bare minimum of getting the recruiter to go through your resume completely. This might not happen if you use paragraphs
• Hence, you should use points instead of paragraphs to compose the professional experience section of your music resume

Grouping & Highlighting in your Music Resume

Grouping & Highlighting is to points, what ying is to yang. Both complement each other and should be used in sync with each other.

Grouping means putting similar points together under one unique subheading, whereas highlighting is self explanatory, it is done to accentuate few words.

When you frame points, all it does is enhance the readability of your musician resume. When you use grouping & highlighting alongside points, it makes your resume look more professional and effective.

Here are two examples to demonstrate this:

Student Engagement & Curriculum Design

• Administered the design of a study curriculum with focus on metronome for **100+ students **
• Taught oboe , cello, violin , guitar, harmonica , and percussion to 5+ batches

Event Management & Music Competitions

• Collaborated with 5+ art teachers and senior students to direct 3+ musicals annually Prepared students for 3+ talent shows leading to a student securing the 2nd position in a cello competition

Here's a music resume sample showcasing what an ideal professional experience section of your musician resume should ideally look like:

Music Resume: Key Skills

Are you musically talented?

Can you play multiple musical instruments?

Do you write impactful soul-stirring songs?

If you can, then brag all about it in the key skills section of your musician resume.

The key skills section, being one of the most important components of your musician resume, has to be carefully curated.

You need to mention the most relevant skills of your music career as it might be a specific skill that the hiring manager is looking for.

To perfect this section, here's what you can do:

• Scrutinize the professional experience section and identify your core skills. After identifying them, single them out in the key skills section of your music theater resume.
• Optimize this section further and tailor it to target the job listing that you are interested in. You can do this by identifying the keywords and replicating them in the key skills section as long as you can justify that you have these skills.

For a more detailed account of how to perfect the key skills section of your music resume, read Hiration's 2023 Guide on what skills to put on a resume .

You can also check out the music resume template on our Online Resume Builder and customize it to suit your needs. Our music resume examples will give you an insight into what a perfect music resume should look like!

While you're at it, check out the musician resume example that we have mentioned below to know how you should effectively and ideally curate the key skills section of your resume:

Music Resume Summary

Your music resume summary is one of the most crucial elements of your music theater resume. It needs to effectively communicate the highlights of your career and your professional caliber in a brief paragraph.

Given below are the top things that you should know to write an effectively curated musician resume:

• Write a music resume summary only if you have professional experience that transcends 3 years. If you don't have any relevant work experience yet or have very minimal work experience, compose a music resume objective instead.
• Your resume summary should ideally be 3-5 lines. Do not try to write over 5 lines of music resume summary.
• Your resume summary is a brief compendium of your career highlights. Make sure that you give an account of the most relevant and impressive adventures of your music career in your music resume summary.

Learn more about perfectly crafted resume summaries and how to curate them on Hiration's 2023 Resume Summary Guide .

Now that you know the nitty-gritty of perfecting the summary section of your musician resume, take a look at our music resume sample below to learn what an ideal resume summary should look like:

Music Resume Objective

You should only write a music resume objective if you fall into the below-mentioned categories:

• You have no work experience.
• You're a fresh college graduate.
• You have very limited work experience of under 3 years.

Music Resume: Header

Your music resume header is the thing that goes on the top-most part of your resume.

It is here that you should write your real full name. Doing this sees to it that your musician resume has an individual identity and life of its very own.

Hiration Pro Tip : Never write "Resume" or "CV" as your resume header. You should strictly avoid this as it is implicit in your resume that it is a resume.

Moreover, writing your name as your resume header comes with the added advantage of not being lost or mixed up or misplaced in a pile of resumes that crowd the recruiter's system.

Here are some tips on how to curate this section:

• Write your real full name as your resume header
• Position it on the top-most part of your musician resume
• Write your resume header in the font size of 16-20 font size
• If you have a middle name, write your first name, followed by the first initial of your middle name in capital letters, followed by your last name
• Eg: Michael Joseph Jackson should be written as "Michael J. Jackson"

Read more about resume headers on Hiration’s 2023 Guide To Writing The Perfect Resume Header to learn how to compose the perfect header for your musician resume.

If this seems like too much work, try Hiration's Online Resume Builder for ready-made design templates to curate your music resume without the hassle of having to manually arrange the size of each component of your resume.

Given below is a music resume sample showcasing the perfect resume header for your musician resume:

Music Resume: Personal Information

To write a perfect resume that is just as impeccable and soulful as the last musical note you composed, it is essential that you perfect each section.

This includes the personal information section. You need to perfect it too, and here's every reason why:

The personal information is an often-overlooked section. This shouldn't be the case as this section carries with it vital contact details using which a recruiter gets in touch with you.

Hiration Pro Tip : Compose this section with 100% accuracy as even the most minor mistake in composing this section might keep an interested recruiter from getting in touch with you.

The personal information section consists of 3 things:

Updated Mobile Number

• Professional Email ID

Feel free to read more about perfecting this section on Hiration's 2023 Guide to composing your contact information to get a better sense of how to perfect this section.

As a rule of thumb, you should mention only that contact number in your music resume on which you are available 24X7.

Mentioned below are the top things you should remember when composing this section:

• Use your country’s ISD code as a prefix before your phone number
• Put a plus sign (+) before the ISD code
• Write your updated mobile number after the ISD code
• Eg: +1 65432 31981

E-mail Address

Your email ID is one of the most important parts of your contact information. It is the official and most-preferred mode of professional communication.

Any employer who is interested in hiring you will necessarily prefer connecting with you over e-mails vis-a-vis mobile phone.

This is why you should correctly compose your email address in your music resume.

One spelling mistake can push you a whole lifetime away from getting the musician job of your dreams.

The trick here is to write your professional email ID as professionally and as accurately as you possibly can.

Hiration Pro Tip : Do not write jazzy names like [email protected] as your email ID. Instead, use [email protected] as your professional email ID.

Correct format: [email protected] .

Mentioned below are the top guidelines that you should follow when composing the location in your resume.

• In resume-writing language, location means your current city of residence
• You do not need to mention irrelevant details of your location like your house address, street name/number, or locality name in your musician resume
• Mention your city and state name if you are looking for a job in the same country. if you are looking for opportunities abroad, a brief mention of your city and country name is enough

Here's our music resume sample showcasing what an ideally composed personal information section should ideally look like:

Music Resume: Profile Title

What is a profile title but a statement of your latest professional standing?

It reflects your latest job title, which goes on to tell the recruiter what your level of seniority in your chosen industry is.

Here are a few rules & regulations that you should follow to compose the perfect profile title:

• It is the second-largest text in your resume after the resume header
• Compose your profile title in the size range of 14-16 font size
• Do not exaggerate your job title in your musician resume

In the meanwhile, get your existing musician resume professionally reviewed by our resume experts at Hiration.

While you're at it, keep an eye out on the left bottom corner of this page for our AI-powered Resume Review Service.

Take a look at our music resume sample below to learn what an ideal profile title should look like:

Music Resume: Education

While relevant work experience is almost always preferred over a candidate's educational background, sometimes holding a degree from a renowned institution can help boost your chances of a shortlist.

This is where the education section comes in.

The education section of your music resume should include the following details:

• Name of the school/university you have attended
• Name of the courses you have pursued
• The location of your school/university
• Date of enrollment and graduation from each course (in month and year format)

Learn more about composing this section with the perfection of a rockstar with Hiration's 2023 Guide on how to list education on your resume .

Here's our music resume sample showcasing what the ideal education section of your resume should look like once you have finalized your music resume template:

Music Resume: Certifications

The certifications section is that section in your musician resume where you are expected to document your certifications.

If you have done any relevant certification, list them down in this section of your musician resume.

This section should ideally consist of the following details:

• Name of the certification course
• Name of the certifying body
• Location of the certifying body
• Enrollment and completion date of the course (in month and year format)

Arrange these points in the format that we have mentioned below:

{Name of certification} | {Affiliating Institution} | {Location} | {Date} (in month and year format)

You can also read up more about it on Hiration's 2023 Guide on listing certifications on a resume .

In the meanwhile, do feel free to check out Hiration's Online Resume Builder!

The music resume template that comes with our resume builder will revolutionize your resume-writing experience!

Given below is a music resume example depicting the ideal certifications section for your music industry resume:

Music Resume: Internships

When it comes to advancing your career in your chosen field, a good internship experience(s) can help.

This is where the internship section can help.

If you have any relevant internship exposure, list them down in this section.

Here's a music resume example demonstrating what an ideally composed internships section should ideally look like:

Music Resume: Awards & Recognition

To get the shortlist for the musician job that you want, you need to do more than just draft a killer music resume.

You need to brag wherever possible. After all, your resume is a sales pitch and you need to convert your clients (in this case, the hiring manager).

It is in this capacity that the Awards & Recognition section can help.

If you were a star performer, were recognized for your exceptional musical skills, were acknowledged as the highest-grossing musician, list them all down in the Awards & Recognition.

Making an impact is key, and talking about your career highlights in this section of your resume can boost your chances of a shortlist!

While you're at it, you can try using our Online Resume Builder. You can edit the music resume template on our resume builder to suit your needs and qualifications.

Music Resume: Additional Information

Do you speak multiple languages?

Do you have hobbies that may positively reflect on your skills as a professional?

If you do, put them down in the additional information section of your music industry resume.

Music Resume Sample

Here’s our sample music resume demonstrating what a perfectly composed musician resume should ideally look like:

• GPA: 4.5/5.0
• GPA: 4.8/5.0
• Primary : Oboe
• Secondary : Cello, Guitar, Violin, Harmonica
• Advanced Oboe Certification | NuDemy | '18
• Opened for the " The Last Shadow Puppets " at the Lollapalooza festival in Chicago in '20
• Performed at the Sultans of the Notes Jazz Festival in '19
• Represented the jazz band "Fly by the Pentatonic" at the Battle of the Bands and secured 3rd position in '19
• Played at the " Venezia Music Festival " with Pantera Orchestra in '18
• Led the musicians in the absence of the maestro to ensure that the practice schedule is followed
• Recruited 10+ musicians in a span of 6 months to increase the strength of the team to 25%
• Involved in fundraising activities as part of the " Western Music Revival " campaign to secure $5000 in funding
• Assisted the maestro in finalizing symphonies to present during the opening weekend
• Represented the orchestra at the Venice Music Festival and bagged the "Emerging Oboist of the Year" award
• Promoted to primary oboist within a span of 3 months
• Declared recipient of the ' Beethoven's Sonata Oboist' Award twice
• Created networks & relationships to secure 25+ gigs for the students
• Designed curriculum & activities for 100+ students and incorporated metronome in the learning for 50+ students
• Successfully taught oboe , cello, violin, guitar, harmonica, and percussion to 100+ students
• Collaborated with other art teachers and senior students to direct a Christmas musical
• Prepared the students for 3 talent shows that led to a student securing 2nd position in a cello competition

Resume Review & Free Music Resume Template

We believe that to write a perfect resume, you should know the flaws in your musician resume. When you know what you're doing wrong, you can rectify it easily.

This is why we suggest our resume review service.

Use Hiration’s Resume Review Service to get your research resume professionally reviewed by our resume experts at Hiration.

Our experts will review your work with the below-mentioned parameters:

• Compliance with industry norms
• Content Relevance
• Recruiter Friendliness
• Design Compatibility
• Conversion Scope
• ATS Compliance
• Global Compatibility
• Performance Assessment
• Resume Formatting (font, margins, the order of sections, etc.)

What’s more: You will receive 2 research assistant resume templates for free!

Resume Builder for Music Resume

Our Online Resume Builder comes with the following resources:

• Option to save unlimited resumes
• 25+ resume designs
• Full rich-text editor
• Unlimited PDF downloads
• 100+ resume templates
• 1-click design change
• A sharable link
• Live resume editor

To get closer to your target job listing, make use of Hiration’s Online Resume Builder now!

Key Takeaways

• Write the dates in the month and year format across all sections in your music industry resume.
• Use reverse chronological order across all sections in your musician resume.
• Begin all the points of your work experience with a power verb.
• Use power verbs in the past tense for past profiles and projects and use power verbs in the present continuous tense for present profiles and projects.
• Use grouping & highlighting alongside points to enhance the readability of your musician resume and make it more effective.
• Write a music resume objective if you have 0 to less than 3 years of work experience and a music resume summary if you have over 3 years of work experience.
• Write the location in city/state format if you are applying for a job in the same country and use the city/country format if you are applying for a job in another country.

With this, you have reached the end of this blog.

Follow the instructions that we have laid out in this blog to write a stellar resume for musicians.

Use our Online Resume Builder to simplify your resume writing experience. It is also ideal for those of you who just don't have the time to compose their resumes on their own.

If you don't have the time, our Online Resume Builder is here for you!

Go to Hiration resume builder and create a professional resume for yourself. Additionally, reach out to us at [email protected] and you can get 24/7 professional assistance with all your job & career-related queries.

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• Career Blog

Music Resume: Template with Examples for Musicians in 2024

A music resume is a crucial tool for musicians who are looking to showcase their skills and experiences to potential employers. It serves as a summary of a musician’s professional experience, skills, and education. In the highly competitive music industry, having a well-crafted and impressive music resume is essential.

However, creating a music resume can be a daunting task. Many musicians struggle to organize their experiences in a way that effectively highlights their strengths. This is where a music resume template comes in handy. It provides a clear and organized structure, making it easier for musicians to showcase their achievements and experiences.

Using a music resume template is not just helpful for musicians who are starting out in their career, but also for seasoned professionals who want to update their resume. By using a template, musicians can avoid common resume pitfalls and ensure that their resume is clear, concise, and effective.

A music resume template is a valuable tool for any musician who wants to advance their career. This article will provide examples of music resume templates and guide musicians on how to create a winning resume.

Anatomy of a Music Resume

When crafting a music resume, it’s important to include certain essential components that will make it stand out to potential employers. These components include:

1. Contact information

Ensure that you include your full name, phone number, email address, and mailing address. You may also include your website, social media profiles, and professional affiliations.

2. Educational background

List any relevant degrees or certifications you may have, along with the name of the institution and the date of graduation.

3. Performance experience

This section should highlight any relevant experience you have as a musician, such as performances with orchestras or bands, solo performances, and music festivals.

4. Teaching experience

If you have experience teaching music or conducting workshops, this is an important section to include. Be sure to list the names of any institutions where you have taught, the dates of your employment, and the age ranges of your students.

5. Awards and recognition

Include any awards, scholarships or other recognition you have received as a musician. This may include local, national or international accolades.

When structuring and formatting your music resume, it’s important to consider the following:

• Keep your resume concise and to the point. A one-page document is generally sufficient.
• Use a simple and easy-to-read font, such as Times New Roman or Arial, and make sure your font size is not too small.
• Organize your content in bulleted lists to make it easy to read.
• Consider using a format that is industry standard, such as a chronological or functional resume.

Finally, when presenting your qualifications and achievements on your music resume, keep these tips in mind:

• Use strong action words to describe your accomplishments
• Be specific about your achievements and how you contributed to success in previous roles
• Highlight any unique skills or experiences that set you apart from other candidates

By including the essential components, structuring and formatting your resume correctly and presenting your qualifications and achievements effectively, you will have a competitive and professional music resume.

Music Resume Template: Overview

If you’re a musician, having a professional resume can be an important part of getting gigs and advancing your career. A music resume template can help you create a polished and impressive document that showcases your skills and experience. In this section, we’ll explore the benefits of using a music resume template, how to choose the right one for your career goals, and what to look for in a quality template. We’ll also discuss important factors to consider when customizing your music resume template.

Benefits of using a music resume template

There are many benefits to using a music resume template. First, it can save you time and effort. Rather than starting from scratch, you can use a ready-made template and simply customize it to fit your needs. This can be especially helpful if you’re applying for multiple positions or gigs.

A music resume template can also ensure that your resume looks professional and polished. Templates are designed by experienced professionals who understand the industry and know what recruiters and hiring managers are looking for in a candidate. By using a well-designed template, you can create a resume that stands out from the competition.

Choosing the right template for your career goals and musical niche

When choosing a music resume template, it’s important to consider your career goals and musical niche. Some templates are designed for specific genres or roles, while others are more general. For example, if you’re a jazz pianist, you may want to look for a template that highlights your skills in that genre. Similarly, if you’re looking for work as a music teacher, you may want a template that emphasizes your teaching experience.

It’s also important to consider the format of the template. Some templates are designed for print, while others are optimized for digital use. Think about how you’ll be sending out your resume and choose a template that works best for that medium.

What to look for in a quality music resume template

When looking for a quality music resume template, there are several key factors to consider. First, make sure the template is well-designed and visually appealing. It should be easy to read and not too cluttered. It’s also important to make sure the template is tailored to your musical niche and career goals.

Another important factor to consider is the level of customization the template allows. Look for a template that is easy to modify and allows you to add or delete sections as needed. This will ensure that your resume is a true reflection of your skills and experience.

Factors to consider when customizing your music resume template

Once you’ve chosen a music resume template, it’s important to customize it to fit your needs. Here are some factors to consider when doing so:

Highlight your skills and experience: Make sure your skills and experience are prominently featured in your resume.

Tailor your resume to the job or gig: Customize your resume to fit the specific job or gig you’re applying for.

Music Resume Template: Sections and Content

Your music resume should be a clear and concise representation of your skills, experience, and accomplishments in the industry. The following sections are vital to including in your music resume template:

The heading at the top of your resume should include your name, address, phone number, and email address. Keep it simple and easy to read.

Tip:  Consider including a professional photograph of yourself to make your resume stand out.

2. Objective/Summary

The objective/summary section is where you highlight your career goals and what you can bring to the table in the music industry. Keep this section brief and to the point.

Tip:  Customize this section for each job you apply for to highlight how you can specifically contribute to that organization.

3. Education

List your educational history in this section. Include the name of the institution, degree earned, major, and graduation date.

Tip:  If you have limited experience, make sure to highlight any relevant coursework or training.

4. Performance Experience

This section should summarize your performance experience, including bands or ensembles you have played with and venues you have performed at.

Tip:  Use bullet points and focus on your most impressive accomplishments, such as opening for a well-known act or playing at a prestigious festival.

5. Teaching Experience

List your teaching experience, including the name of the institution, your role, and a brief description of your responsibilities.

Tip:  Highlight any mentorship or leadership experience you have had in this section as it demonstrates your ability to lead and inspire others.

6. Awards/Recognition

Include any awards, honors, or recognitions you have received in this section.

Tip:  This section can also include press clips or reviews of your performances, which can add credibility to your resume.

List your musical skills, such as instruments you play, genres you specialize in, software proficiency, or any other relevant skills.

Tip:  Make sure to tailor this section to the job description to highlight skills that are most relevant to the position.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Including non-relevant information or padding your resume with irrelevant experience.
• Including too much information and making it difficult for the reader to find the most important information.
• Failing to proofread and ensure that there are no grammatical errors or typos.

By following these tips and avoiding common mistakes, your music resume can be a powerful tool to help you land that dream job in the music industry.

Music Resume Example: Performance-Based

Are you a musician who specializes in performance? Then this music resume template is just for you. By using this template, you can highlight your skills and experience as a performer.

Example of a Music Resume Template for Performance-Based Musicians

Basic information.

• Phone number
• Email address
• Use a brief statement to describe what you hope to achieve with your music career.
• List all relevant education, including degrees and certificates.
• Include the name of the institution and the year of graduation.

Performance Experience

• List all your performances, including the name of the event, the date, and the venue.
• Also, include any awards you received for your performance.

Professional Experience

• List any professional experience you have, including the name of the employer, job title, and job duties.
• List all relevant skills you possess, including instruments you can play, software you can use, and languages you can speak.

How This Template Differs from Other Music Resume Templates

This music resume template for performance-based musicians differs from other templates because it focuses specifically on performance experience. Unlike other templates, which may include more sections such as education, awards, and affiliations, this template highlights your experience as a performer singularly.

Tips for Customizing This Template to Suit Your Specific Needs

To customize this music resume template to suit your specific needs, consider these tips:

• Use the objective section to highlight your specific strengths as a performer.
• Tailor your education section to highlight any music program or training you have undergone.
• Use the performance experience section to highlight any unique opportunities or collaborations you have been a part of.
• List any relevant professional experience that demonstrates your skills as a musician.
• Finally, make sure to list all relevant skills and software experience you may possess.

By following these tips, you can make sure that your music resume template showcases your strengths and experience as a performer perfectly.

Music Resume Example: Teaching-Focused

If you’re a music teacher or instructor looking to create a resume that highlights your teaching experience and qualifications, a teaching-focused music resume template may be just what you need. This type of template is tailored specifically to educators in the music field, and can help you showcase your expertise in music theory, composition, performance, and more.

Example Template Features

A teaching-focused music resume template may include sections such as:

• Education: This section should highlight your educational background, including any degrees or certifications you’ve earned in music education, music theory, or related fields.
• Teaching experience: Use this section to list your previous teaching positions, including the age ranges you’ve worked with, the styles of music you’ve taught, and any notable accomplishments or awards you’ve earned as a music educator.
• Performance experience: While this section may not be as important for a teaching-focused resume, it can be helpful to demonstrate your own musical abilities to potential employers.
• Relevant skills: This section gives you the chance to highlight any other relevant skills you have as a music teacher, such as the ability to read sheet music, play multiple instruments, or create lesson plans.

How it Differs from Other Templates

While other music resume templates may focus more heavily on performance experience or other aspects of a musician’s career, a teaching-focused resume template puts teaching experience front and center. This can be especially helpful for new or aspiring music educators who may not have much performance experience to highlight. Additionally, a teaching-focused template may help you stand out among other candidates if you’re applying for a job at a music school or similar institution.

Tips for Customizing the Template

When customizing a teaching-focused music resume template, consider the following tips:

• Emphasize your teaching experience: Make sure that your teaching experience is highlighted prominently, and use specific examples and accomplishments to demonstrate your effectiveness as a music teacher.
• Be clear and concise: Keep your resume easy to read and understand, with clear headings and bullet points that highlight your qualifications.
• Tailor the template to the job: If you’re applying for a job that focuses on a specific aspect of music education (like choir instruction or music theory), consider highlighting your experience in that area more prominently.
• Don’t forget the basics: While teaching experience is important, don’t neglect other important aspects of your musical career, like education, performance experience, and relevant skills.

By customizing a teaching-focused music resume template to suit your needs, you can create a powerful tool for showcasing your qualifications and expertise as a music educator.

Music Resume Example: Recording and Production

If you’re a musician in the recording and production field, crafting a music resume can be a daunting task. You want to showcase your skills and experience, but also make it clear that you have a thorough understanding of the technical aspects of the industry. That’s where a music resume template comes in handy.

Example Music Resume Template

Here’s an example of a music resume template tailored specifically for recording and production musicians:

Full Name Address | Phone | Email

Objective: A qualified recording and production musician seeking a position with a reputable music production company.

• Proficient in audio recording, mixing and mastering software (e.g. Pro Tools, Logic, Ableton)
• Strong background in music theory and ear training
• Experience in music production for various genres (e.g. rock, hip-hop, electronic)

Experience:

Recording Engineer/Mixer  | XYZ Recording Studio

• Oversaw and executed recording sessions for various artists and genres
• Mixed and mastered tracks using Pro Tools and other mixing software
• Collaborated with producers, artists and other engineers in the recording process

Music Producer  | Self-employed

• Produced original music for independent artists, including songwriting, mixing and mastering
• Collaborated with talent to refine and perfect their sound
• Managed all aspects of the recording process, from conception to final master

Bachelor of Music in Music Production and Engineering

• Berklee College of Music, Boston, MA

How This Template Differs

This music resume template stands out from others in its emphasis on technical proficiency combined with qualification as a musician. It highlights experience with audio software and production techniques, as well as expertise in various music genres. By showcasing these qualifications, the template positions the musician as an asset to any production team.

Customizing the Template

To customize this template, start by adding or removing sections to emphasize your specific skills and experience. For example, if you have experience in live sound engineering, include a section in your work experience that highlights this skill. If you have experience in a particular genre, make sure to emphasize it in your skills section.

Another way to customize this template is to add a personal statement or objective that speaks to your specific goals and aspirations. This can help you stand out from other candidates and give potential employers an idea of what sets you apart.

This music resume template is a great starting point for recording and production musicians looking to create a professional, compelling resume. By customizing it to your specific qualifications and experience, you can demonstrate your unique value to potential employers and land the job of your dreams.

How to Make Your Music Resume Stand Out

As a musician, you want your resume to stand out from the competition. Here are some strategies to help you achieve that:

Strategies for making your music resume stand out

Use a professional template: A well-designed resume will make a great first impression. Choose a clean and simple template that makes your information easy to read and understand.

Highlight your accomplishments: Don’t just list your experience – showcase your achievements in your past roles. For example, if you were a music teacher, include information about how you increased student participation or improved their musical abilities.

Customize your resume: Tailor your resume to each specific job you apply for. Research the job description and company to understand what they are looking for and highlight the skills and experiences that are most relevant.

Tips on showcasing your unique skills and experiences

Be specific: Rather than vague statements, use concrete examples to demonstrate your skills and experiences. For instance, instead of saying “experienced singer,” you could mention that you have performed in multiple operas or have won a vocal competition.

Show diversity: If you have experience in various musical styles or genres, be sure to include them on your resume. This will show your versatility and adaptability as a musician.

Don’t forget about non-musical experiences: If you’ve had experience working in other fields, such as event planning or marketing, highlight how those skills can be applied to the music industry.

Best practices for formatting and organizing your music resume

Keep it concise: Limit your resume to one or two pages – avoid overwhelming hiring managers with too much information.

Use bullet points: Make your experience and achievements easy to read by using bullet points rather than lengthy paragraphs.

Include relevant contact information: Make it easy for potential employers to get in touch with you by including your email, phone number, and social media accounts.

By following these strategies and tips, you can create a music resume that stands out from the competition and showcases your unique skills and experiences.

Mistakes to Avoid on Your Music Resume

When it comes to crafting the perfect music resume, it’s important to avoid certain common mistakes that musicians often make. Not only can these mistakes hurt your chances of getting hired, but they can also give the impression that you’re not as professional or knowledgeable in the industry as you may be. Below are some of the most common mistakes to avoid on your music resume and tips on how to make a strong first impression:

Common mistakes that musicians make on their music resumes

Failing to highlight relevant experience: One common mistake that musicians make on their music resumes is failing to highlight relevant experience. It’s important to make sure that you’re emphasizing the work that matters most to the job you’re applying for.

Using generic language: Another mistake that many musicians make on their music resumes is using overly generic language. If your resume reads like a template or sounds like something generic, it won’t stand out to potential employers.

Being too wordy: A music resume needs to be concise and to the point. Being too wordy can turn off an employer who doesn’t have much time to sift through lengthy paragraphs.

Failing to mention relevant skills: If you possess specific skills that can give you an edge for a certain job, make sure that you include them. Otherwise, you might be overlooked for someone who does have that capability.

Neglecting to include accomplishments: Accomplishments are one of the most crucial elements of any resume, regardless of the industry. Potential employers want to know what you’ve achieved in your musical career, so make sure that you highlight any notable accomplishments.

How these mistakes can hurt your chances of getting hired

The mistakes listed above can hurt your chances of getting hired by making you look unprofessional, under-qualified, or otherwise just not the right choice for the job. It’s important to avoid these mistakes if you want to make a strong first impression.

Tips on avoiding these mistakes and making a strong first impression

To avoid these mistakes and make a strong first impression, try incorporating the following tips:

Focus on relevant experience: Instead of including a ton of unrelated experiences, focus on the ones that matter most to the job you’re applying for.

Clarify your language: Use specific language that demonstrates your knowledge of the music industry, and avoid generic terms.

Adapt your resume to the job: Instead of using the same resume for every job, tailor your resume to fit the specific requirements of each job application.

Use bullet points: Bullet points make your resume easier to read and ensure that you’re sticking to the point.

Mention your accomplishments: Be sure to highlight any notable accomplishments on your resume, such as awards, performances, or significant contributions to musical projects.

Top Music Resume Tips from Industry Professionals

If you want to make it in the music industry, having a solid music resume is crucial to your success. However, creating a resume that stands out from others can be challenging. Luckily, we’ve compiled some top tips from music industry professionals that will help you create a winning music resume.

Expert Advice on Creating a Winning Music Resume

When writing your music resume, it’s helpful to remember that employers want to see something that is both comprehensive and tailored to their needs. To help you achieve this, here are some tips from experts in the field:

• Be concise:  A music resume should be no more than one or two pages long. Keep your sentences short and to the point, and only include the most relevant information.
• Highlight your skills:  When you’re submitting a music resume, employers want to see that you have the skills for the job. List the skills you have that are most relevant to the position you’re applying for.
• Show your experience:  Experience is key when it comes to getting hired in the music industry. List your experience chronologically, starting with your most recent job. Make sure to include the dates you worked at each job, and describe what you did and the skills you used.
• Include education and training:  While experience is important, employers also want to see that you have an education or training in music. List any degrees, certificates, or music programs you’ve completed.
• Incorporate visuals:  A great way to make your music resume stand out is to include visuals, such as album art or photos of performances. Just make sure the visuals are relevant to the position you’re applying for.

Insight into What Employers Look for in a Music Resume

Before you start writing your music resume, it’s important to understand what employers are looking for. According to music industry professionals, employers want to see:

• A clear career objective:  Employers want to know what job you’re applying for and what you hope to accomplish by working for their organization.
• Relevant experience:  If you’re applying for a job as a music teacher, employers want to see that you have experience teaching music. If you’re applying for a job as a music producer, employers want to see that you have experience producing music.
• Evidence of success:  Employers want to see that you’ve had success in your previous roles. Include any awards or accolades you’ve received, or any metrics that demonstrate your success in previous roles.
• Personality and passion:  The music industry is all about passion and creativity. Employers want to see that you have a strong personality and a genuine passion for music.

Tips on Tailoring Your Music Resume to Specific Job Opportunities

One of the most important things you can do when applying for a job in the music industry is to tailor your music resume to the specific position you’re applying for.

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Essays, Personal Statements, and Résumés for Music Students

Essays, personal statements and résumés for music students can be daunting. While the audition is a key component in the acceptance process, admission reps want you to keep in mind that the paperwork side of the application is also important.

by Caitlin Peterkin

“We have a small interview component to our audition process and we review recommendation letters and a student’s music history (typically via the résumé),” says Megan Grady, music recruitment coordinator and assistant director of Admission at the University of Puget Sound School of Music. “We also like to see what else students do and if we think they’ll fit in well with our liberal arts university, not just the School of Music.”

Applying to music school is a highly-competitive process. Brittany Jimenez, associate director of Undergraduate Admission at USC Thornton School of Music , encourages students to be genuine and to put their best foot forward in all parts of the admission process.

“There are many parts of the application and admission process you cannot control, like who else is applying,” she says, “so carefully managing the parts you can control (like the writing supplements and portfolio submissions) will be very important.”

Catch the attention you want

An essay, often referred to as your personal statement, is required by many music schools. Each school posts its own guidelines for these. If you’re uncertain about what they’re asking for, contact the admissions office.

The Common App streamlines the process of applying to several schools, although not all schools use it. You’ll find out whether colleges and universities that use the Common App require a personal essay once you create your Dashboard on the Common App website. The Common App provides a list of “prompts” or ideas to write about and you are given the option to edit your essay after you submit your first application. Even if schools don’t require a personal essay, you’ll have the option to submit one.  

Music schools within universities as well as some colleges require you to apply to the university or college as well as to the music school. A separate school of music essay may also be required. Schools will indicate the word count as well as prompts or a specific theme they want you to write about. This may be referred to as a “supplemental essay.”

You can also choose to apply directly to schools instead of using the Common App. A request for supplemental materials including writing requirements is built in to these applications.

Note that these requirements may be different for transfer students.

So how do you make sure your essay and personal statement stand out from the crowd?

Here are suggestions from recruiters and admission representatives for creating essays they’ll they’ll be eager to read:

1. Do your research.

“It is beneficial to research the school and program and speak to the specific aspects and opportunities you find most relevant to you and your interests,” says Jimenez. “Getting to know the specific programs and faculty is important because every school is going to be unique in the type of experience they offer.”

Patrick Zylka, assistant dean for Admission, Financial Aid and Graduate Services at Northwestern University Bienen School of Music , agrees. “We want to know an applicant has done the research on our institution, not just that it’s a top ten ranking, or that their best friend goes here, but that they’ve really dug a little bit deeper and understand what the institution offers….and whether we’re actually a good fit for them.”

But he adds the caveat to not just regurgitate what’s on a school’s website: “Don’t tell us we’re a beautiful campus next to Lake Michigan—we already know!”

2. Don’t copy and paste.

Faculty and staff recognize that you’re probably applying to multiple institutions. Make sure to write a unique statement for each one, tailoring each essay to the specific program you’re applying to. Schools do not want to see a generic, cookie-cutter answer as to why you’re choosing their particular program.

“Essays that are clearly ‘cut and paste’ versions of an essay you’ve sent to a dozen schools…are not very persuasive,” says Christina Crispin, assistant director of Admissions at Eastman School of Music .

3. Show your personality!

As faculty and admissions reps review hundreds of applications each year, they want to read thoughtful statements from prospective students to get a better sense of each individual’s personality.

According to Zylka, admission reps view the essay as an applicant’s only opportunity to really show who they are as an individual, more than what any transcript or test score can reveal. “Speak from the heart,” he says. “If you’re funny, be funny. If you’re serious, be serious.”

Grady agrees: “We are looking for students to tell us more about themselves. We like to see creative essays that tell us something we may not be able to learn from the rest of their application.”

4. Proofread—multiple times.

Not only are essays a good way to show your personality, but they’re also a chance to demonstrate that you can write in a clear and coherent way.

“The essays that we are least impressed by are those that have typos, grammatical or punctuation errors—anything that screams, ‘I didn’t proofread this,’” says Crispin.

Some other no-nos: run-on sentences and “writing one big paragraph instead of a thought-out essay,” according to Grady.

Your résumé – the right way

Nearly all applications for music schools require a résumé.  

“The résumé is the place for applicants to highlight their musical accomplishments and experiences,” says Crispin. “If they want us to know about other extracurricular activities, leadership, volunteer work, etc., the résumé is a good place to capture that information.”

“It’s important to tell us about any honors, awards, summer festivals, private lessons,” adds Zylka. “Things that show us you didn’t just go to high school from a certain time in the morning to the afternoon.”  

• Make it clean and organized.

There is no one right way to format a résumé unless specified by the schools you’re applying to. They should be easy to read. Include your contact information plus music-specific information and experience.

“Present your résumé in an organized way so it is easy to review what you have done and when,” says Jimenez. “The résumé is typically 1-2 pages in length and mostly focuses on accomplishments and activities during high school.”

“Clean résumés are best—for musicians, that involves what you’ve performed, competitions you’ve won, ensembles you’ve performed along with chair placement (if applicable),” says Grady.  

“Keep your activities limited to your high school achievements,” she adds “unless there’s something particularly outstanding (like a performance at Carnegie Hall) that took place before high school. Show that you play multiple instruments and for how long, who you’ve studied with, ensemble directors, etc.”

• Proofread.

Edit your résumé multiple times, and have a trusted friend, family member, or teacher look it over. “We never want to see typos, misspelled words, or grammatical errors,” says Jimenez.

Final thoughts

Crispin advises all students to start their application early. “We often hear from applicants that they were surprised how much time it took to fill out their applications, and you don’t want to be rushing and risking errors right before the deadline,” she says. This also includes reaching out to teachers for recommendations well before applications are due.

Just like no two music programs are the same, no two application processes are the same. Do the research on what exactly is needed for each program you’re applying to, and make a checklist with deadlines for each one.

Finally, utilize all the resources available online and in admission offices. “Our website should be your best friend throughout the process,” says Jimenez. “Your other best friends will be the people in the office of admission. Applicants are always encouraged to ask questions anytime! We want our applicants to be successful throughout the admission process and are here to help however we can.”

Caitlin Peterkin is a writer/editor and arts enthusiast currently based in Portland, OR. She has worked as program manager for Earshot Jazz (Seattle) and has written for BestNewBands.com , Chronicle of Higher Education , and Paste Magazine . She graduated from Indiana University Bloomington with a B.A. in Journalism and a minor in Music.  

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Music Resume Guide

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This resource includes an overview of what to include in a music resume including samples for both undergraduate and graduate students.