Most commonly reported Work Activities

•   Performing for or Working Directly with the Public Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
•   Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
•   Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events Identifying information by categorising, estimating, recognising differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
•   Thinking Creatively Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
•   Processing Information Compiling, coding, categorising, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
•   Getting Information Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
•   Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
•   Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
•   Making Decisions and Solving Problems Analysing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
•   Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.

Working Life

As well as performing, musicians spend a large amount of time practising and rehearsing, auditioning, and planning and organising performances. These activities are often combined with teaching or composing.  
 
Once trained, classical musicians gain experience and develop contacts by taking part in competitions, festivals and concerts. If competition is severe, professional agents are used to promote the musicians and their work.  
 
Non-classical musicians perform at live gigs to build up a repertoire and send demonstration tapes (demos) to recording companies. Representatives from the Artists and Repertoire (A & R) department may respond to demos, view a live gig and offer the performer a recording contract. Records often need promotion via video and many performers need financial backing, or the influence of a successful manager/agent, to market themselves effectively.  
 
Other musicians make a living playing live gigs in pubs, clubs, hotels, holiday camps etc. They may specialise in a particular kind of music, e.g. country and western, jass etc or play a broad repertoire. These musicians often use local entertainment agents to gain work.  
 
Musicians may travel to venues locally, nationally and internationally.

Most commonly reported Work Tasks

• Perform before live audiences in concerts, recitals, educational presentations, and other social gatherings.
• Sing a cappella or with musical accompaniment.
• Interpret or modify music, applying knowledge of harmony, melody, rhythm, and voice production to individualise presentations and maintain audience interest.
• Specialise in playing a specific family of instruments or a particular type of music.
• Sing as a soloist or as a member of a vocal group.
• Observe choral leaders or prompters for cues or directions in vocal presentation.
• Memorise musical selections and routines, or sing following printed text, musical notation, or customer instructions.
• Play musical instruments as soloists, or as members or guest artists of musical groups such as orchestras, ensembles, or bands.
• Sight-read musical parts during rehearsals.
• Play from memory or by following scores.

Further Information

• Classical Musician- from: N.C.S. [UK]
• Musician- from: GradIreland
• Pop Musician- from: N.C.S. [UK]

This occupation is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests:

 Creative

Creative people are drawn to careers and activities that enable them to take responsibility for the design, layout or sensory impact of something (visual, auditory etc). They may be atrracted to the traditional artistic pursuits such as painting, sculpture, singing, or music. Or they may show more interest in design activities, such as architecture, animation, or craft areas, such as pottery and ceramics.

Creative people use their personal understanding of people and the world they live in to guide their work. Creative people like to work in unstructured workplaces, enjoy taking risks and prefer a minimum of routine.

 Enterprising

Enterprising people like situations that involve using resources for personal or corporate economic gain. Such people may have an opportunistic frame of mind, and are drawn to commerce, trade and making deals. Some pursue sales and marketing occupations. Many will eventually end up owning their own business, or in management roles in larger organisations. They tend to be very goal-oriented and work best when focused on a target. Some have an entrepreneurial inclination.

Usually Musicians commence their training at as early an age as five or six years, either with a private teacher or in a school of music.  If sufficient aptitude and talent are shown, students can proceed to full-time courses at a University. They can also study for a B.A. in Music. Students who reach the exceptional standard required to pursue a performing, composing or conducting career usually go on to a postgraduate/advanced course at music college.  
 
Once full-time training is complete, they will continue to study under private tuition while building up a reputation in their particular field through, for example, solo and/or ensemble work. As many students will not reach this standard, music colleges also provide a preparation for teaching or other work in music related fields.  
University degrees predominantly treat music as an academic subject. However, there are usually plenty of opportunities to gain experience in student and amateur performances.

Training can also help you progress, depending if you plan to go into performance, Teaching & lecturing, Music for performance, or Music for media or marketing.

Sample Education and Training Pathways
A number of courses are available throughout the country that focus on learning and skills that may be useful for this career. The examples and links below may guide you in your research. 

Further Education (FET)
Further Education & Training (FET) Courses are delivered by local ETBs, ranging in duration from several weeks up to 20 months. Courses are designed to meet the labour market needs and often include a large element of work experience.

Example search terms include: digital media, broadcast production, group facilitation, training.

Search for FET Courses

PLC Courses (FET)
PLC courses are full-time courses, one or two years duration, with awards at Level 5 and 6 on the NFQ. They are offered nationally in Schools and Colleges of Further Education.

Example search terms include: music performance, music production, sound engineering, music technology.

Search for PLC Courses

Apprenticeships: 
Apprenticeships are structured work-based training programs that combine on-the-job training with classroom instruction. They run from 2 – 4 years and are open to individuals of all ages, including school leavers, those seeking a career change, and existing employees who wish to upskill.

Examples:

Search for Apprenticeships

Higher Education CAO (Undergraduate) 
Higher Education courses at Levels 6 to 8 on the NFQ, delivered in Universities and Technological Universities & Institutes. Courses run from 2 – 5 years and places are allocated on a points-based system, processed by the Central Application Office.

Example search terms include: arts, music, music technology, audio, music production.

Search for CAO Courses

Higher Education (Postgraduate)
Postgraduate courses are courses at Levels 9 and 10 on the NFQ and usually last 1 – 2 years full time, or longer if a PhD or part time. Entrants typically require an undergraduate award (Level 8).

Example search terms include: arts, music, education, teaching, music composition.

Search for Postgraduate Courses

Professional Development 

Professional development (CPD) courses are specialised training, formal education, or advanced professional learning that improves skills, professional knowledge, competency, and overall effectiveness in the professional world.

IMRO Irish Music Rights Organisation

MUI Musicians Union of Ireland

Check the Useful Contacts tab on this page to see if there are any professional bodies listed who may provide training related to this career.

Salary Range (thousands per year)* €17k - €51k

Salaries vary based on project, employer (group or session based),  location, experience, duties, and role. Income can also be derived by music rights, and online income and performance. This can vary and be sessional in nature. 

Data Source(s):
Payscale/ Indeed/ Glassdoor

Last Updated: March, 2024

Note: The following information relates to occupations that include: Artists; Authors; writers; translators; Actors; entertainers; presenters; Dancers; choreographers; Musicians Arts officers; producers; directors; Photographers; audio-visual and broadcasting equipment operators; Graphic designers Product; clothing and related designers.

This information has been derived from the Solas National Skills Bulletin (2023).

Employment grew strongly between 2021 and 2022, with an additional 7,300 persons employed. As illustrated in the CSO Census data below, employment is spread across a number of roles; since 2016, the strongest growth, in absolute terms, was for graphic designers and authors, writers and translators.

New employment permits issued for this occupation in 2022 were primarily for film/TV and animation/visual effects (VFX) roles but also for linguistics experts in the ICT sector. There was also a high volume of recent job hires in line with the recent employment increase. The data does not point to overall issues with recruitment for these roles.

• Irish Traditional Musicians Association

  • Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann, 32 Belgrave Square, Monkstown, Co. Dublin
  • (01) 280 0295
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here

• Contemporary Music Centre Ireland

  • 19 Fishamble St, Temple Bar Dublin 8
  • (01) 673 1922
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here

• Radio Telefis Eireann (RTE)

  • Donnybrook, Dublin 4
  • (01) 208 3111
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here

• IMRO Irish Music Rights Organization

  • Lower Baggot St, Dublin 2, Ireland, D02 HW59
  • 01 661 4844
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here