There are a lot of ways to become educated about the industry of music. One of those is to be self-taught, which many of the most famous musicians are. However, if you’re interested in what is behind the scenes, and you don’t want to have a career that ends if you put on a little bit of weight, or if some sort of illness ruins your singing voice, then the business side is where you need to be. And in order to get educated on that side, you will have to attend one of the music business schools that do degrees in this field.
The School of Life
Everybody knows that experience is a great teacher. However, it is hard, tedious, and incredibly slow. You can, and will, learn from your mistakes, which is what life is all about. But there are plenty of other ways to have a bit of advanced knowledge so you don’t have to make every mistake in the book.
Teaching Yourself
Teaching yourself is a really good way to learn new skills. It is different from the school of life, in as such that teaching yourself is more directed. The downside, however, is that you can’t put any of this on your resume and hope that you will stand out from the crowd.
Mentorship
Mentorship is also an excellent way of learning, because you will be able to take examples from someone who has been there, done that. You will also build relationships that will serve you for the rest of your life. However, mentorships are very hard to come by, particularly if you don’t already have connections. Most are organized by colleges and universities instead.
College and University
A lot of people see school as a place where people come out like factory workers, focused solely on old philosophies that are no longer relevant in today’s world. They also feel that schools miss the digital revolution. Not to mention, school is incredibly expensive. All of this is true. Expense is something you cannot get around, but you can make sure you research the different schools so that you pick one that is relevant to today’s world and that allows you to grow and develop your own ideas.
The reality is that the best way to really become a pro and to be successful in the world of music is to combine the above into one neat package. That is exactly what you will do if you go to college or university, where you will receive the theoretical foundations underpinning this type of business, while also having the opportunity to be mentored. And if you are committed, you will teach yourself skills as well, while at the same time learning the hard way from your mistakes.
College or university is expensive, but it is an investment in yourself and in your future, and one that you should be more than happy to make. And remember that financial aid may be available.
