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Nov 17, 2022 · Learn the steps, skills and salary of becoming a music producer in this comprehensive guide. Find out what music producers do, what education and training you need, and how to get started in the industry.
May 12, 2022 · Learn the basics of music production and the steps to become a music producer from MasterClass. Explore the skills, tools, and techniques you need to create your own songs and albums.
- Overview
- What does a music producer do?
- Work environment for music producers
- Salary and career outlook
- Requirements for music producers
- Top music producer skills
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Music producers help create the songs and albums people listen to in their homes, and they play an essential role in choosing which singles are released for radio listening and TV viewing. Music producers are also responsible for a variety of aspects of music production. If you're passionate about music and entertainment, you might benefit from lea...
A music producer is a creative and technical artist. They're people who develop and craft creative content. They often scout talent and coach artists in a variety of genres and oversee all aspects of recording and producing singles, records and albums. Producers used mixing boards, sound boards and other recording equipment to ensure albums have pr...
Most music producers work in music studios. They collaborate with sound engineers, managers, marketers, production assistants and other artists. People in this career use computers, musical editing programs and mixing equipment. Their workday is likely to be divided between office work and technical work in sound booths and audio engineering rooms....
According to the United States Bureau of Labor and Statistics, the national average salary for a music producer is $49,130 per year. Currently, nearly 56,000 music producers are working in the U.S., with an estimated 2,700 job openings projected in the field over the next decade.Your earnings might be more or less dependent upon the musical artists...
Education
There's not a fixed standard educational requirement for becoming a music producer, but most employers look for candidates who have a bachelor's degree in music production or a related field, such as music performance, music theory or audio engineering. A bachelor's degree is a four-year program and includes a broad range of topics and courses relating to music and a career path in music production. Here's a list of common topics of study for people who enroll in this type of program: •Music history •Music theory •Musical composition •Audio engineering •Sound editing •Digital audio software •Recording industry law and ethics •Copyright law •Artist and product management •Marketing and advertising
Training
Your training is crucial to your success in becoming a music producer. Whether gained during formal education, an internship or personal practice, hands-on experience is how you'll gain the skills and abilities needed for your future career.During an internship, for example, an aspiring music producer learns how to properly manipulate sound equipment. They work with industry experts to develop melodies, hooks and other important aspects of a song or record. Internships are also likely to teach people how to interact with musicians and bands.This hands-on training and experience is also extremely important for your understanding of marketing musicians and it's likely to help you get a realistic impression of the work environment and industry as a whole. Additionally, internships or apprenticeships also help expand your network, which is particularly important for people who want to work in this field.
Certifications
Certificate programs can be completed in lieu of a four-year college degree or they can be used to bolster the education provided by a traditional degree program. A certificate in music production, audio production, talent management or audio arts can help you enhance your ability to craft music and develop marketing plans or techniques. Depending on the program, certification can take between six to 18 months to complete.Related: What Does a Music Publicist Do? (Duties, Salary and Tips)
1. Passion for music
Becoming a music producer requires dedication, knowledge and patience as you make professional and social connections. The industry is very selective and having love, respect and passion for music and entertainment is crucial. Your dedication to music is likely to come through in your work, as the art you create may reflect many of your most personal feelings or values.Related: Answering the Question "Should I Become a Music Teacher?"
2. Knowledge of music theory
Having a deep understanding of music theory—melody, rhythm, harmony, form, pitch, scales and other musical elements—can help you make informed decisions when producing songs. You also can use this advanced knowledge to speak with other people in the industry about important aspects of music and music production.
3. Trained ear
In music and production, the phrase ear training refers to a person's ability and practice connecting music theory with the sounds they hear. Someone with advanced training or natural ability can identify different intervals, chords, scales and notes without having to look at sheet music. You can train your ear to recognize notes by playing the same note continually and listening to a wide variety of music with and without musical notes. Using this ability, you can produce music more efficiently and creatively by using your intuition and gained knowledge to adjust tracks based on their sound alone.Related: 57 Great-Paying Flex Jobs for Musicians
Learn about the role, work environment, salary and career outlook of music producers. Find out the education, training, certification and skills required to pursue this creative and technical career path in music and entertainment.
- Build a basic home studio. First off, every producer needs a few tools to get started making their own tracks. Get unlimited Mastering and Distribution, 30+ plugins worth over $2,000 and more.
- Learn how to use a DAW. Your DAW is the main environment where you’ll be creating your tracks. The term stands for Digital Audio Workstation. It’s the computer program where recording, editing, sound design and arrangement all take place.
- Train your ear. One of the best ways to become a music producer is to understand music. But you don’t have to be born a musical genius. You can train your ear and your brain to think musically.
- Master recording basics. Modern recording is done digitally using a DAW. But many of the basic techniques haven’t changed too much since the early days of audio.
- Train your ears. One of the most important abilities a producer must have is the capacity to recognize and distinguish different sounds and instruments.
- Learn an instrument. One of the most important tasks for music producers is to come up with great melodies. To do this, you should learn how to play an instrument.
- Practice writing music. To be a great music producer, it’s essential to understand songwriting. Songwriting is an integral part of being a producer because it provides an understanding of how various instruments interact with each other, how a song should be structured, and what makes a hit.
- Decide on music equipment. You can’t build anything solid without the right tools for the job. A professional music producer will acquire countless pieces of music equipment over the years, from MIDI keyboards to guitar pedals, to a setup of 15 different recording microphones for different purposes.
Learn the essentials of music production, from pre-production to post-production, and how to become a music producer. Explore the role, responsibilities, and equipment of a producer, and download Pro Tools for free.
Learn the steps to pursue a career as a music producer, from developing technical skills to building a portfolio and online presence. Find helpful resources, courses, and tips to enhance your craft and connect with the industry.
