Explore the music field: School & Studies - Part II (Upcoming Students)

In the previous post about School & Studies Part I I have mentioned that the 'music forest' is quite packed to move through. A small approach of information about music careers can lead to demotivate pupils and students to pursue their music career. Here I have wrote down a variety of music studies that can help in the search to find out what suits (upcoming) students to choose a music study. Some music studies are overlapping eachother and I have not found all studies yet. Even so, I hope it creates a wider perspective for people about the opportunities in the music field!

Socio Musicologist | Leasure-, Ludic- and Social-Cultural Studies / Socio Musicology
Sociomusicologists observe and explore the behaviour and musical interactions of the social structure. With a wide range of research methods and tools they make plans and organise events in a playful way to encourage people to evolve and grow in their development and choices. A great study that is related to this study is called CMV in The Netherlands (Culturele Maatschappelijke Vorming). In English: Social and Cultural Development; Which is close to the Leasure Management studies. I think this study will create open-minded professionals in the music industry, with a skill for cross-overs and multi-disciplinair work.
Questions for example:
- What can we do to help people towards their achievement via ludic and musical tools?
- Does society get divided or connected via music?
- What types of musicgenres can we provide to people and in what way?
- How is music connected to subcultures and personal identities?
- Can we create new technological musical activities to interact with people?
- Can we create a plan to get music back in schools and how?
- Can we make school more fun by using music? (a different kind of schoolbell?)
- What is the influence of music on people with dementia?
- What is the influence of gender and women in music?
[The study of feminist musicology].- Are we loosing our listening in the modern world? We are bombarded with our personal soundscape, our environment. We have technology which wants us more to text instead of taking the patience to listen. To be familiair in the silence of sound. Julian Treasure spoke in a TedX: "Silence is very rare in the modern world"

Sonologist / Sound Artist | Sonology
This is a study of sound. It involves production and research in the field of electroacoustic music, computer music and sound art. So, instead of composing with sounds, sonoly presents sound itself as it gives expression to musical form. The topics in this study are: Studio composition, writing and using computer applications, research into sound, the relationship between sound and space, digital signal processing, algorithmic composition, music theory, live electronic music, free improvisation and sound art. You can become an independent electronic musician or in the field of multimedia, sound design, live electronic music, sound engineering and education.Sound Art(ist) can also be applied as sound-art installations.

[Sometimes Sonology and Sound Art can be related to nature, and is close to Eco Musicology. Think about.. How to record the sounds of a glacier? Can you use these into an art-installation?]

Music Designer | Audiobranding / Sounddesigning / Music Marketing
This career focusses on making music, sound effects and soundtracks for companies for media purposes. It is all about a sound that reminds you of the company. Mostly companies use a 'jingle', 'bing bong' or in professional way 'sonic logo', which is an audible version of a visual logo. That could be a music tune as a logo (soundlogo), a tune that returns in the store (branding), a specific sound that is playing in the store, or sounds to use in an app.
Examples are: Playstation; Netflix; Leo the Lion in the MGM films; McDonald's; 20th Century Fox fanfare ident. Another example is the soundbranding experiment of the Harrold's Toy Kingdom, which opened in 2012; the first retail space to use generative soundscapes, to create an imaginary world for kids and parents alike.

Ludo Musicologist | Ludo Musicology
This study focusses on multiple aspect of the videogame music. Think about why videogame music brings playful engagement or helps with neurologic tasks. Topics are: Interactivity, technology, composition, music video games, music research and analysis.
You can even become a video game composer!

Music Promoter / Music Plugger
Music pluggers are listening to new upcoming music bands and see if this fits within the marketing of the local music store, music label or radiostation. Also, a music plugger can create and manage the perfect playlists for retail stores. A music promoter will help a local band by promoting their music and merchandise, either via social media or other ways [similar to affiliate marketing].

Luthier / Instrument Maker / Music Repairment | Music Retail
Music repairment is about rebuilding music instruments and music tools and selling equipment. This is a great way to understand how music instruments and music tools are build and how they work by it's shape and size. It could also be the repair of hearing device implants. This is a career that deals with absolute quality. There are also jobs like 'quality checkers'; They check the quality of every aspect of the music instrument and music tool. Customer service is important. In this career you can form a great network of musicians and people working in the creative industry.

Music Author | Music Writer
Not only are there performing musicians, there are also a lot of music writers who write music for the songs from artists and bands. The music authors get 'author rights' - royalties or copyright - for the written lyrics when the song is published. Co-writing is also possible, as well as being a ghostwriter. A ghostwriter is someone who is working without recognition, more like 'undercover' - They write lyrics to a song for a famous artist and give their royalties/credit to the artist. Most of the time the biggest musichits/popular singles are written by ghostwriters. Get in touch with the Music associations and Collective Management Organisations for further information.

Music Manager | Music Management
Music Management is a study recently founded in The Netherlands. This study is about the set-up of the music industry and to become a music manager for a band, festival or to run a studio for example. In this study the focus is on building a marketingplan, a businessplan, a financial plan and to understand what it takes to operate and participate within the music industry. It is up to the music manager to combine the right band to the right label, booker,  radiostation, concert halls and media channels to let them succeed. The study provides helpful tools to get familiar with the musical organisations. The influences of society play a role as well: The Covid-19 pandemic had a huge impact on the music industry, organisations and musicians. How to recover from that?! Music management is also useful to manage your own process as an upcoming musician.

Music Economist | New Music Economy
This study focusses on the social, technical, political and economic context of the creative industries. It is all about the consumer behaviour and methods of promotion and sales.A few topics are:

• Music Licensing

• Co-Marketing

• Branding with New Tools

• Non Traditional Retail Space

• Digital Distribution

• Internet-Specific Content

• Fan Artist Relationship Management

• Quality Control

• Content Management System Structures

• Legal Structures

• Live Performance

• Incorporation of Attention Economy Principles in Marketing Strategies

Music Foley (Filmmaking) | Sound Design / Voice Over Artist/Actors
Do you know how to make the sound of rain? And where does 'the wilhelm sound' come from? Sound design involves performing (foley) and editing of composed or recorded audio. Mostly in a a studio full of materials, a foley or sound designer creates specific sounds or auditory elements with the use of audio production techniques and tools. It includes music on a time-frame. It is useful for: Filmmaking, television production, video game development, theatre, sound recording and reproduction, live performance, sound art, post-production, radio, new media and music instrument development.A voice over artist is an artist who speaks lines for a character in a movie/film/serie.

Music Journalist / Music Publicist / Music Novelist
A music journalist is someone who writes about music, musicians, the lastest news about music in society for an (online) newspaper or (online) newsmagazine. How does the media operates and how does it work with music? Music journalism is about the writing of articles, critical thinking and with a goal in mind: To entertain, inspire, inform or shock the newsreader.
Some classic composers started to write articles for their own music magazine as a side-job...
A music publicist is mostly collaborating with a band/musician. A music publicist corresponds with the media, building PR campaigns, sending press releases and book media appearances for the musician/band.
A music novelist is close to writing a book or blog about music, musicians or anything related to music. It could also be a music book for kids, music theory or even becoming a speaker with music lectures.

Music Technologist | Music Technology
This study is about the use of any device, mechanism, machine or tool by a musician or band or composer. Mostly this is about the use for performing music, to compose music, to notate music, to playback or record songs or pieces or simply to analyze or edit music.
An example is the Keaton Typewriter for notating music notes on paper. Another example is the printing press in the Renaissance or the keyboard instruments in the Baroque period. In the Romantic period they use sheet music, although now we have online sheet music software and microchips. Also, think about how to create instruments for the deaf and hard of hearing community.

Music Engineer | Audio/Sound Engineering
Music Engineers are to be found in the back of the room behind a big, black box. This music box is full of technical music equipment that is set to make sure the performer will be heard correctly in the room. They know how to balance and adjust sound sources, how to use audio effects and how the placing of microphones and the setting of the levels need to be set. Think about microphones that are attached to instruments or hidden within the stage.
Music engineering is a creative profession; musical instruments and technology are used by studio-engineers, master-engineers and mixing-engineers for film, radio, television, music and videogames. Music engineers do a set up, sound check and they do live sound mixing by using music systems for music concerts, theatre, sport games and events.
A music engineer works with all of the mechanics of recording, mixing and reproducing sound. Any music technical issue is to be solved by a music engineer.

Musicologist | Musicology
Musicologists are the ones who teach classes and guide doctoral research on many aspects of the musichistory. This is mostly at graduate and undergraduate levels.
Basically this should be accepted in the schools as "music teacher" in my opinion.
Furthermore they focus on the relationship between music and subjects like geography, aesthetics, politics, race theory, gender theory, neuropsychology and more.
Musicology is centered around European and Western art music.

Music Historicus | Historical Musicology
In 2024 there has been found another piece of musicwork from the classic composer Mozart in a German library. It made Mozart's music alive again after 300 years. Many musicians were asked to perform this new musicwork to bring back classical work. A music historicus is like becoming a music researcher. Getting to know the whole music history, the biographical study of composers and the performance practise how music was performed in various places at various times in the past. You have to go through (manu)scripts and archival work. It is the study of the history of any type or genre of music, and the notated music of (western) elites. Definitely worth it to record a podcast, write music articles or get interviewed on tv.

Music Jurist | Music Law

Do you have strong feelings for justice and rights? This could be an opportunity to help musicians succeed in the music industry. Take a look at all kinds of different contracts between music firms and institutions, music cooperations, labels and even between bandmembers. What will happen with a copyright claim? And who is responsible for the damage? What are the consequences and how to get out of a difficult situation? Where are the tiny details in the contract? You might have to set up new contracts and stand your ground in court.

Music Pedagogist | [Popular] Music Pedagogy
This study is about HOW to teach and instruct music in the correct way and in which strategic way, like didactic teaching. This is a development in music education, based on systematic teaching and learning of popular music inside ánd outside formal classroom settings. The group improvisation is associated with community music activies instead of institutionalized school music ensembles. It focusses more on ability, knowledge, experience, understanding and interpretation in all areas of music. So, in the way music has been taught till now, there are other ways to teach music as well. In this way it is about the way the student learns and the way of teaching music can help the student at best.

Phonetician / Phonetics | Phonology / Linguistics studies
This study can easily be connected with Ethno Musicology. Only this study is more related to how languages have an effect on the way we speak, pronounce and vocal ourselves (in music). Think about intonation, articulation (and the place of articulation), perception, voicing and description of vowels and consonants (height, backness, rounding etc.). Also, Sign language is part of this study. Think about the parameters of location, movement, hand shape, palm orientation and more.Auditory phonetics is all about hearing and the perception of speech and sounds.

Logopedist / Speech-Language Pathologist | Music Speech Therapy
A speech-language pathologist and/or logopedist is all about the speech, voice, language, feeding and swallowing issues. They observe clients and use tests and examinations to diagnose and measure delays and disorders. They also promote education programs. Mostly they work in an audiologic centrum.

Music Interpreter | Sign Language Studies
What happens when musicians get hearloss or hear less and less over time?
Might be interesting to learn sign-language to educate ex-musicians or - in general - people to communicate via sign-language. There are still opportunities to work with music: Storytelling and working as an interpreter of a concert or important events (translating to sign-language).

Music Stage Designer / Theatre Producer | Stage Design Studies / Theatre Production
What about not being on stage, but instead operating backstage? Creating a plan how to make a fantastic stage made for performers, bands, artists and musicians. And think about where to put the microphones as close to the instruments to get the perfect sound for the sound engineers. You might work closely together with the light&sound engineers how to get the best light and sound on stage how to put the artist in the right spot. You might work together with the event manager or music manager of the artist. And of course you work on logistics - How to imply the plan towards reality on stage. What do you need; specific clothing or decor? Do you need to build extra attributes and do you have enough materials?

Music Therapist | Music Therapy
A Music Therapist will focus more on music to solve deep trauma and conflic in social relations. Music can open the dialogue and can open emotions to feel that they are real.
Music is like a buddy for depression - When everything falls apart, music is there. It is a source to seek healing (instead of talking with people who don't understand). It is a way to see the hidden person, to give a chance to the person to know how the person is feeling.
A music therapist can introduce you to a music instrument. Hereby to get to know the instrument and find a way to safely express yourself through music is the magic!
To play the song and understand what it means, is also a way to understand the trauma and to give strength and control to move forward in life. Also to introduce you to sound therapy sessions, for example with a Monochord table, monochord chair, or music bowls.

Music Psychologist | Music Psychology
Music psychology is the way that music affects our emotional state. Music is part of psyche, cognitive and behaviour. Music does change the environment as well. For example a rock song or a classical song has a different approach on the same situation. 

That is called 'Mood Management.' How does the environment affect your mood?
Music has even an affect on fashion and how you style: Punk-music created a type of clothing that fits the message of Punk-music. And so other music genres as well.
Another example is the affect of a busy environment. Julian Treasure spoke in a TedX that 66% of people are less productive in busy environments. People will even buy 21% less when the music playlist in stores are not tuned well. We might not even take people seriously when the music genre doesn't fit the right place or person. What about these high-class performers, are they the 'only' 'real' musicians? What does it take to be a good musician? The role of music and songs is very important in society and how people behave.

Neuro Musicologist | Neuro Musicology / Music Phrenology
Neuromusicology studies the "brain areas involved in music processing, neural and cognitive processes of musical processing", and "ontogeny of musical capacity and musical skill".Think about the moment when Christian Nolen was asked by doctors to play the guitar during a brain surgery to remove a tumor; Part of the study of the University of Miami in Florida. Or, even interesting: What parts of the brain light up when you play an instrument or sing a song? How is the ear and the brain connected to be able to hear music? Nowadays there is this phenomenon called ASMR; Is this helpful to the brain to stimulate more or less neurons? Back in the days there were phrenologists, who took a plaster cast of the head/face of famous music composers to study if the shape of the skull could reveal the musical abilities of music composers.

Music Scientist | Music & Nature studies

This is related to how music is build with frequencies and thus different vibrations. Vibrations are the movements of sound that we can't see (movement of music strings). It is a movement in the air that humans receive via the ears into electric signals = sound. On paper this is seen as different shapes of 'waves' or 'wavelengths'.

Also, think about the effects of a noise-cancelling headphone: Does it make you more sensitive after being in a crowded place, and why? How does a noise-cancelling headphone work in general, why is there no sound? Should people wear noice-cancelling headphones in crowded places and in traffic or is this too dangerous?

Music Physiologist | Physiology
Musicians will experience some difficulties during performances or rehearsals.
Some musicians experience RSI: Repetitive strain injury. That happens when you get aches and pains in your body from doing repetitive movements or a bad posture. You might can work in a music school to inform musicians about good posture. You might have a good insight in muscles and nerves within the body. RSI mainly affects the arms, shoulders, wrists and hands. In The Hague, The Netherlands, there is a seperate Medical Centre for Dancers and Musicians that specialises in RSI and physiology.

Bio Musicologist | Bio Musicology / Evolutionary Musicology
Biomusicology is focussing on providing biological insight as the therapeutic use of music in medical and psychological treatment. Think about the widespread use of music in media like film and television. Or the presence of music in public places: How does that influence mass behaviour? And, the use of music as a function to learn new things.

Evolutionary musicology studies the origins of music, music evolution and human evolution. For example the melodic formula in different sounds and tonal languages. Or, what humming is and what it is meant for (the humming neanderthalers). Or: What is motherese; does babytalk work? What is the effect of hormones and music?

Zoo Musicologist | Zoo Musicology
This study is based on the musical aspects of sound and communication as produced and perceived by animals. Think about birdsongs, whalesongs, the way insects communicate. But also the sound of cats, dogs, cows...  What are these music signals like the haunt and battle sounds, the connection with the animal group... Probably echolocation belongs to this catagory as well. Can animals make music like humans too?

Music Audiologist | Music Audiology
Music audiologists are helping a variety of people (kids, adults) with ear damages, mostly in places like the hospital or rehabilitation centers. They use special instruments and electronic equipments, they do tests and examinations to diagnose and measure hearing impairment. They also help to regain skills like lipreading and the use of assistive listening devices such as hearing loops. Music audiologists educate other people, business, family etc. about the impact and preventing of hearing loss.

Eco Musicologist | Eco Musicology / Ecoaucoustics / Music Psychoacoustics
This study explores the relationship between music or sound and the natural environment. Research about the way that music is composed to replicate a natural imagery. Think about studying the sound produced by animals within their habitat, or what types of animals are used to make certain instruments and sounds. Also, the sounds that belongs to the mountain rage, a forest or a glacier. These sounds are temporary and momentum recordings, due to it's dissapearance. How does a flowerfield sound like? Compose a soundscape ecology to find out! There is also studies found related to ecomusicology, named: Acoustic ecology / ecoaucoustics or soundscape studies. This is the discipline of studying the relationship between human beings and their environment through sound. It can be used as information for changes in the climate or other environmental changes. It can range up to the way that animals are leaving because of human noices in the city or the tracking of water flow in the mountains. In The Netherlands there is a study called Geoscience and Engineering, where they use instruments like infra-sound to measure sounds that are impossible to hear by humans. They test soundisolation and soundabsorbtion for example.Think about Music Psychoacoustics as well: The frequencies that humans are able to hear (the perceptions of the human ear). Nowadays people think about music frequencies - aka musical waves or wavelengths - and by that helping people to release stress and vibe in the positive frequencies.

Geographic Musicologist | Music Geography
This study is focussing on music that is associated with spaces and environments. Not only it is wellknown that composers are inspired by nature or their environment, also the technology of nowadays allows us to interact with musicgenres from worldwide. Are there any statistics about how cities use music? Or think about the noise pollution and the consequences of it. How to prevent or change loud noises in public spaces like the airport, from cars or around a school. Also, the effect on nature by human noise pollution is a topic.Does music affect climate change? Sound of earthquakes?

Ethno Musicologist | Ethno Musicology / Comparative Musicology / Music Archeology
In the 2024 movie "Inside Out 2" this music career has been mentioned. It is a bit unclear what this exactly entails. It's like a blend of ethnics (close to antropology) and music; How music is used in different societies.A great example is Frances Densmore who recorded the Blackfoot chief Mountain Chief (Native American) via a grammophone in 1931. She is one of the first ones who wrote and published books about the different sounds and the behaviours and effect on it's society.Another example is the album from Paul Simon called "Graceland", where he implemented elements of South African music in his songs.

It's the understanding why and how humans produce a meaningful sound to connect with others. And of course where these instruments and sounds come from within social settings.
Ethno Musicology is centered around Non-Western music. 
- How does music travel through the world, what is the influence of technology?
- Why do people only get taught western music in schools?
- What is the role of music to solve conflict and racism?
- What is the role of music in migration?
- Is Folklore music part of ethomusicology?
- What makes that Folk music is dissapearing?
- What is musical heritage? Is there such a thing of music for men or women?
- Can we use music elements from other cultures into songs, without explicit permission?
- How would the musical caveman have looked like?

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Well. That was a lot of information to study. I wish you lots of success and joy with the topic that you want to study and grow into. I hope this motivates you to choose a topic time and time again or/and to keep being educated and see different perspectives in music.