Musician / Performer
Play or sing professionally — in orchestras, bands, session work, theatre pits, teaching studios and live venues.
Save this career to see your personalized pathway in My Senda.
- Typical pay
- €18k–€53k
- Usual education
- Conservatory or portfolio of performance
- Outlook
- Portfolio career: most performers combine live work, teaching and recording sessions.
A day in the life
Warm up and practise, rehearse repertoire with the group, travel to a venue, soundcheck, perform, and keep chasing the next booking or audition.
Ways in
- Conservatory degree
- Grado profesional then auditions
- Band or session work built from gigs
What to study at 16
The subjects you choose for the final years of secondary school can shape which degrees, exams and careers are easiest to reach. This is about choosing courses, not choosing a school.
Spain
Bachillerato de Artes
Portugal
Línguas e Humanidades
France
Bac technologique
Italy
Liceo classico / scienze umane
Netherlands
Profiel Cultuur & Maatschappij
Belgium
KSO – Artistic secondary
Skills that matter
Best courses to take
The study routes that lead most directly into this career.
BA/Título Superior in Music Performance
Conservatory training on your instrument or voice, with chamber music, theory and stage practice.
The standard route: audition into a higher conservatory.
Helpful school subjects: Instrument or voice, Harmony, Music history, Chamber music
Music Production Diploma / Degree
Studio recording, mixing, arrangement and the business side of releasing music.
Useful second string for recording and self-releasing.
Helpful school subjects: Recording, Mixing, Arrangement, Music business