Working as a musician allows you to develop your career in multiple ways depending on what instruments, music genres, and show formats you experiment with during your experience. When it comes to keyboardists, they’re able to bring a versatile tool to any band, being able to even perform by themselves in front of an audience or a recording studio.
However, there are so many options available in the musical field that ordinary people don’t know about. We wanted to share 4 things you need to know about keyboardists and their job to give everyone a better glimpse of how complex their work can get.
They’re able to accompany or perform by themselves
When a keyboardist is part of a band, people may not understand at first what their primary role is. First, we need to differentiate between a piano and a keyboard since each instrument offers unique qualities and features. A piano is an acoustic instrument you may find in a jazz band or choir arrangement with weighted keys with particular richness in sound. However, in most cases, people think of the electric instrument, which allows for a wider variety of sounds and instruments in its repertoire, including backtracks.bWhen a keyboardist is working with a band, their main role is to provide harmonic accompaniment to the song. Otherwise, they can also use the synthesizer to play additional instrument sounds, mimicking them in technique and range if needed. To achieve this, the musician needs to have a good understanding of the music genre, what chord qualities are appropriate for the musical piece, among other basic knowledge that they must apply on the go.
Keyboardists can record in studios or at home
In general, musicians aren’t constrained to live or recorded performances when it comes to job opportunities. Most keyboardists show great passion for their craft, starting to learn about the instrument and getting acquainted with different music genres and techniques as a hobby first. Therefore, it shouldn’t come as a surprise to learn that many professionals like to immerse themselves in releasing their material through digital platforms, by completely being in charge of their marketing and distribution. Having this new scenario in the music industry, keyboard players must invest in good quality workstations when working by themselves since the gear’s overall quality can ultimately limit their final results and hinder their work opportunities. However, some keyboard players can rely on agents and managers to sign contracts and work with other professionals to record music for other artists.
They can have incredible careers in music therapy
While it’s a field that not many people think about at first, some keyboardists have the professional background necessary to consider less conventional career choices where they’re still thriving as keyboardists. It is such a versatile skill that musicians can seek additional education to become music therapists. The research surrounding this type of therapy has shown plenty of benefits for helping people with mental health problems, including depression, insomnia, and anxiety. Studies have also shown promising results with music therapy in helping with pain management, and there has been a rise in demand for professionals in hospitals, outpatient alcohol rehab and drug rehabilitation centers.
Keyboardists can compose and teach
While some musicians can have a career and sustain their families with live performances, most keyboard players can have multiple jobs throughout their professional lives in different areas. For instance, it’s fairly common that music schools and universities hire experienced piano players and pay pre-determined salaries based on their courses and additional tasks. However, music studios can also be an excellent way to become piano teachers. They can offer more variety in lessons and students, and in general, it’s an accessible job since you won’t need specific certifications to start working at a studio.
Another option that may attract some keyboardists can be found in composing music for others. Whether they’re looking to work in the video game or film industry for creating soundtracks or work based on commissions, composers require a versatile approach to music. They are allowed to express their creativity in each of their musical pieces. Consider that if you work as a freelancer, you’ll be able to charge depending on previous experience, the number of hours required for the project, and other requirements asked by the client.
If you’re interested in pursuing a career as a keyboardist, you must know that the process for entering prestigious music schools and institutes can be extremely competitive. Therefore, you must do proper research on every option available that suits your skills and interests because keyboard players can easily thrive in different areas outside of traditional live performances.
