Music Resume Sample

Before you start to write, remember that you will never have an “all-purpose resume.”

Put yourself in the shoes of the hiring manager: what are the most important things needed for this particular position, and what are your strengths in relation to it? Evaluate what needs to be on the resume and keep only the most vital information.

1. Performing experience

While other occupations have a work history or experience section, musicians must instead have a “performing experience” section. Previous work history is crucial for any job field, but for musicians, this section should make up the majority of the page.

In your experience section, you won’t need to include detailed descriptions of the performances. Instead, stick to the following format:

• The years you played
• The organization you performed for
• Your instrument
• Your section and role (first, second chair, etc.)
• Whether you subbed or were a regular player

List your ensembles or performances that best showcase your experience. Don’t try to include everything you’ve ever played in for the sake of filling up space. As in any chronological resume, order your performance history from most recent to least recent. See how the bassoon player put it all together in our sample:

On the left side, list your history of performances – organization, location, instrument, role, and whether you subbed or were a regular player.

On the right side, list the years you played for each organization.

2. Awards and honors

Want to learn a way of increasing your chances of getting a callback? Put in any awards or honors that you’ve received. You can also include scholarships for studying music at a university or vocational school.

See how the bassoonist included their achievements below:

Here, the bassoonist took part in a national competition. If you are able to show that you are passionate about the industry and have taken the time to build experience outside of work or school, you’re on the right track to getting an audition.

3. Education

You can choose to put this at the top or bottom of your resume. Recent graduates need to have their education details at the top, whereas those with several years or more of music performance should keep it at the bottom.

Don’t have a degree in music? Some employers will care about your B.A. or M.M., and some won’t, but it’s still important to put it on the resume.

Generally, high school should only be included if you did not attend college; however, like your work history, high school details can still be helpful to the resume if you’ve graduated recently. Advanced training or studies abroad can be mentioned if they are relevant to the position or extensive enough that they deserve to be in your resume.

Looking for something a little different? We have free resume samples for other careers in the arts and entertainment, as well as other occupations.

Alternatively, let our professional resume builder create the perfect resume for you in minutes.