By: Dr. Marzelan Salleh
The annual SPM results have been announced recently, and together parents and their children are now making important choices in selecting their desired and suitable courses in reputable colleges and universities and other academic institutions around the country and overseas. Same goes for any student who have reached the end of their studies in school and are now embarking on their next phase at the higher education level.
The prospect of a bright future career is the determining factor of a student’s selection of course of study. By knowing their preferences, students will pursue studies in business and management, engineering and architecture, health and medicine, arts and communication, science and technology, software and information or finance and accounting, and the list goes on.
Now, a future career in music is fast becoming a popular choice. But can music be a good career? What is the future of a music graduate? These are important questions to answer a prospective music student.
Until very recently, the position of music studies and music as a career choice has improved in terms of opportunities and credibility especially in Europe and America, where a music profession can generate a substantial amount of income for a music degree holder. There are various music degree programmes and courses offered such as, music performance, music
education, music therapy, music composition, audio engineering, music production, music business and management, musicology, and ethnomusicology, to name a few. Therefore, there are a variety of music expertise and fields of music to choose from, thus, enlarging the prospect of a career in the music arena.
Meanwhile in Malaysia, our local universities and colleges have been offering music degree programmes since the 1980s. Long-established Malaysian universities such as Universiti Malaya (UM), Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI), Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS), and Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) have their own music faculties or music departments and they offer music as one of their academic programmes. Its music programmes and courses are fully approved and licensed by the Ministry of Education. Apart from this, the programmes offered are also accredited by the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA).
Personally, embarking on a career in music is definitely an exhilarating journey. It’s a path where passion meets profession, and the rewards are truly extraordinary. But let’s be honest: a career in music isn’t a walk in the park. It demands dedication, resilience, and hardwork. However, when you’re fueled by your unwavering love for music, the challenges become stepping stones towards greatness.
Imagine the thrill of composing your own symphony, seeing your songs touch the hearts of listeners, and experiencing the magic of a live performance. Picture yourself shaping the future of music, breaking boundaries, and leaving your mark on the world through your art.
So, if you’re ready to embrace the journey, to pour your heart and soul into every note, then a career in music is not just a good move—it’s a remarkable adventure waiting to unfold. In conjunction with the World Music Day celebrated annually on 21 June; go and pick up that instrument, chase your dreams, and let the world hear you!
Remember, the road won’t always be easy, but with every chord you strike, every song you create, you’ll be living your passion, and that, my dear future music students, is a reward like no other.
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The author is a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Music, Faculty of Creative Arts, Universiti Malaya, and may be reached at marzelan@um.edu.my
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