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Manhattan School of Music is very proud to be among a handful of
schools with an office of full-time professionals dedicated to the
entrepreneurial career preparation of musicians. The office of career
development and alumni affairs helps musicians both while they are
in school and after graduation, when they embark on their careers.
The office provides information on opportunities ranging from short-term
employment to full-time positions and provides services that include
résumé counseling and the development of effective
publicity materials. By providing these services to students from
the very beginning of their academic stay at the School, we endeavor
to provide them with the skills and resources essential to professional
success after graduation.
The services and resources found on this page include:
Career Guidance
Printed Resources
Guest Speakers and Workshops
Competitions and Festivals
Job Books
Teacher Referral Service
JOBank Newsletter
Credential File Service
Musician Referrals
Course Work
Note to International Students
Career Guidance
The Career Development staff provides valuable advice to students
on a daily walk-in basis on practical matters such as the creation
of effective résumés, cover letters, and other publicity
materials. In addition, students and alumni can schedule individual
appointments with Ms. Ar Adler,
assistant director of career development, to discuss a wide range
of issues: career strategies, career changes, or careers in general.
The office distributes pamphlets and brochures covering such topics
as concert venues and series, internet resources, area teaching
contact lists, and composers’ resources. Information about
additional or further study is also available. Beyond the career
development staff, members of the School’s faculty are valuable
sources of career wisdom and firsthand knowledge of how to build
successful and fulfilling careers. Students are encouraged to engage
their teachers in conversations about the music industry as issues
and questions arise.
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Printed Resources
The office has prepared and distributes a series of information
packets that addresses the special needs of musicians. This series
is divided by area (classical instrumentalist, jazz musician, vocalist,
teacher, et al.) and includes résumé, bio, and cover
letter examples to illustrate various desirable formats for presenting
credentials effectively to potential employers. Our office has a
collection of music industry directories, self-help books, and other
resource materials on file for reference. In addition, books on
these topics are available in the Library.
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Guest Speakers and Workshops
Manhattan School of Music hosts annually several talks and discussions
on various aspects of pursuing a career in music. The “Wednesdays
at Manhattan” series often addresses this subject; and the
Office of Career Development and Alumni Affairs organizes career
awareness events each spring, during which alumni, faculty, and
invited guest professionals share their music industry experiences
and expertise. Other departments and programs supplement this series
with lectures, many of which are open to all students: for example,
the Master of Music in Orchestral Performance program has speaker
forums throughout the year for our orchestral musicians and the
Opera Studies department invites professionals to speak to our singers.
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Competitions & Festivals
The office maintains comprehensive information of local, regional,
national, and international competitions and festivals. Copies of
brochures and application forms are made available to students and
alumni, and reference brochures are always on file for research.
In addition, the School coordinates on-campus recruiting visits
from many summer festivals and apprenticeship programs each year.
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Job Books
Our Performance, Teaching, and Non-Performance Job Books are a
well-stocked resource of job openings for students and alumni. The
Performance Job Book includes mainly openings for chamber ensembles
and small jazz combos, with occasional requests for soloists. A
wide selection of church positions is regularly available: music
directors, organists, section leaders, and soloists for religious
ceremonies are often in demand. Teaching opportunities range from
jobs in community music schools in the tri-state area to full-time
college/university teaching positions nationwide. Non-performance
jobs range from office work (often in music-related fields) to child
care. Information about internships is also available.
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Teacher Referral Service
Every year, the office receives hundreds of requests for private
teachers. Those who wish to teach can fill out a form, submit a
résumé, and have their names added to the lists mailed
out to callers who request them. Students and alumni wishing to
register for this service can download a Teacher Referral Registration
form, by clicking here.
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JOBank Newsletter
Our JOBank Newsletter lists over 100 positions in performance,
education, and arts administration each month. Graduating students
and alumni will find it a convenient starting point for job hunting.
For current students, this newsletter is an indicator of the kinds
of opportunities, challenges, and responsibilities to be faced when
entering the job market. Upon request, alumni will be placed on
our mailing list for this publication; to download a JOBank Newsletter
Subscription form, click here.
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Credential File Service
Letters of recommendation, concert programs, and reviews that support
applications for employment can be kept on file to be copied and
mailed out by the office on request. A fee of $10 payable by check
to Manhattan School of Music is required to activate a credential
file. The subsequent cost of distributing a credential is $4 per
address requested. To download a Credential File Registration Packet,
click
here.
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Musician Referrals
In addition to providing opportunities for students to negotiate
and procure their own performance work, the office is also called
upon to recommend musicians for services throughout the year. These
are usually last-minute situations or those that call for special
repertoire; they range from small ensembles for high-profile corporate
functions to chamber music series for private clubs. Musicians are
chosen according to their reputations for performance excellence,
reliability, cooperation, and eagerness to work. Students and alumni
can download an Ensemble
Referral form or a Musician
Referral form.
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Course Work
In addition to the services listed on this page, the School offers
enrolled full-time students a variety of courses in the nonmusical
aspects of a career: The Business of Jazz (JC2000); The Business
of Orchestral Music (OP2991-2); and The Business of Music (PT1250).
In addition to these three, Introduction to Performance (VX0900),
The Audition Package (SP1070), and Jazz Musician as Educator (JC2360)
cover many nonmusical aspects of a career as well.
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Note to International
Students
U.S. Government regulations limit and/or prohibit employment of
students who are in this country on certain types of visas. Consult
the International Student Advisor
in the Office of Student Life for these guidelines.
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