<p>I am searching for music internships, but I'm struggling to really find anything. Anything I do find is unpaid, not in my area, or is just someone looking for someone to manage their Facebook page and Twitter account. I've been looking through Indeed, Internships.com, InternMatch, and a few others. Does anyone know of any good resources for music majors? Any good websites? Does anyone have any advice on how to go about searching for music internships? My career center is not of much help, and we have a very small music program at my school, so there aren't many resources available. Alternatively, does anyone know of any good companies to check out in the DC area? I'd be interested in anything related to music business/marketing, education, or research opportunities pertaining to music and the brain.</p>
<p>If you can find an organization you want to work for, it is fine to contact them directly. Sometimes, even craigslist has listings that might be relevant, and check with your state cultural council (if you have one).</p>
<p>Most internships are unpaid (except for computer science etc.). Most involve things like managing websites and social media, or, to be honest, worse.</p>
<p>Are you majoring in music? As an instrumentalist or are you in an academic program Or music business, therapy, or education? Have you asked a professor about being a research assistant?</p>
<p>The areas you mention in your last sentence are quite diverse. Maybe let us know where your interests really lie.</p>
<p>I think part of my problem is I don’t really know of many organizations in my area. I’ve checked out the ones I do know, and they either don’t fit my criteria, the deadline has passed for Spring, or they don’t offer anything. But I will check Craigslist and cultural council.</p>
<p>I know most are unpaid, and often illegally so. In my current situation, I cannot afford to have an unpaid internship. And if all I’m doing is posting things out to FB for someone, then it hardly seems worthwhile to even bother with them - I’d be better off with a job at a music shop than a social media management internship. How do music majors hope to gain experience in their field through internships, then?</p>
<p>The school I am currently at only has a general music program, but my activities are primarily performance focused (so, yes, I am a music major). My interests are diverse because I’m not sure what I want to do yet. I am taking a semester off with the intent to transfer in the fall (classes at local CC in the mean time), so I can’t ask any of the profs here to do research with them, and unless I’m doing history research or a composition project, there aren’t many options here anyway.</p>
<p>As a music major what do you hope to do for a career? Arts administration? Yes, internships are very competitive, even unpaid internships. What most of my students (who aren’t wealthy) do is that they find a part time job and work while doing the internship. </p>
<p>I have to say that in such a competitive situation if you a) don’t really know what you want to do; b) have a strict geographic criterion but don’t know any of the organizations in that area and c) don’t want to do social media (something organizations really do need help with) then maybe you should look for paid work in any field (e.g., food service) and spend your spare time researching and reading about career options in music.</p>
<p>I don’t know what I want to do in music as a career right now. I don’t know what I want to do for a career at all right now. It’s a problem, I know. Believe me, I know. That’s part of the reason why I am taking a semester off and looking for internships in the music field – so I can gain some perspective. I’m not naive - I know it’s competitive. But unpaid internships really aren’t justifiable, unless you’re receiving college credit, something I can’t get right now anyway because of my leave of absence. I’m not going to say “Oh, man, all of these factors are working against me. Better quit.” No. That’s not even an option. I do know SOME organizations, but only the obvious ones. Live Nation, Kennedy Center, Merriweather Post Pavillion, Black Rock Center, NPR, other radio stations, to name a few. But I’m looking for more options, trying to use the resources I DO have to gather more information. I have a part time job, but it won’t be enough next semester, so I am applying for both internships and jobs. I have loans to pay off, and I will be paying for my community college classes out of my own pocket. So, I will ask again: Does anyone know of any good resources for finding music internships or know of any music companies/organizations worth exploring in the DC area?</p>
<p>Any chance of financial aid at the community college? Are you under 23? If you are not, then you can get aid based on your own income.</p>
<p>This is a big problem that I see all the time. The need for short term money prevents lots of young people from interning or volunteering in positions that might help with long term income. It is really one of the the biggest sources of inequality these days.</p>
<p>It really is hard to find internships in the arts that are paid. If you didn’t have debt, I would say start off as an intern or volunteer. But that is not the best option for you, I understand. Next best/possible thing might be a part-time job related to music. I think part-time positions come up more than full-time. What state are you in? Are you more interested in classical or rock or jazz or what genre?</p>
<p>You could also work whatever amount you need to work and volunteer. But along with school, that is a lot.</p>
<p>Can anyone at school help you?</p>
<p>My daughter did internships while in college, one classical and one world/jazz. Even when many of the tasks are mundane, you do learn about the business of music and pick up skills, and it helps your resume eventually.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, I am younger than 23, and I won’t qualify for aid at the community college. It’s one of those situations where they think we can afford high tuition rates, but we actually can’t (moderate income for area, high for national average…). I live in Maryland, which is why I’m looking for something in the DC area. I’m studying classical music, but I would definitely be interested in exploring other areas. While I am still hunting, I think I might just have to settle with trying for jobs at Music and Arts or Guitar Center or something similar. The music department at my current school is pretty sparse, and the career center just thinks I don’t know how to look for internships. Then again, I recently heard that they didn’t know that theatre is a major at my school, so I don’t really trust their judgement/ability to help. I can try to see if the CC can help me out.</p>
<p>Thanks for the link, @CLRN8MOM! I will check out their listings. </p>
<p>I hear you about this problem. One of my daughters is interning for a dance organization and I am supporting her for the months in which she is doing that. Another interned for a music organization. These internships are tough on the family and individual, financially, but can help in the long run versus working retail or food service. </p>
<p>I again suggest craigslist part-time section. I was going to work at a music school as the evening manager (greeting students etc.) w/no experience in music at all. I have seen orchestra administrative assistant positions for 20 hours/week, that kind of thing, as well as agencies serving jazz, world, or pop music.</p>
<p>Working for Guitar Center is not a bad idea but if you are more geared to classical, there might be other options that are better. How about working as an usher or helping with production at a concert hall (moving chairs, hanging lights).</p>