Crafting a CV that effectively showcases your diverse range of performances can be a daunting task for musicians. Through our comprehensive guide, you will learn how to articulate your unique experiences and skills, ensuring your CV resonates with potential employers and auditions panels alike.
- Answer job requirements with your musician CV and experience;
- Curate your academic background and certificates, following industry-leading CV examples;
- Select from +10 niche skills to match the ideal candidate profile
- Write a more succinct experience section that consists of all the right details.
Do you need more specific insights into writing your musician CV? Our guides focus on unique insights for each individual role:
How complex should the format of your musician CV be?
Perhaps, you decided to use a fancy font and plenty of colours to ensure your musician CV stands out amongst the pile of other candidate profiles. Alas - this may confuse recruiters. By keeping your format simple and organising your information coherently, you'll ultimately make a better impression. What matters most is your experience, while your CV format should act as complementary thing by:- Presenting the information in a reverse chronological order with the most recent of your jobs first. This is done so that your career history stays organised and is aligned to the role;
- Making it easy for recruiters to get in touch with you by including your contact details in the CV header. Regarding the design of your CV header, include plenty of white space and icons to draw attention to your information. If you're applying for roles in the UK, don't include a photo, as this is considered a bad practice;
- Organising your most important CV sections with consistent colours, plenty of white space, and appropriate margins (2.54 cm). Remember that your CV design should always aim at legibility and to spotlight your key information;
- Writing no more than two pages of your relevant experience. For candidates who are just starting out in the field, we recommend to have an one-page CV.
One more thing about your CV format - you may be worried if your double column CV is Applicant Tracker System (ATS) complaint. In our recent study, we discovered that both single and double-column CVs are ATS-friendly . Most ATSes out there can also read all serif and sans serif fonts. We suggest you go with modern, yet simple, fonts (e.g. Rubik, Lato, Raleway) instead of the classic Times New Roman. You'll want your application to stand out, and many candidates still go for the classics. Finally, you'll have to export your CV. If you're wondering if you should select Doc or PDF, we always advise going with PDF. Your CV in PDF will stay intact and opens easily on every OS, including Mac OS.
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Be mindful of white space; too much can make the CV look sparse, too little can make it look cluttered. Strive for a balance that makes the document easy on the eyes.
The top sections on a musician CV
- Personal Details include your name, contact info, and instruments played, essential for identification and communication.
- Professional Experience highlights your past musical engagements, showcasing your experience and versatility.
- Music Education details your formal training, emphasising your theoretical knowledge and technical proficiency.
- Discography or Performance Credits show your recordings and live performances, reflecting your industry contribution.
- Skills and Abilities list your unique talents, from instrument mastery to music software expertise, relevant to the field.
What recruiters value on your CV:
- Highlight your musical education and formal training, detailing any degrees, diplomas, or relevant coursework that underscores your proficiency and knowledge in music.
- Emphasize your performance experience, including concerts, gigs, recitals, and tours, specifying the venues, dates, and the nature of each performance.
- Include a comprehensive list of your repertoire or notable pieces you've performed or composed, as it demonstrates your versatility and the breadth of your skills.
- Document any recordings or publications you have, citing any albums, EPs, singles, or scores that have been released, and provide links if they are available online.
- Offer references from credible sources, such as conductors, music directors, or educators you've worked with who can vouch for your skills, professionalism, and musicianship.
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Making a good first impression with your musician CV header
Your typical CV header consists of Your typical CV header consists of contact details and a headline. Make sure to list your professional phone number, email address, and a link to your professional portfolio (or, alternatively, your LinkedIn profile). When writing your CV headline , ensure it's:
- tailored to the job you're applying for;
- highlights your unique value as a professional;
- concise, yet matches relevant job ad keywords.
You can, for examples, list your current job title or a particular skill as part of your headline. Now, if you decide on including your photo in your CV header, ensure it's a professional one, rather than one from your graduation or night out. You may happen to have plenty more questions on how to make best the use of your CV headline. We'll help you with some real-world examples, below.
Examples of good CV headlines for musician:
- Lead Vocalist & Songwriter | Recording Artist | Versatile Performer | BA Hons Music | 5+ Years Experience
- Classical Concert Pianist | Music Director | Chamber Music Specialist | MA Performance | 10 Years Mastery
- Session Guitarist | Studio Recording Expert | Rock & Blues Focus | Grade 8 Guitar | 3 Years Professional
- Jazz Saxophonist | Composer | Music Educator | PhD in Music Theory | Over 15 Years of Performances
- Professional Drummer | Rhythm Section Leader | Touring Experience | Diploma in Music Performance | 7 Years on Stage
- Orchestral Violinist | Solo Performer | String Quartet Member | Advanced Diploma of Music | 12 Years in Symphony
Your musician CV introduction: selecting between a summary and an objective
musician candidates often wonder how to start writing their resumes. More specifically, how exactly can they use their opening statements to build a connection with recruiters, showcase their relevant skills, and spotlight job alignment. A tricky situation, we know. When crafting you musician CV select between:
- A summary - to show an overview of your career so far, including your most significant achievements.
- An objective - to show a conscise overview of your career dreams and aspirations.
Find out more examples and ultimately, decide which type of opening statement will fit your profile in the next section of our guide:
CV summaries for a musician job:
- Classically trained pianist with over 15 years of experience performing in international concert halls. Adept in a broad repertoire ranging from Baroque to contemporary with a significant track record, including a sold-out solo recital at the Royal Albert Hall.
- Dynamic vocalist and songwriter with 10 years of professional experience, skilled in composition and arrangement. Proven ability to captivate audiences, with a highlight performance featured on the BBC Proms, and adept in using Pro Tools and Logic Pro for music production.
- Highly seasoned project manager pivoting into the music industry, bringing over a decade of experience in leading cross-functional teams. Proficient in budget management and strategic planning, eager to apply transferable skills to foster creative collaborations in music production.
- Dedicated marketing professional with an MBA transitioning into the world of music event management. Skilful in digital marketing campaigns and brand development, with a passion for live music and a keen interest in promoting emerging artists through innovative event strategies.
- Seeking to leverage a lifelong passion for music and a recent degree in Music Theory and Composition to contribute to a dynamic orchestra. Eager to provide fresh insights and harness skills in sight-reading and orchestration to enhance musical performances.
- Ambitious and fresh graduate aiming to embark on a musical journey, utilizing a Bachelor's degree in Music Production and sound engineering expertise to deliver high-quality audio experiences. Driven by a commitment to learning and excellence in live sound reinforcement.
How to meet job requirements with your musician CV experience
We've now reached the essence of your actual CV - your experience section. This is the space where you can list your career roles and on-the-job successes. Many candidates tend to underestimate just how much time and effort they should put into writing this CV section. Your experience shouldn't be a random list of your responsibilities, but instead:
- Match the job description with your skills, values, and accomplishments;
- Start each bullet with a strong action verb, followed up with one key skill and your outcome of applying this skill;
- Spotlight parts of your career history that are relevant to the job you're applying for.
Before we move on, make sure to check out some professional CV experience sections.
Best practices for your CV's work experience section
- Outlined significant performances, including venues, dates, and the works performed, highlighting any solo or featured appearances with orchestras or ensembles.
- Documented collaborations with notable artists or orchestras, specifying the nature of the collaboration and the repertoire covered.
- Included leadership roles such as concertmaster, bandleader, or musical director, noting the duration of the tenure and key accomplishments.
- Described any composition or arrangement projects, including performances or recordings of these works, to showcase creativity and versatility.
- Listed recording experience, whether studio or live, citing any commercially released albums, EPs, or singles.
- Provided details of any musical education and training, emphasising degrees or diplomas earned, and masterclasses or workshops attended.
- Highlighted teaching experience, including private tuition or educational outreach programmes, specifying any notable achievements of students.
- Referenced awards, competitions, or grants won, emphasising the prestige of the award and the competition involved.
- Noted experience with music technology, including proficiency in DAWs, notation software, or other relevant audio production tools.
- Performed live in over 200 shows internationally with the London Symphony Orchestra, leading to a substantial increase in their following on social media platforms by 40%.
- Collaborated with high-profile conductors and composers to create and premiere original works, piquing the interest of both new and traditional classical music audiences.
- Mentored junior musicians, enhancing the overall performance quality and cultivating a supportive and educational environment within the orchestra.
- Composed and arranged scores for over 15 advertising campaigns for international brands, achieving increased audience engagement rates by over 25%.
- Efficiently managed studio recording sessions, ensuring projects were completed within budget and garnering positive reviews for sound quality in industry publications.
- Navigated complex copyright issues, ensuring legal compliance and protecting the interests of both agency and clients, thereby avoiding costly litigation.
- Engaged nightly audiences upward of 500 guests as the lead guitarist at the iconic Jazz Café, contributing to a 20% rise in venue ticket sales over 2 years.
- Initiated a successful social media campaign to promote seasonal performances, resulting in booking deals with three major music festivals.
- Crafted bespoke arrangements for special events, including weddings and corporate parties, delivering personalized service and leading to a 30% repeat client rate.
- Led an ensemble in weekly performances at the prestigious Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club, consistently selling out and expanding the club's membership by 15%.
- Directed music programming that resulted in a 50% increase in average customer spend per visit by enhancing the overall dining experience through carefully curated performances.
- Established a talent development program that supported emerging artists, resulting in two of the musicians being signed by major labels.
- Conducted extensive international tours which grew the fan base by 60% and significantly boosted merchandise sales for the indie rock band, The Night Chasers.
- Implemented a digital distribution strategy for our EPs that tripled our online streaming revenue within the first year.
- Collaborated with a team of sound engineers to optimize live sound quality, heavily influencing positive critical reviews and an increase in live performance invitations.
- Composing film scores for major Hollywood productions, with my latest work on 'The Distant Echo' contributing to its nomination for 'Best Original Score' at the BAFTAs.
- Spearheading a collaborative project with international musicians to create a crossover album, which was featured in the Top 10 World Music charts for 12 consecutive weeks.
- Regularly conducting workshops and masterclasses at music conservatories, focusing on film scoring techniques, which have enhanced the institutions' academic reputation.
- Revitalized the live music offerings of the Blue Note Jazz Club, elevating the venue to a top-rated hotspot and witnessing a 35% increase in patron attendance.
- Collaborated with a diverse roster of international artists to curate exceptional live collaborations, generating a 20% growth in media coverage for the club.
- Designed and implemented a youth jazz education program, fostering talent and increasing community engagement by involving over 150 students annually.
- Orchestrated and performed over 300 unique musical pieces in the West End production of 'Les Misérables', playing to over 1,000 patrons nightly and consistently achieving 90% occupancy.
- Pioneered the use of digital sound mixing technology for the theatre, greatly enhancing audio clarity and contributing to the show receiving an Olivier Award for sound design.
- Crafted music workshops for the cast, leading to improved performances and contributing to the show's long-standing success.
Swapping your professional experience (when you have none) with skills and more
Never underestimate the importance of relevancе when it comes to your musician CV. Even if you don't happen to have much or any standard (full-time contract) professional experience, this doesn't mean you shouldn't apply for the role. Instead of a bespoke CV experience section:
- Showcase more prominently any internships, part-time roles, and volunteer experience that are applicable to the role and have taught you job-crucial skills;
- Feature a strengths or achievements section with your transferrable skills or talents you've obtained thanks to your work or life experience;
- Write an objective statement that clearly outlines your values as a candidate and defines your career ambitions;
- List your education or certificates that match the job profile closer to the top of your CV.
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If applicable, briefly mention a situation where things didn’t go as planned and what you learned from it, demonstrating your ability to learn and adapt.
Describing your unique skill set using both hard skills and soft skills
Your musician CV provides you with the perfect opportunity to spotlight your talents, and at the same time - to pass any form of assessment. Focusing on your skill set across different CV sections is the way to go, as this would provide you with an opportunity to quantify your achievements and successes. There's one common, very simple mistake, which candidates tend to make at this stage. Short on time, they tend to hurry and mess up the spelling of some of the key technologies, skills, and keywords. Copy and paste the particular skill directly from the job requirement to your CV to pass the Applicant Tracker System (ATS) assessment. Now, your CV skills are divided into:
- Technical or hard skills, describing your comfort level with technologies (software and hardware). List your aptitude by curating your certifications, on the work success in the experience section, and technical projects. Use the dedicated skills section to provide recruiters with up to twelve technologies, that match the job requirements, and you're capable of using.
- People or soft skills provide you with an excellent background to communicate, work within a team, solve problems. Don't just copy-paste that you're a "leader" or excel at "analysis". Instead, provide tangible metrics that define your success inusing the particular skill within the strengths, achievements, summary/ objective sections.
Top skills for your musician CV:
Instrumental proficiency
Music theory knowledge
Sight-reading
Improvisation
Composition
Audio production
Music technology proficiency
Repertoire selection
Music transcription
Stage presence
Creativity
Passion for music
Patience
Dedication
Collaboration
Time management
Adaptability
Attention to detail
Self-motivation
Listening skills
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Use mini case studies or success stories in your CV to demonstrate how your skills have positively impacted previous roles or projects.
Listing your university education and certificates on your musician CV
The best proof of your technical capabilities would be your education and certifications sections. Your education should list all of your relevant university degrees, followed up by their start and completion dates. Make sure to also include the name of the university/-ies you graduated from. If you happen to have less professional experience (or you deem it would be impressive and relevant to your application), spotlight in the education section:
- that you were awarded a "First" degree;
- industry-specific coursework and projects;
- extracurricular clubs, societies, and activities.
When selecting your certificates, first ask yourself how applicable they'd be to the role. Ater your initial assessment, write the certificate and institution name. Don't miss out on including the completion date. In the below panel, we've curated relevant examples of industry-leading certificates.
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If there's a noticeable gap in your skillset for the role you're applying for, mention any steps you're taking to acquire these skills, such as online courses or self-study.
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Key takeaways
Your successful job application depends on how you well you have aligned your musician CV to the job description and portrayed your best skills and traits. Make sure to:
- Select your CV format, so that it ensures your experience is easy to read and understand;
- Include your professional contact details and a link to your portfolio, so that recruiters can easily get in touch with you and preview your work;
- Write a CV summary if you happen to have more relevant professional experience. Meanwhile, use the objective to showcase your career dreams and ambitions;
- In your CV experience section bullets, back up your individual skills and responsibilities with tangible achievements;
- Have a healthy balance between hard and soft skills to answer the job requirements and hint at your unique professional value.
