Summer music jobs range from camp counselors at music camps to working at recording studios. A music job may be designed to teach the employee new skills, or simply to provide the employee with money. Besides jobs specifically requiring music teaching or performance skills, there are also jobs that may provide benefits to people interested in music. These include journalism and music library jobs. Even if one cannot find a job that specifically relates to playing or teaching music, these jobs may provide knowledge and experience that will prove valuable later in one's career.
Playing music itself is often considered one of the most desirable summer music jobs. This can be accomplished by busking in busy areas or playing professionally at events such as weddings or parties. Some summer music jobs can last several months, such as playing live music for theater productions. These may not be sufficient to meet all of a person's financial needs, but they can often easily be combined with another part-time job.
Working as a music instructor at a camp can be an excellent summer music job, particularly for students, as these establishments often recognize school commitments. While children's summer camps are likely the most popular, there are also day camps that provide music therapy for mentally disabled individuals or other groups. It is easier to get summer music jobs at these kinds of institutions if one has additional experience working with the target group, such as children or the mentally disabled.
Some people who have a background in writing and the history or criticism of music are able to find music journalism jobs or internships. These are particularly competitive and usually do not involve performance, but they can be excellent stepping-stones toward careers in professional music journalism. Often, journalism internships are unpaid, which can be difficult to manage even for the summer.
Careers relating to music often appear in unexpected fields. For instance, libraries may hire students for summer music jobs involving cataloging a collection of records, CDs, or sheet music. A company might provide a summer music position involving the organization of a music education website. These positions provide valuable experience and exposure to large amount of information about music, which can be useful when seeking more permanent employment.
Summer music jobs are often low paying and designed to attract young music students, which can be difficult for people with financial needs. While some jobs pay a salary or hourly wage, some may only pay a stipend. Additionally, these jobs usually do not evolve into a year-round job, although it may be possible to get the job back the following summer. If a more permanent summer music job is desired, it is best to make this desire clear before accepting any employment.