Musicians may perform alone or as part of a group, before live audiences or on radio, or in recording studios, television, or movie productions. Musicians may specialize in a particular kind of music or performance. Instrumental musicians play a musical instrument in an orchestra, band, rock group, or jazz group. Musicians may play any of a wide variety of string, brass, woodwind, or percussion instruments or electronic synthesizers. Musicians may learn several related instruments, such as the flute and clarinet, often improving their employment opportunities.
Singers interpret music using their knowledge of voice production, melody, and harmony.
They sing character parts or perform in their own individual style. Composers create original music such as symphonies, operas, sonatas, or popular songs. They transcribe ideas into musical notation using harmony, rhythm, melody, and tonal structure. Many songwriters now compose and edit music using computers. Some even have a musical keyboard linked to a computer which compiles the digital information into musical notation while they play.