Ideas for Music Majors to Impact the Community and Stand out in their College Applications
If you have a skill, use it to make the world a better place.
Bad news first! It is very well known how difficult it is to get internships or gain work experience in the entertainment industry. The supply outweighs the demand for music artists. This can be unfavourable for music majors because they are left with almost no option to gain work experience.
Worry not! Here’s the good news, committing to community service or interning with NGOs can help you gain valuable work experience! You can use it to hone your music skills and to make the community a better place to live in.
It’s a win-win situation.
What is community service?
Community service is a form of volunteering that is primarily aimed at improving the lives of the marginalised, discriminated and the needy. As a music student, community service could mean a lot of things to you. It could be having an audience to your work that matters the most to you or it could be the positive impact you are creating in marginalised communities that mean the most to you.
Either ways, by committing to engage in community service, you will be spending your time positively impacting the lives of others through your music.
Why engage in community service?
There are more than just a few reasons! Read below:
- Because you want an audience for your piece of art.
- You like to entertain a crowd.
- You want to spread happiness through your music.
- You want to impact lives positively through your music.
- You want to increase the reach of your music.
- You want to demonstrate your skills to recruiters.
- You want a platform to hone your music skills.
- You want to boost your CV.
- You want to build your portfolio.
- You are looking for a breakthrough.
- You want to help members of your local community and brighten their day.
Here are some ideas:
If you are convinced that community service or volunteering in India, here are some ideas to get you started:
- Organise online Battle of the Bands event to encourage talented underprivileged children to participate.
- Sing or play original music online to elders at old-age homes or care facilities.
- Organise an online music event to raise funds for a charity.
- Play at online community events pro-bono to raise funds for a charity.
- Teach children at orphanages in a fun and interesting manner.
- Give free music lessons to school children or to underprivileged children in your local community.
- Introduce young children to Carnatic music and teach them its significance.
- Sell your instruments online to raise funds for a charity.
- Auction your instruments online and donate the funds.
- Collaborate with other artists to raise funds.
- Make cover version of songs and upload on YouTube. Donate any money raised to charity.
- Start your own music blog.
Organisations to Work With
Musicians without Borders – this organisation operates by the motto, “war divides, music connects”. They have opportunities for you to get involved with them as a changemaker.
TribesforGOOD – if you do not know where to start but want to start, check out their wide range of internship programs and online courses that will help you create social impact.
Music Basti – their creative and fun programs using music are designed to enable children to have experiences and opportunities to learn leadership and life-skills first-hand. They offer a number of volunteering opportunities as well.