Quick answer: A music resume lists your performances, training, and musical skills in a clean, one-page format. Include your name, instrument or voice type, and links to recordings (YouTube, SoundCloud, or your website); a short summary; performance experience (ensembles, venues, roles, and dates); education and private teachers; awards and competitions; and skills like sight-reading, music theory, genres, and software. Tailor it to the goal: a performance resume highlights ensembles and repertoire, a music teacher resume highlights students and results, a student resume for music school highlights training and competitions, and a music industry resume highlights business and production skills.
Musicians are used to auditions where you get one shot to impress. Your resume is the same: a one-page performance that should leave the listener wanting an encore, not checking their phone.
The tricky part is that "music resume" can mean a lot of things. A violinist applying to an orchestra, a piano teacher looking for students, a high school senior applying to a conservatory, and a sound engineer applying to a studio all need different resumes.
This guide covers what to include on a music resume, how to list performances and repertoire, and examples for performers, music teachers, students, and music industry jobs, plus a free template.
Types of Music Resumes
- Performance resume: for orchestras, bands, gigs, cruise ships, theater pits, churches, and session work. Focuses on performances, ensembles, and repertoire
- Music teacher resume: for schools, studios, and private lessons. Focuses on teaching experience, student results, and certification
- Student music resume: for music school, conservatory, summer programs, and scholarships. Focuses on training, ensembles, competitions, and repertoire
- Music industry resume: for record labels, studios, venues, publishing, and music tech. Looks more like a standard resume, with music-specific skills
- Academic music CV: for university teaching jobs and graduate programs. Longer and more detailed. See graduate student CV
How to Format a Music Resume
- Length: one page for most musicians; two pages for experienced professionals. Academic CVs can be longer
- Order: most relevant section first. For performers, that's usually performance experience
- Layout: clean and simple, with clear headings. Let your recordings be the flashy part
- Font: Garamond, Georgia, Calibri, or Arial at 10–12 pt. See resume font size
- File: PDF, named like Firstname-Lastname-Music-Resume.pdf
What to Include on a Music Resume
1. Header
Name, instrument(s) or voice type, phone, email, city, and links to your website, YouTube, SoundCloud, Spotify, or Bandcamp. For performers, recordings matter more than almost anything else.
ELENA ROSSI
Cellist | Boston, MA | (617) 555-0123 | elena@elenarossicello.com | elenarossicello.com | youtube.com/@elenarossicello
2. Summary
Two to three sentences about your instrument, style, experience, and a standout credit.
Example: Classically trained cellist with 10 years of orchestral and chamber experience. Section cellist with the Boston Civic Symphony and founding member of the Aurora String Quartet, with 150+ performances in the Northeast.
3. Performance experience
List ensembles, positions, venues, and dates. Highlight principal or solo roles, notable venues, conductors, or artists you've worked with.
Section Cellist, Boston Civic Symphony | 2021 – Present
Founding Member, Aurora String Quartet | 2019 – Present
Soloist, Dvořák Cello Concerto, New England Youth Orchestra, Symphony Hall | 2018
4. Education and training
Degrees, conservatories, summer festivals, masterclasses, and private teachers. In music, who taught you carries real weight.
5. Repertoire (optional)
A short list of major works, especially for classical musicians, audition applications, and music school. Keep it to your strongest pieces, or put a full list on a separate page.
6. Awards and competitions
Competition placements, scholarships, and honors. See awards on a resume.
7. Skills
Sight-reading, music theory, improvisation, genres, instruments, software, and languages (useful for singers).
Music Skills for Your Resume
Musical skills
- Sight-reading
- Music theory and ear training
- Improvisation
- Arranging and composing
- Transcription
- Accompanying
- Conducting
- Multiple instruments (list them)
- Genres: classical, jazz, pop, rock, gospel, musical theater, country, Latin
Technical and production skills
- DAWs: Pro Tools, Logic Pro, Ableton Live, FL Studio
- Notation software: Sibelius, Finale, MuseScore, Dorico
- Live sound and mixing
- Recording and editing
Teaching skills
- Lesson planning and curriculum design
- Methods like Suzuki, Kodály, and Orff
- Ensemble direction
- Online lessons
Soft skills
- Collaboration
- Discipline and practice habits
- Performing under pressure
- Adaptability
- Communication
Music Resume Examples
Performance resume (gigging musician)
MARCUS BELL
Jazz and Session Saxophonist | Nashville, TN | (615) 555-0162 | marcus@marcusbellsax.com | marcusbellsax.com | spotify: Marcus BellSUMMARY
Saxophonist (alto, tenor, soprano) with 9 years of experience in jazz, R&B, and pop. 400+ live performances and 60+ studio sessions, including two Billboard-charting albums.PERFORMANCE EXPERIENCE
Touring Saxophonist, The Mason Grey Band | 2023 – Present
- Performed 120+ shows across 30 states, including festival stages for crowds of 10,000+
Session Musician, Nashville studios | 2018 – Present
- Recorded horn parts on 60+ sessions for artists, jingles, and film
Bandleader, Marcus Bell Quartet | 2017 – Present
- Book and lead 50+ gigs per year at clubs, private events, and weddings
EDUCATION
BM in Jazz Studies, Berklee College of MusicSKILLS
Sight-reading, improvisation, horn arranging, Logic Pro, Pro Tools
Music teacher resume
SOPHIA KIM
Piano Teacher | Seattle, WA | (206) 555-0148 | sophia.kim@email.comSUMMARY
Piano teacher with 7 years of experience teaching students ages 5 to adult. Built a private studio of 35 students, with 12 students placing in regional competitions.TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Owner and Piano Instructor, Kim Piano Studio, Seattle, WA | 2019 – Present
- Teach 35 weekly private students in classical, pop, and music theory
- Prepared 20+ students for RCM exams with a 100% pass rate
- Organize 2 student recitals per year for 150+ guests
Piano Instructor, Lakeside Music Academy | 2017 – 2019
- Taught 25 weekly lessons and group theory classes for children
EDUCATION
BM in Piano Performance, University of WashingtonSKILLS
Lesson planning, RCM curriculum, music theory, online teaching, recital organization
Teaching in a school? See our teacher resume guide.
Student music resume (for music school or scholarships)
OLIVIA MARTINEZ
Violinist | Austin, TX | (512) 555-0135 | olivia.martinez@email.com | youtube.com/@oliviamartinezviolinEDUCATION
Westlake High School, Austin, TX | Expected Graduation 2027
Private violin study with [Teacher Name], 2017 – PresentENSEMBLES
Concertmaster, Austin Youth Orchestra | 2025 – Present
Texas All-State Symphony Orchestra | 2025, 2026
First Violin, Westlake High School Chamber Orchestra | 2023 – PresentAWARDS
1st Place, Austin Young Artists Competition, 2026
Division I rating, UIL Solo and Ensemble, 2024 – 2026SUMMER PROGRAMS
Interlochen Arts Camp, 2025 | Texas Music Festival Young Artists, 2024REPERTOIRE
Bruch Violin Concerto No. 1 | Bach Partita No. 2 (Allemande, Sarabande) | Mozart Violin Concerto No. 5
See extracurricular activities on a resume.
Music industry resume (production or business)
JORDAN LEE
Audio Engineer | Los Angeles, CA | (323) 555-0174 | jordan.lee@email.com | jordanleeaudio.comSUMMARY
Audio engineer with 5 years of studio experience recording, mixing, and editing for independent artists and podcasts. Credits on 40+ releases with 25M+ combined streams.EXPERIENCE
Assistant Engineer, Canyon Lane Studios, Los Angeles, CA | 2022 – Present
- Set up and tracked 200+ sessions, from solo artists to 12-piece ensembles
- Edited and comped vocals in Pro Tools for 40+ released tracks
Freelance Mix Engineer | 2021 – Present
- Mix and master singles and EPs for 30+ independent artists
SKILLS
Pro Tools, Logic Pro, Ableton Live, signal flow, mic placement, mixing, mastering
See how to list freelance work on a resume.
Free Music Resume Template
[FULL NAME]
[Instrument / Voice Type / Role] | [City, State] | [Phone] | [Email] | [Website or recording links]SUMMARY
[Instrument] player with [X] years of experience in [genres/settings]. [Standout credit or result].PERFORMANCE EXPERIENCE (or TEACHING EXPERIENCE)
[Position], [Ensemble, Venue, or Studio] | [Dates]
- [Number of performances, notable venues, or results]
EDUCATION AND TRAINING
[Degree], [School], [Year]
Private study with [Teacher] | [Festival or masterclass], [Year]AWARDS AND COMPETITIONS
[Award], [Year]SKILLS
[Musical skills] | [Software] | [Other instruments or languages]
Tips for a Stronger Music Resume
- Lead with recordings. A 2-minute video often does more than a page of text
- Quantify where you can: performances per year, audience sizes, students taught, streams, exam pass rates
- Tailor it to every opportunity. A jazz club and a symphony orchestra want to see different things
- Name-drop carefully and truthfully: well-known teachers, conductors, venues, and artists add credibility
- Write a short cover letter that explains why you're a fit. See how to write a cover letter
- Keep a non-music resume too. Many musicians have day jobs, and your music experience still shows discipline, teamwork, and performance under pressure
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I put on a music resume?
Your name, instrument or voice type, links to recordings, a short summary, performance or teaching experience, education and teachers, awards and competitions, a short repertoire list if relevant, and musical and technical skills.
How do I list performances on a music resume?
List your role, the ensemble or event, the venue, and the date. Group by category (orchestral, solo, chamber, band) and put the most impressive ones first.
How long should a music resume be?
One page for most musicians and students. Two pages for experienced professionals. Academic CVs for university jobs can be longer.
Should I include a repertoire list on my music resume?
Yes for classical musicians, auditions, and music school applications. Keep it short, or attach a separate repertoire page.
How do I make a music resume for college applications?
Lead with your education and private teachers, then ensembles, honors and competitions, summer programs, and a short repertoire list. Include a link to recent recordings.
Build Your Music Resume
Our Resume Builder helps you organize your performances, training, and teaching experience into a clean, professional resume, so your credits hit all the right notes.