Musician Cover Letter Example

Imagining a world without music is difficult. Not only is music something people enjoy as an artform, but it’s also become a part of advertising and sports events and a background for multimedia presentations.

The roles musicians play in the industries that need original music today can vary greatly, so you need to consider the tasks advertised in the job opening for music-related roles. Below you’ll find some tips on how to do this.

Target the kind of work you’ll be doing

If you’re going to be part of a performing ensemble, sight-reading music is a valuable hard skill. Being good at it is likely to be a deciding factor in whether you’ll get an interview.

Many times, a band will only have one rehearsal before a performance, and may even have to read something for the first time in front of an audience. Being able to perform a piece of music you’ve never seen before gives your bandleader confidence and saves time for everyone. If you count it among your skills, sight reading is something you should highlight on your cover letter.

On the other hand, if you’re applying for a job composing electronic music for film scores or video games, your sight-reading skills won’t mean as much to the employer. In this case, emphasize your familiarity with music software and recording technology on your cover letter.

The more you know about the position, the better you can adapt the content of your cover letter to make you look like the ideal candidate for the position. So be sure to read the job posting thoroughly.

Provide examples of your successes (with numbers)

Don’t just state that you’re good at sight reading or familiar with software. Instead, add specific, quantified figures like these examples to your cover letter:

• Two years’ experience working with Pro Tools in a professional studio with a 96 channel mixing board and isolated drum and amp rooms
• One year of experience with a philharmonic orchestra (third chair violin)
• Toured Germany, France, and Spain for 6 months with a pop cover band playing different sets every night, using in-ear monitors and programming Axe FX patches

These figures give a clear insight into your experience to potential employers.

Show your passion for music

Most talented musicians love their work. The dedication you have for the music that inspires you the most (whether that’s Bebop jazz, Balkan folk music, or Indian classical music) makes you stand out from other musicians.

When you start your cover letter, briefly outline the path that led you to this moment in your career, and why the job you’re applying for is a career move you’re excited about.