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Musicians

How to become an Orchestra Musician

Also called: Orchestra member

Plays their specialist instrument in an orchestra, and also plays music for musicals, operas, films, TV dramas, animation and similar.

How to become one

To become an orchestra musician, in most cases you learn an instrument from early childhood or school age, gain basic music knowledge and playing skills, and then study performance on your instrument at a specialist level in the instrumental department of a music university or similar. To join a particular orchestra, you must then pass its audition for your instrument. Auditions are generally held only when a vacancy arises, so for some instruments there are almost no vacancies, or only a few places. Depending on the instrument, hundreds of people may apply for one or two places, so competition is extremely fierce. Selection is based on playing ability, so apart from prizes and awards in competitions, background such as study abroad or a postgraduate degree, or past performing experience, gives no advantage. If your playing is good enough, you may pass an audition while still at music university. However, even after passing there is a trial period of a few months to about a year, and depending on your playing level you may not be formally hired. So to get a secure job as an orchestra member, you must have been involved in music from an early age, have specialist knowledge and experience of music in general, and be able to play at a high level, and on top of that you must get through the difficult hurdle of an audition. For this reason, many people give up on becoming orchestra musicians after music university and change direction, for example becoming music teachers in primary or secondary schools, or completing graduate school and aiming for university teaching posts. The qualities needed include joy and enthusiasm for music and playing, excellent playing skills on your instrument, a drive to keep improving, and specialist knowledge and feeling for music in general. You also need to communicate and cooperate with other musicians playing different instruments, the conductor and the orchestra's management staff. You often perform on stage in concert halls in front of large audiences, so you need the nerve and composure to stay steady in front of people. At the same time, the persistence to keep practising every day without a break, and the concentration and stamina for long performances, are important.

Ways in

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Questions people ask

How do I become an Orchestra Musician?

To become an orchestra musician, in most cases you learn an instrument from early childhood or school age, gain basic music knowledge and playing skills, and then study performance on your instrument at a specialist level in the instrumental department of a music university or similar. To join a particular orchestra, you must then pass its audition for your instrument. Auditions are generally held only when a vacancy arises, so for some instruments there are almost no vacancies, or only a few places. Depending on the instrument, hundreds of people may apply for one or two places, so competition is extremely fierce. Selection is based on playing ability, so apart from prizes and awards in competitions, background such as study abroad or a postgraduate degree, or past performing experience, gives no advantage. If your playing is good enough, you may pass an audition while still at music university. However, even after passing there is a trial period of a few months to about a year, and depending on your playing level you may not be formally hired. So to get a secure job as an orchestra member, you must have been involved in music from an early age, have specialist knowledge and experience of music in general, and be able to play at a high level, and on top of that you must get through the difficult hurdle of an audition. For this reason, many people give up on becoming orchestra musicians after music university and change direction, for example becoming music teachers in primary or secondary schools, or completing graduate school and aiming for university teaching posts. The qualities needed include joy and enthusiasm for music and playing, excellent playing skills on your instrument, a drive to keep improving, and specialist knowledge and feeling for music in general. You also need to communicate and cooperate with other musicians playing different instruments, the conductor and the orchestra's management staff. You often perform on stage in concert halls in front of large audiences, so you need the nerve and composure to stay steady in front of people. At the same time, the persistence to keep practising every day without a break, and the concentration and stamina for long performances, are important.

How much does an Orchestra Musician earn in Japan?

Average annual income in the private sector, bonus included, is ¥5,439,800 (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare). The figure is for the wage survey group Musicians, stage designers, which covers several jobs.

Do you need a degree to become an Orchestra Musician?

Not always. In this job's census occupation group, 58% of workers are university graduates. Ways in include: Creative Arts & Design degrees; Vocational college (専門学校) course: Music.

Will AI change the work of an Orchestra Musician?

Generative AI can do relatively little of this work, by the ILO's global estimate.

Sources

独立行政法人労働政策研究・研修機構（JILPT）作成 職業情報データベース 解説系ダウンロードデータ（IPD_DL_description_7_01.xlsx）ver.7.01 職業情報提供サイト（job tag）より2026年10月4日にダウンロード（https://shigoto.mhlw.go.jp/User/download）を加工して作成

独立行政法人労働政策研究・研修機構（JILPT）作成 職業情報データベース 簡易版数値系ダウンロードデータ（IPD_DL_numeric_7_00.xlsx）ver.7.00 職業情報提供サイト（job tag）より2026年10月4日にダウンロード（https://shigoto.mhlw.go.jp/User/download）を加工して作成

Sources: JILPT Occupational Information Database download data via job tag (解説系 ver.7.01 and 簡易版数値系 ver.7.00, downloaded 4 October 2026), processed by Peernovo; MHLW, Basic Survey on Wage Structure 2025; Statistics Bureau of Japan, 2020 Population Census; MEXT, School Basic Survey 2025; MHLW, Employment Referrals for General Workers (Hello Work statistics). Figures processed by Peernovo. English job names, translations and the matching of jobs to statistical groups, schools and degree fields by Peernovo.

Updated 4 October 2026