You have a deeply rooted love for music and an unbreakable creative streak. You’ve studied music theory, performed live, and discovered a unique blend of tunes that perfectly fits your style.
Whether you’re angling to land your dream role in your school’s orchestra or you want to pick up a part-time gig at a record store, your enthusiasm for music is undeniable. However, it might be tricky finding the ideal resume template to allow you to express all your abilities, especially if you’ve never written a resume before.
No worries—we know exactly what you should do. Check out our high school student music resume examples and handy resume tips to emphasize your musical abilities.
Although you haven’t had decades to develop your knowledge of music, your passion helped you learn a lot in a very short time. Whether you’re into singing, playing the cello, or sound engineering, you have a fresh look at the musical scene and boundless creativity.
As you work on a resume online, it’s important to lean into your skills, but also do your best to match them up against the job description. This will show the reader, be it a recruiter or your music teacher, that you care about this role and want to give it your all.
For example, if you’re applying to become a lead in your school’s sound department, zone in on your familiarity with relevant tools, such as Ableton Live. More importantly, talk about your ability to work in a team, and be specific—instead of “teamwork,” say that you’re skilled at “live sound collaboration.”
This part of your resume might sound intimidating, but remember that it’s okay if you don’t have actual “work experience.” Instead, you can talk about your background in music, be it at school or outside of it. This includes extracurriculars like band, choir, or tutoring guitar.
Remember not to just list off things you’ve done. Sure, you can tell your teachers or potential employers that you’ve played the piano or organized a school concert, but it’s a lot better to dig deeper and add useful metrics where applicable.
As an example, if you’ve worked with a team of other musicians to host a charity concert at your school, mention how much money you were able to raise or how many attendees showed up.
Here are some examples for inspiration:
If your hobbies are related to music, they can truly elevate your resume. Mention things like volunteer work during a charity concert, the instruments you play, or dancing.
Are unrelated jobs worth adding to my resume?If you’re applying within the school, you can usually focus on your musical talent and omit part-time jobs. However, there’s no harm in mentioning gigs like retail or food service to show that you’re an excellent team player. If you need to write a cover letter, you can spend time discussing how those “lesser relevant roles” have made you a well-rounded musician.
Which sections should I include in my resume?Make sure to include contact information, skills, and past experience, be it through projects, school, or jobs. You can also include relevant music certifications, clubs, and hobbies & interests.
