Music

A musician is a person who plays or composes music. Musicians can be classified by their role in creating or performing music:

* A musician or instrumentalist plays a musical instrument.

Sometimes the term can include other people who produce music such as:

* A singer (or vocalist) uses his or her voice as an instrument.
* Composers and songwriters write music.
* A conductor coordinates a musical ensemble.

The concept of the musician and the status of the musician in society varies from culture to culture.

Both singer and instrumentalist can be improvisers, who create new music in real time.

Musicians can be either amateur or professional. Professional musicians are paid musicians who use performing as their main source of income. They may work freelance, enter into a contract with a studio or record label, be employed by a professional ensemble such as a symphony orchestra, or be employed by an institution such as a church or business (such as a bar). An amateur musician is someone for whom music is a pastime and not their main occupation. Musicians usually attempt to attain a high level of proficiency, constantly practicing to develop the skills needed to perform their chosen style. For example, the practice of scales and modes by Instrumentalists.