51122 Musicians and singers

What this occupation covers

Musicians and singers perform with orchestras, choirs, opera companies and popular bands in establishments such as concert halls, lounges and theatres and in film, television and recording studios. This unit group also includes music teachers who usually teach in conservatories, academies and private homes.

Official main duties

The NOC profile lists 4 main duties for this code.

• Play one or more instruments as soloists or as members of a musical group before audiences or for recording purposes.
• Sing musical arrangements as soloists or as members of vocal groups before audiences or for recording purposes.
• Teach technique, interpretation and music theory to students through private or group lessons.
• Musicians and singers usually specialize in specific genres of music such as classical, country, ethnic, jazz, opera or popular music.

Do not copy these lines into your reference letter. The letter has to describe what you actually did, in your employer’s words. DUTYPROOF flags wording lifted from the NOC as something to review, and an officer reading a letter that mirrors the NOC reads it the same way.

What DUTYPROOF screens for

This is DUTYPROOF’s screening threshold, not IRCC’s decision. For this NOC, screening requires at least 2 of its 4 official duties to be evidenced in your own words, plus the required letter elements. IRCC asks that you performed the actions in the occupation’s lead statement and a substantial number of its main duties — so treat the duty coverage as the number that matters, not the badge.

Codes this one is confused with

The NOC profile names these itself. Choosing the wrong code of a look-alike pair is the most common way genuine work experience fails to establish eligibility.

• 51121 Conductors, composers and arrangers
• 41200 University professors and lecturers
• 41221 Elementary school and kindergarten teachers
• 41220 Secondary school teachers

Excluded from this code

• Conductors, composers and arrangers (See 51121 Conductors, composers and arrangers)
• Music professor - university (See 41200 University professors and lecturers)
• Music teacher - elementary school (See 41221 Elementary school and kindergarten teachers)
• Music teacher - secondary school (See 41220 Secondary school teachers)

Job titles filed under this code

A title on this list does not by itself put your experience in this code — the duties in your letter decide that.

accompanist · accordion teacher - private, conservatory or studio lessons · alto · back-up musician · baritone · bass · bass drum teacher - private, conservatory or studio lessons · bass player · bassoon teacher - private, conservatory or studio lessons · blues singer · bugler · carillonneur · cellist · cello teacher - private, conservatory or studio lessons · chorister · church organist · concert singer · cornetist · drummer · flutist · folk singer · gospel singer · guitar player · harpist

Employment requirements

• Musical training from a university or college or through private instruction is usually required.
• Members of orchestras and other professional classical musicians and singers usually require a university degree in music.
• Musical talent and ability, as demonstrated during an audition, are important hiring criteria.
• Membership in a guild or union related to the occupation or type of performance may be required.