You’re heading for the faculty lot when you see them.

At the far end of the student lot, the rear doors of a beat old white van are half open. The two students stand just inside them doing something. Standing in the rain in black raincoats, both of them. James half a foot shorter than Robert. James always has a nervous scared puppy smile. Robert never smiles, as if he’s staring far off, like seeing something nobody else can ever really see. They look at you that way now.

At the old rusty van they see you slowing your car. Robert pulls the van doors inward, to hide whatever they are doing.

You knew the taller student, James, throughout his tortured years in your school, a spindly shy boy, constantly bullied by the jocks. But the new student, Robert, his new best friend, refused counseling, and never came into your office. James has never seemed happier though, since he met Robert. Something happened one day behind the boy’s gym, you aren’t sure what. Nobody would talk, but Robert was messed up and a couple of the jocks had broken noses. And nobody ever bothered James after that, for the first time in his wretched young life.

Now, through your rain-beaded windshield, you see the shotgun.

Just the black buttstock, in James’ hands, and Robert glares at James and grabs it back, hides the shotgun under his own coat.

Your eyes blink, you feel that robot feeling. The feeling that something is happening too soon, to somebody else. Your foot is on the brake. You pull your car in beside the van.

But even as you start getting out, Robert is at your door, looking down at you. His rain-dripping eyes glitter. He’s smiling. Then James is there, with his puppy look, watching Robert, trying to please Robert.

Now you see, James is holding a pistol in each bony little hand. Rain runs down his raincoat sleeves, dripping off the muzzles. The boy makes no effort to hide them. He wants you to see the pistols, you realize. You think how James has never had control of anything before. Not even his own face. You remember all the sessions you had with him bawling, in your office after being taunted, bullied, abused, taking him out to a ball game that time. But that’s all gone now. Somehow, terribly, you know, today is his day.

But it’s not James you speak to. Robert’s presence in your open car door is almost demonic with some kind of hidden power.

Robert is looking right through you. Your windshield wipers keep slapping.

You hear yourself say, like a voice from another world: “Robert, are you all right?”

“Don’t go inside the school,” Robert says to you. James watches Robert and says nothing.

It’s like being hit with a fist, the way Robert’s eyes focus on your eyes. His lips slide open, tight, and then his yellow teeth show. It’s the first time you’ve ever seen him smile, and he looks completely different. Something long and bulky is under his black rain coat.

Robert pumps the slide of the shotgun, bringing it out in the open from inside his coat. It’s like a movie in slow mouton, a bad dream.

And Robert says, “You’re not a bad person. You don’t need to be in there, not this morning, okay?”

You are a Mental Health Counselor. Many lives hinge upon whatever you say and do next.

You weigh the world in its balances. You know you have credit with James. But Robert is the leader. An unknown. Your mind races through his files. Transfer. Four schools in three years. Possible abuse at home. Assault misdemeanors at every school. Brilliant in art and math, when he wants to be, indifferent straight F’s in everything else.

You open your car door wider. Just a bit, hoping… Robert lifts the black death-hole of the shotgun to your face, still smiling. His face looks so old, for a boy. What has he seen? His smile scares you more even than the shotgun, you realize, so oddly.

And he says, “Don’t you get out of that damn car. Did you hear me? I’m giving you your one chance.”

Everything you learned getting your master’s degree, everything you’ve learned from the hundreds of students you’ve known, it’s all on the line now. The lives of teachers and students in the school. Your life. The lives of these two boys. Maybe the lives of police officers, the security guard, and God knows who else…

And now, knowing you have to try, you move. OmyGod, help me help them.

With what you hope will work already forming in your mind, you face his lifted shotgun, and you step out of your car into the rain…

“Please,” Robert says, “you don’t need to be part of this.”

You hold his eye contact, you must. It’s who you are. It’s what you are. No one else is here.

And your compassion, your training, your professionalism, wells up inside you… you feel compassion, now, not fear.

You are a valuable person, and I care…

Counselors assist people with personal, family, educational, mental health, and career problems. Their duties vary greatly depending on their occupational specialty, which is determined by the setting in which they work and the population they serve.

A master’s degree generally is required to become a licensed counselor.

Job opportunities for counselors should be very good because job openings are expected to exceed the number of graduates from counseling programs. The health care and social assistance industry employs about 47 percent of counselors, and state and local government employ about 11 percent.

Educational, vocational, and school counselors provide individuals and groups with career and educational counseling. School counselors assist students of all levels, from elementary school to postsecondary education. They advocate for students and work with other individuals and organizations to promote the academic, career, personal, and social development of children and youth. School counselors help students evaluate their abilities, interests, talents, and personalities to develop realistic academic and career goals.

Counselors use interviews, counseling sessions, interest and aptitude assessment tests, and other methods to evaluate and advise students. They also operate career information centers and career education programs. Often, counselors work with students who have academic and social development problems or other special needs.

Elementary school counselors observe children during classroom and play activities and confer with their teachers and parents to evaluate the children’s strengths, problems, or special needs. In conjunction with teachers and administrators, they make sure that the curriculum addresses both the academic and the developmental needs of students. Elementary school counselors do less vocational and academic counseling than high school counselors.

High school counselors advise students regarding college majors, admission requirements, entrance exams, financial aid, trade or technical schools, and apprenticeship programs. They help students develop job search skills, such as resume writing and interviewing techniques. College career planning and placement counselors assist alumni or students with career development and job-hunting techniques.

School counselors at all levels help students to understand and deal with social, behavioral, and personal problems. These counselors emphasize preventive and developmental counseling to provide students with the life skills needed to deal with problems before they worsen and to enhance students’ personal, social, and academic growth. Counselors provide special services, including alcohol and drug prevention programs and conflict resolution classes. They also try to identify cases of domestic abuse and other family problems that can affect a student’s development.

Counselors interact with students individually, in small groups, or as an entire class. They consult and collaborate with parents, teachers, school administrators, school psychologists, medical professionals, and social workers to develop and implement strategies to help students succeed.

Vocational counselors, also called employment or career counselors, provide mainly career counseling outside the school setting. Their chief focus is helping individuals with career decisions. Vocational counselors explore and evaluate the client’s education, training, work history, interests, skills, and personality traits. They may arrange for aptitude and achievement tests to help the client make career decisions. They also work with individuals to develop their job-search skills and assist clients in locating and applying for jobs. In addition, career counselors provide support to people experiencing job loss, job stress, or other career transition issues.

Rehabilitation counselors help people deal with the personal, social, and vocational effects of disabilities. They counsel people with disabilities resulting from birth defects, illness or disease, accidents, or other causes. They evaluate the strengths and limitations of individuals, provide personal and vocational counseling, and arrange for medical care, vocational training, and job placement. Rehabilitation counselors interview both individuals with disabilities and their families, evaluate school and medical reports, and confer with physicians, psychologists, occupational therapists, and employers to determine the capabilities and skills of the individual. They develop rehabilitation programs by conferring with clients; these programs often include training to help clients develop job skills. Rehabilitation counselors also work toward increasing the client’s capacity to live independently.

Mental health counselors work with individuals, families, and groups to address and treat mental and emotional disorders and to promote mental health. They are trained in a variety of therapeutic techniques used to address issues, including depression, addiction and substance abuse, suicidal impulses, stress, problems with self-esteem, and grief. They also help with job and career concerns, educational decisions, issues related to mental and emotional health, and family, parenting, marital, or other relationship problems.

Mental health counselors often work closely with other mental health specialists, such as psychiatrists, psychologists, clinical social workers, psychiatric nurses, and school counselors.

Substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors help people who have problems with alcohol, drugs, gambling, and eating disorders. They counsel individuals who are addicted to drugs, helping them to identify behaviors and problems related to their addiction. Counseling can be done on an individual basis, but is frequently done in a group setting. These counselors will often also work with family members who are affected by the addictions of their loved ones. Counselors also conduct programs aimed at preventing addictions.

Marriage and family therapists apply family systems theory, principals and techniques to individuals, families, and couples to resolve emotional conflicts. In doing so, they modify people’s perceptions and behaviors, enhance communication and understanding among family members, and help to prevent family and individual crises. Marriage and family therapists also may engage in psychotherapy of a non-medical nature, make appropriate referrals to psychiatric resources, perform research, and teach courses about human development and interpersonal relationships.

Other counseling specialties include gerontological, multicultural, and genetic counseling. A gerontological counselor provides services to elderly people and their families as they face changing lifestyles. Genetic counselors provide information and support to families who have members with birth defects or genetic disorders and to families who may be at risk for a variety of inherited conditions. These counselors identify families at risk, interpret information about the disorder, analyze inheritance patterns and risks of recurrence, and review available options with the family.

Work environment can vary greatly depending on occupational specialty. School counselors work predominantly in schools, where they usually have an office but also may work in classrooms. Other counselors may work in a private practice, community health organization, or hospital. Many counselors work in an office where they see clients throughout the day. Because privacy is essential for confidential and frank discussions with clients, counselors usually have private offices.

The work schedules of counselors depend on occupational specialty and work setting. Some school counselors work the traditional 9- to 10-month school year with a 2- to 3-month vacation, but increasing numbers, are employed on 11-month or full-year contracts, particularly those working in middle and high schools. They usually work the same hours as teachers, but they may travel more frequently to attend conferences and conventions. College career planning and placement counselors work long and irregular hours during student recruiting periods.

Rehabilitation counselors usually work a standard 40-hour week. Self-employed counselors and those working in mental health and community agencies, such as substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors, frequently work evenings to counsel clients who work during the day. Both mental health counselors and marriage and family therapists also often work flexible hours to accommodate families in crisis or working couples who must have evening or weekend appointments.

Education requirements vary based on occupational specialty and State licensure and certification requirements. A master’s degree is usually required to be licensed as a counselor. Some States require counselors in public employment to have a master’s degree; others accept a bachelor’s degree with appropriate counseling courses. Counselor education programs in colleges and universities are often found in departments of education or psychology.

Fields of study include college student affairs, elementary or secondary school counseling, education, gerontological counseling, marriage and family therapy, substance abuse counseling, rehabilitation counseling, agency or community counseling, clinical mental health counseling, career counseling, and related fields. Courses are often grouped into eight core areas: human growth and development, social and cultural diversity, relationships, group work, career development, assessment, research and program evaluation, and professional identity. In an accredited master’s degree program, 48 to 60 semester hours of graduate study, including a period of supervised clinical experience in counseling, are required.

Some employers provide training for newly hired counselors. Others may offer time off or tuition assistance to complete a graduate degree. Often counselors must participate in graduate studies, workshops, and personal studies to maintain their certificates and licenses.

Licensure requirements differ greatly by State, occupational specialty, and work setting. Many States require school counselors to hold a State school counseling certification and to have completed at least some graduate course work; most require the completion of a master’s degree. Some States require school counselors to be licensed, which generally requires continuing education credits. Some States require public school counselors to have both counseling and teaching certificates and to have had some teaching experience.

For counselors based outside of schools, 49 States and the District of Columbia have some form of counselor licensure that governs the practice of counseling. Requirements typically include the completion of a master’s degree in counseling, the accumulation of 2 years or 3,000 hours of supervised clinical experience beyond the master’s degree level, the passage of a State-recognized exam, adherence to ethical codes and standards, and the completion of annual continuing education requirements. However, counselors working in certain settings or in a particular specialty may face different licensure requirements. For example, a career counselor working in private practice may need a license, but a counselor working for a college career center may not. In addition, substance abuse and behavior disorder counselors are generally governed by a different State agency or board than other counselors. The criteria for their licensure vary greatly and in some cases, these counselors may only need a high school diploma and certification. Those interested in entering the field must research State and specialty requirements to determine what qualifications they must have.

People interested in counseling should have a strong desire to help others and should be able to inspire respect, trust, and confidence. They should be able to work independently or as part of a team. Counselors must follow the code of ethics associated with their respective certifications and licenses.

Counselors must possess high physical and emotional energy to handle the array of problems that they address. Dealing daily with these problems can cause stress.

Certification and advancement. Some counselors elect to be certified by the National Board for Certified Counselors, Inc., which grants a general practice credential of National Certified Counselor.

To be certified, a counselor must hold a master’s degree with a concentration in counseling from a regionally accredited college or university; have at least 2 years of supervised field experience in a counseling setting (graduates from counselor education programs accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs are exempted); provide two professional endorsements, one of which must be from a recent supervisor; and must have a passing score on the board’s examination. This national certification is voluntary and is distinct from State licensing. However, in some States, those who pass the national exam are exempted from taking a State certification exam. The board also offers specialty certifications in school, clinical mental health, and addiction counseling. These specialty certifications require passage of a supplemental exam. To maintain their certifications, counselors retake and pass the exam or complete 100 credit hours of acceptable continuing education every 5 years.

The Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification offers voluntary national certification for rehabilitation counselors. Many State and local governments and other employers require rehabilitation counselors to have this certification. To become certified, rehabilitation counselors usually must graduate from an accredited educational program, complete an internship, and pass a written examination. Certification requirements vary, however, according to an applicant’s educational history. Employment experience, for example, is required for those with a counseling degree in a specialty other than rehabilitation. To maintain their certification, counselors must successfully retake the certification exam or complete 100 credit hours of acceptable continuing education every 5 years.

Prospects for advancement vary by counseling field. School counselors can become directors or supervisors of counseling, guidance, or pupil personnel services; or, usually with further graduate education, become counselor educators, counseling psychologists, or school administrators. Some counselors choose to work for a State’s department of education.

Some marriage and family therapists, especially those with doctorates in family therapy, become supervisors, teachers, researchers, or advanced clinicians in the discipline. Counselors may also become supervisors or administrators in their agencies. Some counselors move into research, consulting, or college teaching or go into private or group practice. Some may choose to pursue a doctoral degree to improve their chances for advancement.

Educational, vocational, and school counselors work primarily in elementary and secondary schools and colleges and universities. Other types of counselors work in a wide variety of public and private establishments, including healthcare facilities; job training, career development, and vocational rehabilitation centers; social agencies; correctional institutions; and residential care facilities, such as halfway houses for criminal offenders and group homes for children, the elderly, and the disabled. Some substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors work in therapeutic communities where people with addictions live while undergoing treatment. Counselors also work in organizations engaged in community improvement and social change, drug and alcohol rehabilitation programs, and State and local government agencies.

A growing number of counselors are self-employed and work in group practices or private practice, due in part to new laws allowing counselors to be paid for their services by insurance companies and to the growing recognition that counselors are well-trained, effective professionals.

Employment for counselors is expected to grow much faster than the average for all occupations through 2016. However, job growth will vary by location and occupational specialty. Job prospects should be good due to growth and the need to replace people leaving the field.

Employment of substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors is expected to grow 34 percent, which is much faster than the average for all occupations. As society becomes more knowledgeable about addiction, it is increasingly common for people to seek treatment. Furthermore, drug offenders are increasingly being sent to treatment programs rather than jail.

Employment for educational, vocational and school counselors is expected to grow 13 percent, which is about as fast as the average for all occupations. Demand for vocational or career counselors should grow as multiple job and career changes become common and as workers become increasingly aware of counseling services. In addition, State and local governments will employ growing numbers of counselors to assist beneficiaries of welfare programs who exhaust their eligibility and must find jobs. Other opportunities for employment of counselors will arise in private job-training centers that provide training and other services to laid-off workers and others seeking to acquire new skills or careers.

Demand for school counselors may increase due in large part to increases in student enrollments at postsecondary schools and colleges and as more States require elementary schools to employ counselors. Expansion of the responsibilities of school counselors should also lead to increases in their employment. For example, counselors are becoming more involved in crisis and preventive counseling, helping students deal with issues ranging from drug and alcohol abuse to death and suicide. Although schools and governments realize the value of counselors in helping their students to achieve academic success, budget constraints at every school level will dampen job growth of school counselors. Federal grants and subsidies may help to offset tight budgets and allow the reduction in student-to-counselor ratios to continue.

Employment of mental health counselors is expected to grow by 30 percent, which is much faster than the average for all occupations. Mental health counselors will be needed to staff statewide networks that are being established to improve services for children and adolescents with serious emotional disturbances and for their families. Under managed care systems, insurance companies are increasingly providing for reimbursement of counselors as a less costly alternative to psychiatrists and psychologists.

Jobs for rehabilitation counselors are expected to grow by 23 percent, which is much faster than the average for all occupations. The number of people who will need rehabilitation counseling is expected to grow as advances in medical technology allow more people to survive injury or illness and live independently again. In addition, legislation requiring equal employment rights for people with disabilities will spur demand for counselors, who not only help these people make a transition to the workforce but also help companies to comply with the law.

Marriage and family therapists will experience growth of 30 percent, which is much faster than the average for all occupations. This is due in part to an increased recognition of the field. It is more common for people to seek help for their marital and family problems than it was in the past.

Job prospects vary greatly based on the occupational specialty. Prospects for rehabilitation counselors are excellent because many people are leaving the field or retiring. Furthermore, opportunities are very good in substance abuse and behavioral disorder counseling because relatively low wages and long hours make recruiting new entrants difficult. For school counselors, job prospects should be good because many people are leaving the occupation to retire; however, opportunities may be more favorable in rural and urban areas, rather than the suburbs, because it is often difficult to recruit people to these areas.

Median annual earnings of wage and salary educational, vocational, and school counselors in May 2006 were $47,530. The middle 50 percent earned between $36,120 and $60,990. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $27,240, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $75,920. School counselors can earn additional income working summers in the school system or in other jobs.

Median annual earnings of wage and salary substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors in May 2006 were $34,040. The middle 50 percent earned between $27,330 and $42,650. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $22,600, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $52,340.

Median annual earnings of wage and salary mental health counselors in May 2006 were $34,380. The middle 50 percent earned between $26,780 and $45,610. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $21,890, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $59,700.

Median annual earnings of wage and salary rehabilitation counselors in May 2006 were $29,200. The middle 50 percent earned between $22,980 and $39,000. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $19,260, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $53,170.

For substance abuse, mental health, and rehabilitation counselors, government employers generally pay the highest wages, followed by hospitals and social service agencies. Residential care facilities often pay the lowest wages.

Median annual earnings of wage and salary marriage and family therapists in May 2006 were $43,210. The middle 50 percent earned between $32,950 and $54,150. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $25,280, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $69,050. Median annual earnings were $36,020 in individual and family social services, the industry employing the largest number of marriage and family therapists.

Self-employed counselors who have well-established practices, as well as counselors employed in group practices, usually have the highest earnings.

For a stunning number of people in our dehumanized industrial society, mental health counseling is their only lifeline to survival, both mentally and emotionally.

As our society struggles and our population expands, the need for mental health counseling is enormous, and growing rapidly.

If you feel strongly that you are the kind of person who would spend a life as a lifeline of sanity, to hundreds of desperate people, find the degree program near you, or online, that suits you best.

There are so many damaged lives, and no time to waste.

For general information about counseling, as well as information on specialties such as college, mental health, rehabilitation, multicultural, career, marriage and family, and gerontological counseling, contact:

• American Counseling Association, 5999 Stevenson Ave., Alexandria, VA 22304. http://www.counseling.org

For information on school counselors, contact:

• American School Counselors Association, 1101 King St., Suite 625, Alexandria, VA 22314. http://www.schoolcounselor.org

For information on mental health counselors, contact:

• American Mental Health Counselors Association, 801 N. Fairfax Street, Suite 304, Alexandria, VA 22314. http://www.amhca.org

For information on marriage and family therapists, contact:

• American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, 112 South Alfred Street, Alexandria, VA 22314 http://www.aamft.org

For information on accredited counseling and related training programs, contact:

• Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs, American Counseling Association, 5999 Stevenson Ave., 4th floor, Alexandria, VA 22304. http://www.cacrep.org

For information on national certification requirements for counselors, contact:

• National Board for Certified Counselors, Inc, 3 Terrace Way, Suite D, Greensboro, NC 27403. http://www.nbcc.org

He speaks a language you understand. But only you. The rest of the squad hears only his stress. He talks so fast that you miss a word now and then. It’s like listening to HipHop backward. But you get it. You and only you.

The squad on patrol wears armor, carries automatic weapons, and they are tired, disgusted, and they have seen too many of their buddies blown away. Someone inside the house with cracked walls is sobbing in terror. The day is hot and dry and dust is blowing and and flies drink your sweat.

The windows of the house are blocked from inside. That’s why the patrol stopped here.

“Ask him why the windows are blocked off,” says the Patrol Leader, a tough sergeant on her third tour. “What’s he hiding?”

You ask the man this. In his language, he says, “We cram old blankets and cardboard and hay into our windows to block the heat and light and noise, to give a little privacy.”

“That’s crap,” the Patrol Leader says. She’s lost two troopers in the past month. She no longer believes anything anybody says. “Tell him I’ll arrest him if he tries to stop us searching his house for weapons.”

You know she could be right. It might be a trick. A trap. An ambush.

You know the soldiers have seen it all. They don’t believe anybody except each other. They don’t speak the language. You don’t want them hurt.

You interpret and they wait, warily, sullenly, numbly, their weapons ready. Their night-vision goggles give them the aspect of ants from another world. The local old people are terrified of this, but the children laugh and call them bugs. Only you know what the kids are saying. The soldiers hate that.

“We’re going in,” says the Patrol Leader, losing patience. “Tell him not to resist and no big deal.”

Now other villagers have come out to stare. It’s well-known that every home has a hidden weapon. Bandits, renegades, so common. Every father keeps a gun hidden.

“Please believe me, sir,” says the man on his knees. He knows you are his only hope of being understood. “My children are crying, my mother is old, my father is sick. You say you come to free us all, yet you have shamed me on my knees. I have daughters inside. My mother. My father and grandfather. Do not search there. Please. To search women is a sin. To humiliate old people is a sin. Do this bad thing, and all my family, from every village, will repay this act in kind, in blood, as a sacred oath I swear it.”

You interpret, exactly. You speak alternately in two languages. The situation has gone from commonplace to very dangerous. You believe that every soldier should be required to speak the language of any country they invade, for their own protection, if nothing else. But they know barely a phrase or two.

You’re the only hope of every human here. More villagers are coming out to stare, to mutter among themselves.

In their language, they shout: “We know this man! He is a very good man! Why humble him like a cur?”

The soldiers have no idea what the shouts mean. The Patrol leader says, “Watch your 6, people.”

Hearing only the tone of aggression, the surrounded troopers move apart in combat spacing, turning to face the seeming threat. They lock and load their M4’s.

You are the only thing keeping back a colossal disaster. An incident here, this potential tragedy, could impact a thousand soldiers and ten thousand inhabitants of this land. You and only you can stop it. Only you can speak both languages.

You convince the patrol leader to try a different tact. “Let the man stand up. Offer him something, a little gift, anything.”

The Patrol Leader is smart, not softening, but seeing another way to get the job done. Gives him a melted Snickers. “Okay, I’ll play the cliche good guy.”

The man looks oddly at the candy bar, but is glad to be standing. The neighboring villagers seem to relax just a notch.

The squad shifts restlessly. They don’t want a fight but they are willing to do what they are here to do. One way or another. That’s what they do. It’s why they’re here.

You talk fast and keep talking, bridging two worlds. With the magic of your language skills, you communicate. It’s a dance of life or death.

You feel the tension lessen, defuse. You negotiate. If you can somehow just get the villager to invite the Patrol Leader into his home, maybe nobody will die.

You know all this because you are an interpreter.

Your power to translate is a gift of life. Because you have a degree in languages, you have stopped death here and now, in it’s tracks.

You enable the cross-cultural communication necessary in today’s society by converting one language into another. You do more than simply translate words— you relay concepts and ideas between languages.

You thoroughly understand the subject matter in which you work— in order to accurately convert information from one language, known as the source language, into another, the target language. And you are sensitive to the cultures associated with your languages of expertise.

Interpreters and translators are often discussed together because they share some common traits. For example, both must be fluent in at least two languages—a native, or active, language and a secondary, or passive, language; a small number of interpreters and translators are fluent in two or more passive languages. Their active language is the one that they know best and into which they interpret or translate, and their passive language is one for which they have nearly perfect knowledge.

Although some people do both, interpretation and translation are different professions. Interpreters deal with spoken words, translators with written words. Each task requires a distinct set of skills and aptitudes, and most people are better suited for one or the other. While interpreters often work into and from both languages, translators generally work only into their active language.

Interpreters convert one spoken language into another—or, in the case of sign-language interpreters, between spoken communication and sign language. This requires interpreters to pay attention carefully, understand what is communicated in both languages, and express thoughts and ideas clearly. Strong research and analytical skills, mental dexterity, and an exceptional memory also are important.

There are two types of interpretation: simultaneous and consecutive. Simultaneous interpretation requires interpreters to listen and speak (or sign) at the same time. In simultaneous interpretation, the interpreter begins to convey a sentence being spoken while the speaker is still talking.

Ideally, simultaneous interpreters should be so familiar with a subject that they are able to anticipate the end of the speaker’s sentence. Because they need a high degree of concentration, simultaneous interpreters work in pairs, with each interpreting for 20- to 30-minute periods. This type of interpretation is required at international conferences and is sometimes used in the courts.

In contrast to simultaneous interpretation’s immediacy, consecutive interpretation begins only after the speaker has verbalized a group of words or sentences. Consecutive interpreters often take notes while listening to the speakers, so they must develop some type of note-taking or shorthand system. This form of interpretation is used most often for person-to-person communication, during which the interpreter is positioned near both parties.

Translators convert written materials from one language into another. They must have excellent writing and analytical ability. And because the documents that they translate must be as flawless as possible, they also need good editing skills.

The way in which translators do their jobs has changed with advances in technology.

Today, nearly all translation work is done on a computer, and most assignments are received and submitted electronically. This enables translators to work from almost anywhere, and a large percentage of them work from home.

The Internet provides advanced research capabilities and valuable language resources, such as specialized dictionaries and glossaries. In some cases, use of machine-assisted translation—including memory tools that provide comparisons of previous translations with current work—helps save time and reduce repetition.

Conference interpreters work at conferences that have non-English-speaking attendees. This work includes international business and diplomacy, although conference interpreters interpret for any organization that works with foreign language speakers.

Employers prefer high-level interpreters who have the ability to translate from at least two passive languages into one active (native) language—for example, the ability to interpret from Spanish and French into English. For some positions, such as those with the United Nations, this qualification is mandatory.

Court interpreters work in a variety of legal settings, such as attorney-client meetings, preliminary hearings, depositions, trials, and arraignments. Success as a court interpreter requires an understanding of both legal terminology and colloquial language.

Literary translators adapt written literature from one language into another. They may translate any number of documents, including journal articles, books, poetry, and short stories. Literary translation is related to creative writing; literary translators must create a new text in the target language that reproduces the content and style of the original. Whenever possible, literary translators work closely with authors to best capture their intended meanings and literary characteristics.

This type of work often is done as a sideline by university professors; however, opportunities exist for well-established literary translators.

Localization translators constitute a relatively recent and rapidly expanding specialty. Localization involves the complete adaptation of a product for use in a different language and culture. At its earlier stages, this work dealt primarily with software localization, but the specialty has expanded to include the adaptation of Internet sites and products in manufacturing and other business sectors. The goal of these specialists is to make the product to appear as if it were originally manufactured in the country where it will be sold and supported.

Medical interpreters and translators provide language services to health care patients with limited English proficiency. Medical interpreters help patients to communicate with doctors, nurses, and other medical staff. Translators working in this specialty primarily convert patient materials and informational brochures issued by hospitals and medical facilities into the desired language. Medical interpreters need a strong grasp of medical and colloquial terminology in both languages, along with cultural sensitivity regarding how the patient receives the information. They must remain detached but aware of the patient’s feelings and pain.

Sign language interpreters facilitate communication between people who are deaf or hard of hearing and people who can hear. Sign language interpreters must be fluent in English and in American Sign Language (ASL), which combines signing, finger spelling, and specific body language. ASL has its own grammatical rules, sentence structure, idioms, historical contexts, and cultural nuances. Sign language interpreting, like foreign language interpreting, involves more than simply replacing a word of spoken English with a sign representing that word.

Self-employed and freelance interpreters and translators need general business skills to successfully manage their finances and careers. They must set prices for their work, bill customers, keep financial records, and market their services to attract new business and build their client base.

Interpreters and translators must be fluent in at least two languages.

Their educational backgrounds may vary widely, but most have a bachelor’s degree.

In high school, students can prepare for these careers by taking a broad range of courses that include English writing and comprehension, foreign languages, and basic computer proficiency. Other helpful pursuits include spending time abroad, engaging in direct contact with foreign cultures, and reading extensively on a variety of subjects in English and at least one other language.

Although a bachelor’s degree is often required, interpreters and translators note that it is acceptable to major in something other than a language. An educational background in a particular field of study provides a natural area of subject matter expertise.

Formal programs in interpreting and translation are available at colleges nationwide and through non-university training programs, conferences, and courses.

Many people who work as conference interpreters or in more technical areas—such as localization, engineering, or finance—have master’s degrees, while those working in the community as court or medical interpreters or translators are more likely to complete job-specific training programs.

Volunteer opportunities are available through community organizations, hospitals, and sporting events, such as marathons, that involve international competitors. The American Translators Association works with the Red Cross to provide volunteer interpreters in crisis situations. All translation can be used as examples for potential clients, even translation done as practice.

The American Translators Association provides certification in more than 24 language combinations for its members; other options include a certification program offered by The Translators and Interpreters Guild. Many interpreters are not certified.

Federal courts have certification for Spanish, Navajo, and Haitian Creole interpreters, and many State and municipal courts offer their own forms of certification. The National Association of Judiciary Interpreters and Translators also offers certification for court interpreting.

The U.S. Department of State has a three-test series for interpreters, including simple consecutive interpreting (for escort work), simultaneous interpreting (for court or seminar work), and conference-level interpreting (for international conferences). These tests are not referred to directly as certification, but successful completion often indicates that a person has an adequate level of skill to work in the field.

The National Association of the Deaf and the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID) jointly offer certification for general sign interpreters. In addition, the registry offers specialty tests in legal interpreting, speech reading, and deaf-to-deaf interpreting—which includes interpreting between deaf speakers with different native languages and from ASL to tactile signing.

Interpreters and translators held about 41,000 jobs in 2006. However, the actual number of interpreters and translators is probably significantly higher because many work in the occupation only sporadically.

Interpreters and translators are employed in a variety of industries, reflecting the diversity of employment options in the field. About 33 worked in public and private educational institutions, such as schools, colleges, and universities. About 12 worked in health care and social assistance, many of whom worked for hospitals. Another 10 worked in other areas of government, such as Federal, State and local courts. Other employers of interpreters and translators include publishing companies, telephone companies, airlines, and interpreting and translating agencies.

About 22 percent of interpreters and translators are self-employed. Many who freelance in the occupation work only part time, relying on other sources of income to supplement earnings from interpreting or translation.

Interpreters and translators can expect much faster than average employment growth over the next decade. Job prospects vary by specialty. Employment of interpreters and translators is projected to increase 24 percent over the 2006-16 decade, much faster than the average for all occupations.

This growth will be driven partly by strong demand in health care settings and work related to homeland security. Additionally, higher demand for interpreters and translators results directly from the broadening of international ties and the increase in the number of foreign language speakers in the United States. Both of these trends are expected to continue, contributing to relatively rapid growth in the number of jobs for interpreters and translators.

Current events and changing political environments, often difficult to foresee, will increase the need for people who can work with other languages. For example, homeland security needs are expected to drive increasing demand for interpreters and translators of Middle Eastern and North African languages, primarily in Federal Government agencies.

Demand will remain strong for translators of the languages referred to as “PFIGS”—Portuguese, French, Italian, German, and Spanish; Arabic and other Middle Eastern languages; and the principal Asian languages—Chinese, Japanese, and Korean. Demand for American Sign Language interpreters will grow rapidly, driven by the increasing use of video relay services, which allow individuals to conduct video calls using a sign language interpreter over an Internet connection.

Technology has made the work of interpreters and translators easier. However, technology is not likely to have a negative impact on employment of interpreters and translators because such innovations are incapable of producing work comparable with work produced by these professionals.

Urban areas, especially Washington D.C., New York, and cities in California, provide the largest numbers of employment possibilities, especially for interpreters; however, as the immigrant population spreads into more rural areas, jobs in smaller communities will become more widely available.

Salaried interpreters and translators had median hourly earnings of $17.10 in May 2006. The middle 50 percent earned between $12.94 and $22.60. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $9.88, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $30.91.

Individuals classified as language specialists for the Federal Government earned an average of $76,287 annually in 2007.

Limited information suggests that some highly skilled interpreters and translators—for example, high-level conference interpreters—working full time can earn more than $100,000 annually.

Our rapidly shrinking global society demands ever faster means of universal communication. This is as true in politics, as it is in business, or any area of society.

Every university or college offers language programs in depth.

Online learning is an excellent tool for language degrees.

Our multi-cultural global economy — and our beast global social networking sites, like Facebook and Perfspot— all bring many opportunities for translators to learn, earn, and flourish.

Choose the language that suits you best.

Get a degree that truly empowers you. That helps our world become a little better, every time two cultures meet.

Bring an interface of understanding to a world stressed by ignorance, danger, and suspicion!

For general career information, contact:

• American Translators Association, 225 Reinekers Ln., Suite 590, Alexandria, VA 22314. Internet: http://www.atanet.org>

For more detailed information by specialty, contact the association affiliated with that subject area:

• American Literary Translators Association, The University of Texas at Dallas, Box 830688 Mail Station JO51, Richardson, TX 75083-0688. http://www.literarytranslators.org
• Localization Industry Standards Association, Domaine en Prael, CH-1323 Romainmôtier, Switzerland. http://www.lisa.org
• National Association of Judiciary Interpreters and Translators, 603 Stewart St., Suite 610, Seattle, WA 98101. http://www.najit.org
• National Council on Interpreting in Health Care, 270 West Lawrence St., Albany, NY 12208. http://www.ncihc.org
• Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, 333 Commerce St., Alexandria, VA 22314. http://www.rid.org

For information about testing to become a contract interpreter or translator with the U.S. State Department, contact:

• U.S. Department of State, Office of Language Services, 2401 E St. NW., SA-1, Room H1400, Washington, DC 20520-2204

Information on obtaining positions as interpreters and translators with the Federal Government is available from the Office of Personnel Management through USAJOBS, the Federal Government’s official employment information system. This resource is at http://www.usajobs.opm.gov, or through an interactive voice response telephone system at (703) 724-1850 or TDD (978) 461-8404. These numbers are not toll free, and charges may result.

Music is an immortal secret language— like a purifying bath for your soul, cleansing away the chaos of everyday life.

And, even as a child, music was your inner voice. It was as if you heard something others couldn’t hear. Sometimes you danced to the music only you heard.

And you knew you weren’t crazy, because the sound was so beautiful. Because music always restored you, centered you, always healed you, made you strong again.

And that is why you are a musician. A singer. A composer. An arranger. A director. A teacher.

You always know who you are when you play your music, sing your music, compose your music, arrange your music, direct your music. And you spend tons of time practicing alone and with your band, your orchestra, or your choir. You play several different musical instruments. You learned several musical styles.

Whether you perform solo, or gig as part of a group— in a small club, in a church, or in front of live audiences in nightclubs, concert halls, and theaters— you love who you are.

How did you become this person? You were born with a gift, an “ear”.

How do you survive? How do you make a living?

Many musicians specialize. Instrumental, vocal, directors, conductors, composers, arrangers, each does his/her own thing in music.

Each has his/her own training, and many have earned degrees, formal training to vastly expand their music knowledge and abilities.

Instrumental musicians play in a symphony orchestra, rock group, or jazz combo one night. They might work in a studio band the following day. Some play a variety of string, brass, woodwind, or percussion instruments or electronic synthesizers.

Singers use their knowledge of voice production, melody, and harmony to interpret music and text. They sing character parts or perform in their own individual styles. Singers often are classified according to their voice range—soprano, contralto, tenor, baritone, or bass—or by the type of music they sing, such as rock, pop, folk, opera, rap, or country.

Music directors and conductors conduct, direct, plan, and lead instrumental or vocal performances by musical groups such as orchestras, choirs, and glee clubs. These leaders audition and select musicians, choose the music most appropriate for their talents and abilities, and direct rehearsals and performances.

Choral directors lead choirs and glee clubs, sometimes working with a band or an orchestra conductor. Directors audition and select singers and lead them at rehearsals and performances to achieve harmony, rhythm, tempo, shading, and other desired musical effects.

Composers create original music such as symphonies, operas, sonatas, radio and television jingles, film scores, and popular songs. They transcribe ideas into musical notation, using harmony, rhythm, melody, and tonal structure. Although most composers and songwriters practice their craft on instruments and transcribe the notes with pen and paper, some use computer software to compose and edit their music.

Arrangers transcribe and adapt musical compositions to a particular style for orchestras, bands, choral groups, or individuals. Components of music—including tempo, volume, and the mix of instruments needed—are arranged to express the composer’s message. Although some arrangers write directly into a musical composition, others use computer software to make changes.

A good payday sometimes can be scored by gigs in recording or production studios for radio, TV, film, or video games.

Long-term on-the-job training is the most common way people learn to become musicians or singers.

Aspiring musicians begin studying an instrument at an early age. They may gain valuable experience playing in a school or community band or orchestra or with a group of friends.

Singers usually start training when their voices mature. Participation in school musicals or choirs often provides good early training and experience.

Composers and music directors usually require a bachelor’s degree in a related field.

Formal training may be obtained through private study with an accomplished musician, in a college or university music program, or in a music conservatory. An audition generally is necessary to qualify for university or conservatory study.

In the US, the National Association of Schools of Music is made up of 615 accredited college-level programs in music. (Music theory, music interpretation, composition, conducting, and performance, either with a particular instrument or a voice performance.)

A master’s or doctoral degree usually is required to teach advanced music courses in colleges and universities.

A bachelor’s degree may be sufficient to teach basic courses. Worldwide, a degree in music education qualifies grads to teach music in schools.

Music sharing on the web has hurt the music business, as we all know. And yet new stars keep appearing. The great music is always being born!

Talented individuals skilled in multiple instruments or musical styles will have the best job prospects. But talented people often quit because they find the work difficult, the discipline demanding, and the long periods of intermittent unemployment a hardship.

Those who never quit— the talented ones with the depth of education and determination— are the musicians who most often become the stars we know today.

For those musicians, the sky’s the limit.

The magic inside them translates into the immortal music that we all love!

In the US, for general information about music and music teacher education and a list of accredited college-level programs, contact:

• National Association of Schools of Music, 11250 Roger Bacon Dr., Suite 21, Reston, VA 20190. http://nasm.arts-accredit.org

Then answer this quick question— what is the huge key advantage that has made Wal-Mart the world’s biggest retailer? Why are their stocks high and prices low?

Give up? Wal-Mart’s Logisticians control an incredibly efficient supply system!

What is a Logistician? They are the invisible intellectual force behind the global success of the capitalist system.

Wal-Mart Logisticians cut costs and help the company offer its famously low prices— they do this by their highly efficient control of inventory. Their Logisticians continually analyze and coordinate the logistical functions of the huge company, and keep it running fast and strong.

Just how do the Logisticans do this? They control an efficient supply chain management (effectively managing the supply chain, ensuring that the customer gets the products they require when they want it, at a price they are prepared to pay.)

Logisticians oversee shipping and transportation, distribution to wholesalers or retailers, warehousing, and the just-in-time delivery that helps minimize costs and maximize productivity. Many of these jobs are in manufacturing or retail businesses.

Logisticians are key players in virtually every field— including energy, communications, finance, information technology, and government.

In fact, logisticians are responsible for the entire life cycle of every product— including all the acquisition, distribution, internal allocation, delivery, and final disposal of product resources!

Logisticians have many varied job titles— Integrated Logistics Support Manager (ILS Manager), Logistician, Logistics Team Lead, Production Planner, Logistics Engineers, Logistics Analysts.

Examples include accountants, sales managers, database administrators, teachers, chemists, environmental engineers, criminal investigators, and special agents.

Logisticians all have a similar educational background, and we’ll get to their education requirements soon.

But look at all the important fields that Logisticians control—

Administration and Management — Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.

Transportation — Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.

Public Safety and Security — Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.

Mathematics — Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.

Production and Processing — Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.

Education and Training — Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.

Clerical — Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.

Most of these Logistical occupations require a four-year bachelor’s degree.

Instead of a master’s or MBA, Logisticians need work-related skill, knowledge, or experience, to add to their bachelor’s degree.

Several years of work-related logistical experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training, is a huge boost to your degree, for getting the top jobs. That’s because many of these occupations involve coordinating, supervising, managing, or training others.

For example, an accountant must complete four years of college— and work for several years in accounting, to be considered qualified.

If math is a natural for you, if logic and order appeal to you… and if you want a solid profession, explore a degree involving Logistics.

Bottom line? Logisticians run our world. They are the invisible heroes of success in commerce and capitalism, always working behind the scenes.

Worldwide, Logisticians are highly paid, and always in great demand.

Want to be a key player on the global stage? Our world would grind to a halt without its invisible controllers— Logisticians!

When they would see any special report coming on, reported by a famous face, a female journalist, they would all drop whatever they were doing, to watch.

“Because,” he said, “we knew wherever she was, that’s probably where we would be deploying next, and probably in a big hurry, too. She was always ahead of the world curve.”

Her face is world-famous. She has the ears of the world’s leaders. And it all began with a college degree.

Who is she?

She has secured exclusive interviews with world leaders from the Middle East to Europe to Africa and beyond, including Iranian Presidents Mohammad Khatami and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, as well as the presidents of Afghanistan, Sudan and Syria, among others.

Who is she? She is definitely a journalist.

After 9/11 she was the first international correspondent to interview British Prime Minister Tony Blair, French President Jacques Chirac and Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf.

In her 18 years as an international correspondent, Amanpour has reported on all the major crises from the world’s many hotspots, including Iraq, Afghanistan, the Palestinian territories, Iran, Israel, Pakistan, Somalia, Rwanda, the Balkans and the United States during Hurricane Katrina.

Still can’t guess?

She joined CNN in 1983 as an entry-level assistant on the network’s international assignment desk in Atlanta. She worked her way up to correspondent in CNN’s New York bureau before becoming an international correspondent in 1990. Her first major assignment was the Gulf War, and she has since covered wars, famine, genocide and natural disasters around the globe.

There’s still more.

Her body of work has earned an inaugural Television Academy Honor, nine News and Documentary Emmys, four George Foster Peabody Awards, two George Polk Awards, three duPont-Columbia Awards, the Courage in Journalism Award, an Edward R. Murrow award and other major journalism awards.

Many honorary degrees— from The American University of Paris, Georgetown University, New York University, Smith College, Emory University and the University of Michigan.

In 2007, she was made a Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE), by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II for her “highly distinguished, innovative contribution” to the field of journalism. In 1998, the city of Sarajevo named her an honorary citizen for her “personal contribution to spreading the truth” during the Bosnia war from 1992 to 1995.

Okay, by now you’ve guessed her name. But you still don’t know how she got to be who she is.

Her name is Christiane Amanpour. CNN’s chief international correspondent, based in New York.

How did she get her start in journalism? She went to school and worked for it.

Amanpour studied at the University of Rhode Island. During her time there she worked in the News Department at WBRU-FM in Providence, Rhode Island. Amanpour graduated from the university summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Journalism degree in 1983.

In 1983, she was hired by CNN as a desk assistant on the Foreign Desk. In 1989, she was assigned to work in Frankfurt, Germany, where she reported on the democratic revolutions sweeping Eastern Europe at the time.

This was her big break and she made the most of it.

Following Iraq’s occupation of Kuwait in 1990, Amanpour’s reports of the Persian Gulf War brought her wide notice while also taking the network to a new level of news coverage.

She reported from the Bosnian war and many other conflict zones.

Her emotional delivery from Sarajevo during the Siege of Sarajevo led some viewers and critics to question her professional objectivity, claiming that many of her reports were unjustified and favoured the Bosnian Muslims.

Her powerful and passionate reportage has impacted the whole world.

Amanpour said, of Journalism, “There are some situations one simply cannot be neutral about, because when you are neutral you are an accomplice. Objectivity doesn’t mean treating all sides equally. It means giving each side a hearing.”

She went to college, she studied Journalism, she fought for her chances and made the most of them.

And now she has the ear of the world. She’s earned her “voice”.

That is the awesome potential power of Journalism.

Amanpour is living proof. She was an unknown, who started with her degree and her guts.

If you want to have a chance to obtain a voice in our world— to speak out for all you know and believe— go get the degree!

Music connects the passion of the artist to the emotions of audience like no other art. If you grew up playing an instrument, you’ve felt that thrill. You’ve played, maybe poorly, maybe well, and you’ve looked up and seen the faces watching you in wonder. The dreamy look of their feelings. And you realize, I did that.

From that time on, you imagined yourself in a concert hall, on a stage, or in a sound studio. You wondered what it would be like, to see yourself in a music video, or pulling your car up to a stoplight, and hearing yourself singing on a CD in the car next to you.

You could try doing it the way many do, on your own, in a room, teaching yourself. But many of the great musicians and singers begin studying an instrument or training their voices in an academic setting, learning from professionals— from reading music, to complex music theory, everything from the bottom up.

They go to college and get a degree in music. Why? Because there’s so much to learn.

Musicians, singers, and related workers play musical instruments, sing, compose or arrange music, or conduct groups in instrumental or vocal performances. They may perform solo or as part of a group. Musicians, singers, and related workers entertain live audiences in nightclubs, concert halls, and theaters; others perform in recording or production studios.

Students need the time and place for professional-level education, to build the skills and hone their talents, for this level of paying musical lifestyle. Musicians need extensive and prolonged training and practice to acquire the necessary skills and knowledge to interpret music at a professional level. Courses typically include music theory, music interpretation, composition, conducting, and performance in a particular instrument or in voice. Music directors, composers, conductors, and arrangers need considerable related work experience or advanced training in these subjects.

While working toward your degree, you may learn one or more new musical instruments. Many musicians learn to play several related instruments and can perform equally well in several musical styles. Instrumental musicians, for example, may play in a symphony orchestra, rock group, or jazz combo one night, appear in another ensemble the next, and work in a studio band the following day. Some play a variety of string, brass, woodwind, or percussion instruments or electronic synthesizers.

Like other artists, musicians and singers continually strive to improve their abilities. Formal training may be obtained through private study with an accomplished musician, in a college or university music program, or in a music conservatory. An audition generally is necessary to qualify for university or conservatory study.

A master’s or doctoral degree usually is required to teach advanced music courses in colleges and universities; a bachelor’s degree may be sufficient to teach basic courses. A degree in music education qualifies graduates for a State certificate to teach music in public elementary or secondary schools. Musicians who do not meet public school music education requirements may teach in private schools and recreation associations or instruct individual students in private sessions.

Singers interpret music and text, using their knowledge of voice production, melody, and harmony. They sing character parts or perform in their own individual style. Singers are often classified according to their voice range—soprano, contralto, tenor, baritone, or bass, for example—or by the type of music they sing, such as rock, pop, folk, opera, rap, or country.

Music directors and conductors conduct, direct, plan, and lead instrumental or vocal performances by musical groups, such as orchestras, choirs, and glee clubs. These leaders audition and select musicians, choose the music most appropriate for their talents and abilities, and direct rehearsals and performances. Choral directors lead choirs and glee clubs, sometimes working with a band or an orchestra conductor. Directors audition and select singers and lead them at rehearsals and performances to achieve harmony, rhythm, tempo, shading, and other desired musical effects.

Composers create original music such as symphonies, operas, sonatas, radio and television jingles, film scores, and popular songs. They transcribe ideas into musical notation, using harmony, rhythm, melody, and tonal structure. Although most composers and songwriters practice their craft on instruments and transcribe the notes with pen and paper, some use computer software to compose and edit their music.

Arrangers transcribe and adapt musical compositions to a particular style for orchestras, bands, choral groups, or individuals. Components of music—including tempo, volume, and the mix of instruments needed—are arranged to express the composer’s message. While some arrangers write directly into a musical composition, others use computer software to make changes.

Music students learn many musical styles. A broader range of interest, knowledge, and training can help expand employment opportunities and musical abilities. Voice training and private instrumental lessons, especially when taken at a young age, also help develop technique and enhance one’s performance.

Young persons considering careers in music should have musical talent, versatility, creativity, poise, and a good stage presence. Self-discipline is vital because producing a quality performance on a consistent basis requires constant study and practice. Musicians who play in concerts or in nightclubs and those who tour must have physical stamina to endure frequent travel and an irregular performance schedule. Musicians and singers also must be prepared to face the anxiety of intermittent employment and of rejection when auditioning for work.

Musicians, singers, and related workers held about 264,000 jobs, according to a USGOV study in 2006. Around 35 percent worked part time; 48 percent were self-employed. Many found jobs in cities in which entertainment and recording activities are concentrated, such as New York, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Chicago, and Nashville.

Musicians, singers, and related workers are employed in a variety of settings. Of those who earn a wage or salary, 35 percent were employed by religious organizations and 11 percent by performing arts companies such as professional orchestras, small chamber music groups, opera companies, musical theater companies, and ballet troupes.

Musicians and singers also perform in nightclubs and restaurants and for weddings and other events. Well-known musicians and groups may perform in concerts, appear on radio and television broadcasts, and make recordings and music videos. The U.S. Armed Forces also offer careers in their bands and smaller musical groups.

Overall employment of musicians, singers, and related workers is expected to grow 11 percent during the 2006-16 decade, about as fast as the average for all occupations. Most new wage-and-salary jobs for musicians will arise in religious organizations. Five percent growth is expected for self-employed musicians, who generally perform in nightclubs, concert tours, and other venues. The Internet and other new forms of media may provide independent musicians and singers alternative methods to distribute music.

Median annual earnings of salaried music directors and composers were $39,750 in May 2006. The middle 50 percent earned between $23,660 and $60,350. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $15,210, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $110,850.

Some of the industries pay the highest level for musical services—

For self-employed musicians and singers, earnings range from nothing (as we all know), to (as we also all know) many millions of dollars yearly!

The dream is yours for the taking. If you want a career in music badly enough, invest yourself fully in the learning that makes it much more possible.

The National Association of Schools of Music accredits more than 600 college-level programs in music. Find the one that suits your dream the best, and start making it happen.