Editing Musician (section)

{{short description|Person who composes, conducts or performs music}}
{{other uses}}
{{More citations needed|date=May 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2018}}

[[File:Ed Sheeran in Philadelphia 01.jpg|upright|thumb|British singer-songwriter [[Ed Sheeran]] in 2023]]

A '''musician''' is someone who [[Composer|composes]], [[Conducting|conducts]], or [[Performing arts#Performers|performs]] [[music]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Musician |url=https://ahdictionary.com/word/search.html?q=musician |publisher=American Heritage Dictionary}}</ref> According to the [[United States Employment Service]], "musician" is a general [[Terminology|term]] used to designate a person who follows music as a [[profession]].<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BsOj3BYD4DUC&pg=PA883|title=Dictionary of Occupational Titles, Volume 1|page=883|year=1949|publisher=[[U.S. Government Printing Office]]}}</ref> Musicians include [[songwriter]]s, who write both [[music]] and [[lyrics]] for [[songs]]; conductors, who direct a musical performance; and performers, who perform for an audience. A music performer is generally either a [[singer]] (also known as a vocalist), who provides vocals, or an instrumentalist, who plays a [[musical instrument]]. Musicians may perform on their own or as part of a [[Musical ensemble|group, band or orchestra]]. Musicians can specialize in a [[musical genre]], though many play a variety of different styles and blend or cross said genres, a musician's musical output depending on a variety of technical and other background influences including their culture, skillset, life experience, education, and creative preferences. A musician who [[Sound recording and reproduction|records]] and [[Music release|releases music]] is often referred to as a '''recording artist''';<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.berklee.edu/careers/roles/recording-group-or-band|title=Recording Artist (or Group)|date=January 2011 |publisher=[[Berklee College of Music]]|accessdate=February 19, 2021|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20201028095241/https://www.berklee.edu/careers/roles/recording-group-or-band|archivedate=October 28, 2020}}</ref> while a musician who primarily writes and records [[art music]], media [[soundtrack]]s and scores—including for [[Film score|film]]s, [[Theatre score|theatrical stage productions]], and [[Video game music|video games]]—or [[classical music]] is usually called a [[composer]]. A [[music producer]], while not necesarilly a musician outright, may themselves be a musician. A [[Conducting|conductor]], by way of gestures, leads and provides live direction for, or ''conducts'', an ensemble, typically an orchestra or choral group.