Musician and Composer are two terms that are often confused as being the same. However, there are distinct differences between them. A musician is a person who sings or plays a musical instrument, such as a singer or a guitarist. In contrast, a composer is a person who sets a song to music, giving life to a piece of lyric or a song written by a lyricist. There has been a debate regarding whether a composer should necessarily be a musician as well. A composer is expected to know the nuances of music and should have studied music at a higher level. However, a composer does not need to be a professional singer or an instrumentalist.
Many composers are skilled in playing instruments such as the piano or the harmonium, primarily using these instruments to compose music. A musician must study the basics of music and be adept in playing instruments or singing to establish themselves as a professional musician. Interestingly, musicians can also be composers, and there are several instances of musicians turning into composers. However, it is not common for specialist composers to become established and professional musicians.
A musician initially trains under a teacher and then either follows the teacher’s style or invents their own style of singing. They perform for an audience and are paid entertainers. Conversely, a composer is employed by the film or movie industry to compose music for a film or movie. Their job is to compose music for the storyline of the film, according to the various situations of the movie. They work in unison with other members of the production team, such as the director, producer, story writer, and editor. The composer of the music for a particular film or movie selects the musician to sing songs for the movie, with the musician singing the songs set to music by the composer.
Key Takeaways
- A musician is a person who sings or plays a musical instrument, while a composer sets a song to music.
- Composers are expected to know the nuances of music and should have studied music at a higher level, but they do not need to be professional singers or instrumentalists.
- Musicians can also be composers, but it is not common for specialist composers to become established and professional musicians.
