Ask any child what she wants to become when she grows up and the answer will most likely be a pop star or rock star. However, only a tiny proportion of us ever get to realise our childhood dream of being internationally recognised entertainers; but this doesn't mean young adults should dismiss the music industry as a career avenue.
Notes speaks to young musicians at university who play music as a hobby, wannabe rock stars, established music industry professionals and classical music virtuosos in the UAE.
Violin player
Nadia Al Samsam, 20, adores the violin and has been playing the instrument since she was about 13 years old. Her childhood pastime has continued through her university years. The mass communication student at the American University of Sharjah (AUS) is the executive assistant and event organiser with the university's music club.
The Syrian national and her siblings were encouraged to play from a young age. "It's a passion. My favourite composer is Bach and my favourite violinist is Andre Rieu from the Netherlands."
Al Samsam says she wishes she could take up music as a career and play in an orchestra, touring the worlds but that it is "very challenging, which is why I'm in university".
AUS concert
However, she has an outlet for her passion at the AUS music club that recently held a two-hour concert on campus.
Al Samsam says being involved with the club is a lot of fun and that students need not be proficient in music to become a member. "As long as you love music, you can be a part of it," she says.
The club has guitarists, violinists, vocalists and a pianist, and has more than 500 members. When the club wants to hold a concert, emails are sent to the members who can then audition for a part.
At the AUS concert, more than 350 people packed the university auditorium to watch 11 acts. "Students of all nationalities and majors performed and diverse music was played. The audience responded very well to all the performances," Al Samsam says.
Passion for piano
Notes also caught up with Al Samsam's brother Abdul Razzak Al Samsam, president of the AUS music club, who also helped coordinate the concert. He reiterated what a success the concert had been.
Abdul Razzak, 19, a computer science major in his second year, says his parents encouraged him to play piano when he was about eight years old. His mother and uncle play the piano and violin respectively.
"For me it's a hobby. My future is in computers." Abdul Razzak says. He used to play the piano in concerts but it was purely for pleasure.
The music club is also a good outlet for his talent and he does not mind the extra effort it takes to organise concerts, conduct auditions and attend rehearsals.
Abdul Razzak has several certificates from the Associated Royal Board of Music in the United Kingdom. He had to practise with a teacher affiliated with the body and take scheduled exams through the instructor. It took him five years to get the certificates.
"I have a lot of friends who play music but very few who have certificates. I still wouldn't join an orchestra because you have to be extremely talented and that never was a goal for me. I do it for myself, because I love music," he says.
Wannabe rocker
Sharif Hamaty, 19, is on a mission to get his heavy metal band Sabbatarian recognised in Dubai. The third year civil engineering student also took part in the AUS concert and played the electric guitar with his cover band Alchemy. The one-and-a-half-year-old band played cover songs of popular rock bands at the concert. They also perform at other venues such as school events and corporate functions "for fun".
Hamaty started playing music about four years ago; he started with keyboards, the classic guitar and then the electric guitar.
Hamaty's five-member heavy metal band, is a serious endeavour with band members composing original music. "We jam once every week and everyone tries to come up with new ideas. It's all about group work," he says.
It hasn't been a smooth ride for Sabbatarian as band members have relocated overseas for work and study. However, they are trying to make a name for themselves by playing at gigs, particularly the underground scene. They usually attend gigs at university venues and hotel ballrooms.
Hamaty is studying civil engineering as a safety net. "I will have to play, it safe especially in Dubai, because very few people know about us or even listen to heavy metal. We will keep recording for fun and for the love of music."
The music industry
The music business is growing, says Giorgio Ungania, head of commercial services at the Dubai Knowledge Village-based SAE Institute.
"What's missing in Dubai is an authority that helps the creative music industry. You can't have a job title as 'musician' now but this will soon be possible and we will catch up soon," he says.
According to Umgania the music industry is changing with power and money no longer being held by large music corporations who control distribution and pay little attention to the artists. This creates opportunities for new artists, producers and sound engineers who can promote themselves and make and sell music without having most of the money going into large corporations' pockets.
"People can now decently make a living from music if they're talented enough," Umgania says.
He says the future is bright for people who are inclined towards music.
Umgania started in the music industry as a sound engineer 20 years ago. He produced classical music for an orchestra in Milan and then switched to pop and rock where he recorded and produced music and toured with big bands such as Michael Jackson, Genesis and Phil Collins.
Been there, done that
So can people make a living from music in the UAE right now? "It can be done," said SAE Institute lecturer Andy Ward, 33, who has a background in recording music.
In his career, Ward has mixed the single Seven Days for UK artist Craig David as well as music for Faithless and Dido.
"I have friends who just play instruments for television, radio and corporate videos and they do make a living," says Ward.
But he says the music industry will never be an easy career path. He studied sound engineering at Westminster College in London and learnt the basics such as electronics, properties of sound and more creative techniques such as signal flow and console and microphone operation.
"It all depends on your personality and it's not an easy path. Basically it's determination when you don't know anybody and then word of mouth when you do."
Career options
Artist and stage management;
Music journalist/critic;
Music marketing promotion;
Multimedia/ internet-based publisher;
Musical instrument sales representative or distributor
Music products management and sales;
Producer;
Programme director for radio or television;
Recording engineer/technician;
Sales representative;
Sound and video editor;
Studio arranger/composer;
Technology-based music instruction designer.
— Source: capital.edu
