A musician is a person who plays or composes music. Musicians can be classified by their role in creating or performing music:
Sometimes the term can include other people who produce music such as:
The concept of the musician and the status of the musician in society varies from culture to culture.
Musicians can be either amateur or professional. Professional musicians are paid musicians who use performing as their main source of income. They may work freelance, enter into a contract with a studio or record label, be employed by a professional ensemble such as a symphony orchestra, or be employed by an institution such as a church or business (such as a bar). An amateur musician performs or writes music without receiving payment.
