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A musician is a person who plays or composes music. Musicians can be classified by their role in creating or performing music:
- A singer (or vocalist) uses his or her voice as an instrument.
- An instrumentalist plays a musical instrument.
- Both singer and instrumentalist can be improvisers, who create real time music.
- Composers and songwriters write music.
- A conductor coordinates a musical ensemble.
Musicians may also dance or produce choreography. The concept of the musician and the status of the musician in society varies from culture to culture.
Musicians can be distinguished as amateur or professional. Professional musicians are paid musicians. 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 is one for which music is a pastime and not an occupation.
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