From Musician to Software Developer: My Unexpected Career Journey

If someone had told me years ago that I would trade my accordion for a keyboard — not a musical one, but a programmer’s — I would have laughed. Yet, here I am, a software developer, reflecting on a journey that took me from the world of music competitions and performances to writing code and building applications. This is the story of how my passion for music shaped my career and eventually led me to the tech industry.

The Love for Music and the Early Years

From an early age, music was a huge part of my life. I attended regular elementary school, but at the age of 8 or 9, I also enrolled in a music school, specializing in the accordion. Over the years, my passion and dedication grew, and I eventually joined an ensemble where I played and sang, touring across Europe, Turkey, and the Balkans.

Continuing my education, I attended a specialized music high school and later pursued a bachelor’s degree in music, focusing on the accordion. Throughout my academic years, I participated in numerous local, national, and international competitions, often winning top prizes. By the time I finished my undergraduate studies with a GPA of 9.6, I was awarded the University of Sarajevo’s prestigious gold medal.

After graduation, I started working as an accordion teacher in a small town. While I loved teaching, the financial reality of my profession started to hit me. I was also pursuing a master’s degree in both accordion performance and composition, but the job security and earning potential in music were limited, especially since I wasn’t interested in playing at weddings or clubs. Life had different plans for me.

Lessons from Music That Helped in Software Development

Looking back, my time in music was more than just a passion — it shaped the way I think and work. Music, like coding, requires discipline, patience, and problem-solving. Practicing for hours to perfect a piece is not so different from debugging code or optimizing an algorithm.

Another key skill I carried over was pattern recognition. In music, understanding structures, harmonies, and sequences is crucial. The same goes for programming, where recognizing patterns in data, code structures, and logic is essential for writing efficient programs. Additionally, performing in ensembles and competing in events helped me develop strong teamwork and resilience — both of which are crucial in software development. Facing rejections, overcoming technical challenges, and continuously learning felt familiar, just like preparing for a difficult competition piece.

The Leap into Software Development

The turning point came when I realized that my teaching position was at risk. A close friend working in IT suggested I consider programming, so I decided to give it a shot. I enrolled in a coding bootcamp, and for the next year, I dedicated myself to learning software development. It was an incredibly tough journey — at times, I felt like giving up — but the moment I wrote my first program and saw it print something in the console, I felt a rush of dopamine that kept me going.

After a year of intense studying, I landed my first internship at a small company for four months. That led to another internship in a different company, and finally, I secured my first full-time job as a software developer. From there, I worked with various technologies, both on the backend and frontend, exploring different databases and frameworks.


At first, the main motivation was better financial stability, but over time, I truly fell in love with coding. The challenges, the creativity, and the problem-solving aspects reminded me of the same joy I once felt in music. Today, I am extremely satisfied with my job and the work environment—something I never imagined when I first started this journey.

"Switching careers from music
to software development wasn’t easy, but it was one of the best decisions I ever made."

While the two fields may seem worlds apart, they share more similarities than I initially realized. Music taught me discipline, perseverance, and problem-solving – skills that are invaluable in tech.

For anyone thinking about changing careers, my advice is: don’t be afraid to take the leap. Learning something new is always difficult, but if you push through the tough moments, the rewards can be life-changing. I never thought I would leave the stage for a screen, but here I am — happier and more fulfilled than ever.