Music Directors and Composers

What Does a Music Directors and Composers Do?

Conduct, direct, plan, and lead instrumental or vocal performances by musical artists or groups, such as orchestras, bands, choirs, and glee clubs; or create original works of music.

Day-to-Day Responsibilities

• 1Use gestures to shape the music being played, communicating desired tempo, phrasing, tone, color, pitch, volume, and other performance aspects.
• 2Direct groups at rehearsals and live or recorded performances to achieve desired effects such as tonal and harmonic balance dynamics, rhythm, and tempo.
• 3Study scores to learn the music in detail, and to develop interpretations.
• 4Apply elements of music theory to create musical and tonal structures, including harmonies and melodies.
• 5Consider such factors as ensemble size and abilities, availability of scores, and the need for musical variety, to select music to be performed.
• 6Determine voices, instruments, harmonic structures, rhythms, tempos, and tone balances required to achieve the effects desired in a musical composition.
• 7Experiment with different sounds, and types and pieces of music, using synthesizers and computers as necessary to test and evaluate ideas.
• 8Transcribe ideas for musical compositions into musical notation, using instruments, pen and paper, or computers.

Required Skills

• Active Listening
• Speaking
• Reading Comprehension
• Critical Thinking
• Anvil Studio
• Apple Final Cut Pro
• Apple MainStage
• Arobas Music Guitar Pro
• Arpege Music Pizzicato
• Audacity
• Audio Chaos Soundscape Generator
• Audiveris
• Avid Pro Tools
• Avid Technology Sibelius

Music Directors and Composers Salary