Music Directors and Composers
Music Directors and Composers
Career outlook for
Music Directors and Composers
What's it like?
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.
Working conditions
Tasks
- Use gestures to shape the music being played, communicating desired tempo, phrasing, tone, color, pitch, volume, and other performance aspects.
- Direct groups at rehearsals and live or recorded performances to achieve desired effects such as tonal and harmonic balance dynamics, rhythm, and tempo.
- Study scores to learn the music in detail, and to develop interpretations.
- Apply elements of music theory to create musical and tonal structures, including harmonies and melodies.
- Consider such factors as ensemble size and abilities, availability of scores, and the need for musical variety, to select music to be performed.
Top Skills
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Speaking
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Coordination
- Time Management
- Reading
- Comprehension
- Writing
- Monitoring
- Social Perceptiveness
- Instructing Complex
- Problem Solving
- Active Learning
- Service Orientation
- Systems Evaluation
- Learning Strategies
- Management of Personnel Resources
- Persuasion
- Negotiation
- Systems Analysis