Music Directors and Composers

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.

Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.

Artistic

Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.

Enterprising

Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.

Social

Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.

Realistic

Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.

Conventional

Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.

Investigative

Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed

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.

Determine voices, instruments, harmonic structures, rhythms, tempos, and tone balances required to achieve the effects desired in a musical composition.

Experiment with different sounds, and types and pieces of music, using synthesizers and computers as necessary to test and evaluate ideas.

Transcribe ideas for musical compositions into musical notation, using instruments, pen and paper, or computers.

Audition and select performers for musical presentations.

Plan and schedule rehearsals and performances, and arrange details such as locations, accompanists, and instrumentalists.

MediaShout

Microsoft PowerPoint

Audacity

Avid Pro Tools

XT Software energyXT

ZynAddSubFX

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Outlook

Microsoft Publisher

Apple Final Cut Pro

Microsoft Office software

Microsoft Word

Music Director Pro

Expression pedals

Foot switches

Sustain pedals

Electronic organs

Pipe organs

Acoustic guitars

Bass guitars

Audio interfaces

Musical instrument digital interface MIDI sequencers

Keyboard synthesizers

Synthesizer keyboards

Flash drives

Condenser microphones

Grand pianos

Copy machines

Handbells

Music Directors & Composers

Middle School Band Director

Along the way, I had been told that it is difficult to find jobs in music that pay well enough to pay the bills.

Christina Smith

Middle School Band Director

Education

Career

Career Roadmap

My work combines:

My work combines:

Music

Education

Helping People

Recommended Education

Hurdles

The Noise I Shed

From Family:

Christina Smith

Middle School Band Director

Education

Career

Career Roadmap

My work combines:

My work combines:

Music

Education

Helping People

Recommended Education

My career is related to what I studied. I'd recommend the path I took:

Hurdles

The Noise I Shed

From Family:

Related Leaders