Careers · Explore one path
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.
Other titles employers use
Arranger · Choir Director · Composer · Conductor · Music Composer · Music Director · Music Producer · Orchestra Director
Inside the work
What you would actually do.
6 responsibilities that define the role, before job titles and workplaces change the details.
- 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.
Who it suits
Would this work hold your attention?
This career often appeals to people drawn to creative, persuading and helping work.
- Creative
- Making, designing, writing, or performing without one set answer
- Persuading
- Leading, selling, starting projects, or making a case
Skills and strengths
What you would get good at.
Compare the skills the work relies on, the subjects behind it, and the abilities that make it easier to learn.
Core skills
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Reading Comprehension
- Critical Thinking
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Writing
Subjects to know
- Fine Arts
- English Language
- Education and Training
- Computers and Electronics
- Customer and Personal Service
Useful strengths
- Hearing Sensitivity
- Written Comprehension
- Fluency of Ideas
- Originality
- Information Ordering
Working day
Picture yourself doing it.
These measures show how much of the day involves people, movement, conversation, and hands-on work.
| Measure | Out of 5 | What that means here |
|---|---|---|
| Close to other people | 3.3 | Shared rooms, but not shoulder to shoulder |
| On your feet | 2.9 | Mostly seated |
| Talking face to face | 4.3 | A regular part of the day |
| Working with your hands | 3.3 | Some of the day |
Preparation
How people prepare for this work.
Employers usually ask for a bachelor's degree. Other routes may also lead into the field.
- A master's degree 30%
- A four-year degree 24%
- A doctorate or professional degree 23%
- High school or less 9%
- A two-year degree 8%
- A certificate or some college 6%
Tools of the work
Technology you may use.
- Presentation software
- Spreadsheet software
- Office suite software
- Electronic mail software
- Word processing software
- Music or sound editing software
- Video creation and editing software
- Desktop publishing software
Opportunity near you
See where this work is growing.
Choose a state to compare the size of the field, annual openings, and expected hiring change.
- People doing this work
- 6,410
- Job openings each year
- 640
- Expected hiring change, 2022–2032
- 7.0%
Compare every available state
| State | People doing it | Job openings each year | Expected change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | 6,410 | 640 | 7.0% |
| California | 4,200 | 430 | 10.5% |
| New York | 4,170 | 50 | 14.6% |
| Ohio | 2,340 | 230 | 4.9% |
| Texas | 2,130 | 220 | 10.4% |
| Illinois | 1,960 | 190 | — |
| Pennsylvania | 1,810 | 180 | 1.7% |
| Tennessee | 1,460 | 150 | 6.6% |
| Indiana | 1,310 | 130 | 2.3% |
| Connecticut | 1,060 | 110 | 10.4% |
| Oregon | 790 | 80 | 14.5% |
| Georgia | 700 | 70 | 2.9% |
| Minnesota | 660 | 70 | 1.5% |
| Washington | 530 | 60 | 15.2% |
| North Carolina | 510 | 50 | 10.9% |
| New Jersey | 470 | 50 | 2.2% |
| Michigan | 380 | 40 | −2.6% |
| Arizona | 370 | 40 | 12.1% |
| Virginia | 340 | 30 | 6.3% |
| Maryland | 310 | 30 | 6.9% |
| Rhode Island | 280 | 30 | 7.7% |
| Alabama | 250 | 30 | 4.2% |
| Wisconsin | 250 | 30 | 4.2% |
| Oklahoma | 180 | 20 | 5.9% |
| Idaho | 170 | 20 | 13.3% |
| New Hampshire | 150 | 10 | — |
| North Dakota | 150 | 10 | — |
| District of Columbia | 120 | 10 | 9.1% |
| Missouri | 120 | 10 | — |
| Montana | 120 | 10 | 9.1% |
| South Carolina | 110 | 10 | 10.0% |
| Iowa | 90 | 10 | — |
| Massachusetts | 90 | 10 | 12.5% |
| Kentucky | 80 | 10 | — |
| New Mexico | 80 | 10 | 60.0% |
| Mississippi | 70 | 10 | — |
| West Virginia | 60 | 10 | — |
| Puerto Rico | 50 | 0 | — |
| Nebraska | 30 | 0 | — |
Career to college
Build a path toward this work.
Start with a related major, then compare colleges where students complete that field.
Where to study
Colleges with strong activity in these fields.
Start with program size, admission, and likely cost. Open a college for the full picture.
Berklee College of Music
- Degrees each year
- 848
- Admit rate
- 50%
- Annual cost after aid
- $48,000
University of North Texas
- Degrees each year
- 282
- Admit rate
- 72%
- Annual cost after aid
- $14,000
Middle Tennessee State University
- Degrees each year
- 289
- Admit rate
- 68%
- Annual cost after aid
- $13,000
Belmont University
- Degrees each year
- 528
- Admit rate
- 96%
- Annual cost after aid
- $28,000
Indiana University-Bloomington
- Degrees each year
- 212
- Admit rate
- 80%
- Annual cost after aid
- $12,000
University of Rochester
- Degrees each year
- 140
- Admit rate
- 36%
- Annual cost after aid
- $21,000
New York University
- Degrees each year
- 508
- Admit rate
- 9%
- Annual cost after aid
- $17,000
Oberlin College
- Degrees each year
- 154
- Admit rate
- 33%
- Annual cost after aid
- $29,000