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Music Directors

Also called: Music Director, Conductor, Choir Director, Music Minister

What they do:
Direct and conduct instrumental or vocal performances by musical groups, such as orchestras or choirs.
On the job, you would:
  • 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 in order to achieve desired effects such as tonal and harmonic balance dynamics, rhythm, and tempo.
  • Plan and schedule rehearsals and performances, and arrange details such as locations, accompanists, and instrumentalists.

Knowledge

Arts and Humanities
  • music, dance, visual arts, drama, or sculpture
  • English language
Business
  • management
  • customer service
Education and Training
  • teaching and course design
Math and Science
  • psychology

Skills

Basic Skills
  • listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions
  • thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem
People and Technology Systems
  • thinking about the pros and cons of different options and picking the best one
  • measuring how well a system is working and how to improve it
Problem Solving
  • noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it

Abilities

Hearing and Speech
  • tell the difference between sounds
  • speak clearly
Ideas and Logic
  • come up with lots of ideas
  • create new and original ideas
Verbal
  • communicate by speaking
  • listen and understand what people say

Personality

People interested in this work like activities that include
creating, designing, and making your own rules.
They do well at jobs that need:
  • Leadership
  • Dependability
  • Integrity
  • Self Control
  • Concern for Others
  • Cooperation

Technology

Examples of the technology used in this career will be available soon.

Education

Education: (rated 4 of 5)
bachelor's degree or
master's degree
usually needed

Get started on your career:

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Job Outlook

Average Outlook
New job opportunities are likely in the future.
Salary
$47,410
per year, on average
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See more details at O*NET OnLine about music directors.