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Music Composers and Arrangers - 27-2041.04

O*NET-SOC Description

Write and transcribe musical scores.

Sample of Reported Job Titles

  • Music Composer
  • Music Arranger
  • Music Producer
  • Film Composer
  • Songwriter
  • Composer
  • Creative Director
  • Jingle Writer

SOC Occupation Groups

Related Occupations

Tasks

  • Accept commissions to create music for special occasions.
  • Apply elements of music theory to create musical and tonal structures, including harmonies and melodies.
  • Arrange music composed by others, changing the music to achieve desired effects.
  • Collaborate with other colleagues, such as copyists, to complete final scores.
  • Confer with producers and directors to define the nature and placement of film or television music.
  • Copy parts from scores for individual performers.
  • Create original musical forms, or write within circumscribed musical forms such as sonatas, symphonies, or operas.
  • 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.
  • Explore and develop musical ideas based on sources such as imagination or sounds in the environment.
  • Fill in details of orchestral sketches, such as adding vocal parts to scores.
  • Guide musicians during rehearsals, performances, or recording sessions.
  • Rewrite original musical scores in different musical styles by changing rhythms, harmonies, or tempos.
  • Score compositions so that they are consistent with instrumental and vocal capabilities such as ranges and keys, using knowledge of music theory.
  • Study films or scripts to determine how musical scores can be used to create desired effects or moods.
  • Study original pieces of music to become familiar with them prior to making any changes.
  • Transcribe ideas for musical compositions into musical notation, using instruments, pen and paper, or computers.
  • Transpose music from one voice or instrument to another to accommodate particular musicians.
  • Use computers and synthesizers to compose, orchestrate, and arrange music.
  • Write changes directly into compositions, or use computer software to make changes.
  • Write music for commercial mediums, including advertising jingles or film soundtracks.
  • Write musical scores for orchestras, bands, choral groups, or individual instrumentalists or vocalists, using knowledge of music theory and of instrumental and vocal capabilities.

Detailed Work Activities

  • compose musical scores
  • convey moods or emotions through music
  • create art from ideas
  • express creativity through music, dance, or acting
  • tell stories through musical, visual, or dramatic arts
  • transcribe musical ideas into notes on scored music paper
  • transpose music from one voice or instrument to another
  • understand printed text, musical notation, or customer instructions

Military Crosswalk Titles

  • Arranger (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Regional Band Apprentice, Music Arranger (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Regional Band Craftsman, Music Arranger (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Regional Band Helper, Music Arranger (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Regional Band Journeyman, Music Arranger (Air Force - Enlisted)

Apprenticeship Crosswalk Titles

No information available.

DOT Crosswalk Titles

  • Arranger
  • Composer
  • Copyist
  • Orchestrator