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Music Directors and Composers - 27-2041.00

O*NET-SOC Description

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.

Sample of Reported Job Titles

  • Arranger
  • Choir Director
  • Composer
  • Conductor
  • Music Composer
  • Music Director
  • Music Producer
  • Orchestra Director
  • Songwriter

SOC Occupation Groups

Related Occupations

Tasks

  • 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.
  • Assign and review staff work in such areas as scoring, arranging, and copying music, and vocal coaching.
  • Audition and select performers for musical presentations.
  • 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.
  • Consider such factors as ensemble size and abilities, availability of scores, and the need for musical variety, to select music to be performed.
  • Coordinate and organize tours, or hire touring companies to arrange concert dates, venues, accommodations, and transportation for longer tours.
  • 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.
  • Direct groups at rehearsals and live or recorded performances to achieve desired effects such as tonal and harmonic balance dynamics, rhythm, and tempo.
  • 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.
  • Meet with soloists and concertmasters to discuss and prepare for performances.
  • Perform administrative tasks such as applying for grants, developing budgets, negotiating contracts, and designing and printing programs and other promotional materials.
  • Plan and schedule rehearsals and performances, and arrange details such as locations, accompanists, and instrumentalists.
  • Position members within groups to obtain balance among instrumental or vocal sections.
  • Produce recordings of music.
  • Rewrite original musical scores in different musical styles by changing rhythms, harmonies, or tempos.
  • Stay abreast of the latest trends in music and music technology.
  • Study films or scripts to determine how musical scores can be used to create desired effects or moods.
  • Study scores to learn the music in detail, and to develop interpretations.
  • Transcribe ideas for musical compositions into musical notation, using instruments, pen and paper, or computers.
  • Transcribe musical compositions and melodic lines to adapt them to a particular group, or to create a particular musical style.
  • Transpose music from one voice or instrument to another to accommodate particular musicians.
  • Use gestures to shape the music being played, communicating desired tempo, phrasing, tone, color, pitch, volume, and other performance aspects.
  • 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

  • Audition or interview potential performers or staff members.
  • Collaborate with others to determine technical details of productions.
  • Collaborate with others to prepare or perform artistic productions.
  • Coordinate artistic activities.
  • Coordinate logistics for productions or events.
  • Coordinate musical rehearsals or performances.
  • Create musical compositions, arrangements or scores.
  • Design layout of art or product exhibits, displays, or promotional materials.
  • Determine presentation subjects or content.
  • Direct fundraising or financing activities.
  • Negotiate for services.
  • Operate audio recording equipment.
  • Select staff, team members, or performers.
  • Stay informed about current developments in field of specialization.
  • Study details of musical compositions.
  • Study scripts to determine project requirements.

Military Crosswalk Titles

  • Army Music (Army - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Arranger (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Band (Air Force - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Band (Space Force - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Band Master (Marine Corps - Enlisted)
  • Band Officer (Marine Corps - Commissioned or Warrant Officer)
  • Bandmaster (Army - Warrant Officer only)
  • Bandmaster (Coast Guard - Warrant Officer only)
  • Bandmaster (Marine Corps - Enlisted)
  • Bands Senior Sergeant (Army - Enlisted)
  • Basic Music Officer (Marine Corps - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Basic Music Officer (Marine Corps - Warrant Officer only)
  • Ceremonial Conductor-Drum Major (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Conversion NEC MU Musician Basic (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Director/Assistant Director "The President's Own" U.S.M.C. Band (Marine Corps - Commissioned or Warrant Officer)
  • Director/Assistant Director, The President's Own, U.S. Marine Band (Marine Corps - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Director/Assistant Director, The President's Own, U.S. Marine Band (Marine Corps - Warrant Officer only)
  • Enlisted Band Leader (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Enlisted Bandleader (Marine Corps - Enlisted)
  • Ensemble Leader (Marine Corps - Enlisted)
  • LDO - Bandmaster (Navy - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Member, "The Commandant's Own," U.S. Marine Drum and Bugle Corps (Marine Corps - Enlisted)
  • Music Director (Navy - Commissioned or Warrant Officer)
  • Musician (Army - Enlisted)
  • Musician (Coast Guard - Enlisted)
  • Musician (Marine Corps - Enlisted)
  • Musician (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Premier Band - The USAF Academy Band (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Premier Band - The USAF Academy Band (Space Force - Enlisted)
  • Premier Band - The USAF Academy Band Craftsman (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Premier Band - The USAF Academy Band Journeyman (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Premier Band - The USAF Academy Band Manager (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Premier Band - The USAF Academy Band Manager (Space Force - Enlisted)
  • Premier Band - The USAF Academy Band Superintendent (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Premier Band - The USAF Academy Band Superintendent (Space Force - Enlisted)
  • Premier Band - The USAF Band (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Premier Band - The USAF Band (Space Force - Enlisted)
  • Premier Band - The USAF Band Craftsman (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Premier Band - The USAF Band Journeyman (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Premier Band - The USAF Band Manager (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Premier Band - The USAF Band Manager (Space Force - Enlisted)
  • Premier Band - The USAF Band Superintendent (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Premier Band - The USAF Band Superintendent (Space Force - Enlisted)
  • Production Manager (Marine Corps - Enlisted)
  • Regional Band (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Regional Band (Space Force - Enlisted)
  • Regional Band Apprentice (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Regional Band Apprentice, Arranger (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Regional Band Apprentice, Arranger (Space Force - Enlisted)
  • Regional Band Apprentice, Audio Engineer (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Regional Band Apprentice, Bassoon (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Regional Band Apprentice, Clarinet (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Regional Band Apprentice, Euphonium (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Regional Band Apprentice, Flute (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Regional Band Apprentice, Guitar (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Regional Band Apprentice, Horn (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Regional Band Apprentice, Instrumentalist, General (Air National Guard Bands) (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Regional Band Apprentice, Oboe (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Regional Band Apprentice, Percussion (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Regional Band Apprentice, Piano (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Regional Band Apprentice, Saxophone (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Regional Band Apprentice, String/Electric Bass (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Regional Band Apprentice, Trombone (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Regional Band Apprentice, Trumpet (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Regional Band Apprentice, Tuba (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Regional Band Apprentice, Vocalist (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Regional Band Craftsman (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Regional Band Craftsman (Space Force - Enlisted)
  • Regional Band Craftsman, Arranger (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Regional Band Craftsman, Arranger (Space Force - Enlisted)
  • Regional Band Craftsman, Audio Engineer (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Regional Band Craftsman, Bassoon (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Regional Band Craftsman, Clarinet (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Regional Band Craftsman, Drum Set (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Regional Band Craftsman, Euphonium (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Regional Band Craftsman, Flute (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Regional Band Craftsman, Guitar (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Regional Band Craftsman, Horn (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Regional Band Craftsman, Instrumentalist, General (Air National Guard Bands) (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Regional Band Craftsman, Oboe (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Regional Band Craftsman, Percussion (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Regional Band Craftsman, Piano (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Regional Band Craftsman, Saxophone (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Regional Band Craftsman, String/Electric Bass (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Regional Band Craftsman, Trombone (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Regional Band Craftsman, Trumpet (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Regional Band Craftsman, Tuba (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Regional Band Craftsman, Vocalist (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Regional Band Helper (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Regional Band Helper (Space Force - Enlisted)
  • Regional Band Helper, Arranger (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Regional Band Helper, Arranger (Space Force - Enlisted)
  • Regional Band Helper, Audio Engineer (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Regional Band Helper, Bassoon (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Regional Band Helper, Clarinet (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Regional Band Helper, Euphonium (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Regional Band Helper, Flute (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Regional Band Helper, Guitar (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Regional Band Helper, Horn (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Regional Band Helper, Instrumentalist, General (Air National Guard Bands) (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Regional Band Helper, Jazz Trumpet (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Regional Band Helper, Oboe (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Regional Band Helper, Percussion (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Regional Band Helper, Piano (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Regional Band Helper, Saxophone (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Regional Band Helper, String/Electric Bass (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Regional Band Helper, Trombone (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Regional Band Helper, Trumpet (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Regional Band Helper, Tuba (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Regional Band Helper, Vocalist (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Regional Band Journeyman (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Regional Band Journeyman, Arranger (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Regional Band Journeyman, Arranger (Space Force - Enlisted)
  • Regional Band Journeyman, Audio Engineer (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Regional Band Journeyman, Bassoon (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Regional Band Journeyman, Clarinet (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Regional Band Journeyman, Euphonium (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Regional Band Journeyman, Flute (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Regional Band Journeyman, Guitar (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Regional Band Journeyman, Horn (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Regional Band Journeyman, Instrumentalist, General (Air National Guard Bands) (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Regional Band Journeyman, Oboe (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Regional Band Journeyman, Percussion (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Regional Band Journeyman, Piano (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Regional Band Journeyman, Saxophone (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Regional Band Journeyman, String/Electric Bass (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Regional Band Journeyman, Trombone (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Regional Band Journeyman, Trumpet (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Regional Band Journeyman, Tuba (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Regional Band Journeyman, Vocalist (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Regional Band Manager (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Regional Band Manager (Space Force - Enlisted)
  • Regional Band Superintendent (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Regional Band Superintendent (Space Force - Enlisted)
  • Special Band Musician (Army - Enlisted)
  • Staff Officer, "The President's Own," U.S.M.C. Band (Marine Corps - Commissioned or Warrant Officer)
  • Staff Officer, The President's Own, U.S. Marine Band (Marine Corps - Commissioned or Warrant Officer)
  • U.S. Marine Drum and Bugle Corps Officer (Marine Corps - Commissioned or Warrant Officer)
  • Unit Leader (Navy - Enlisted)

Apprenticeship Crosswalk Titles

No information available.

DOT Crosswalk Titles

  • Arranger
  • Choral Director
  • Composer
  • Conductor, Orchestra
  • Copyist
  • Director, Music
  • Orchestrator