Music Directors and Composers

Music Directors and Composers typically perform the following tasks: • 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. • Write musical scores for orchestras, bands, choral groups, or individual instrumentalists or vocalists, using knowledge of music theory and of instrumental and vocal capabilities. • Position members within groups to obtain balance among instrumental or vocal sections. • Perform administrative tasks such as applying for grants, developing budgets, negotiating contracts, and designing and printing programs and other promotional materials. • Confer with producers and directors to define the nature and placement of film or television music. • Meet with soloists and concertmasters to discuss and prepare for performances. • Fill in details of orchestral sketches, such as adding vocal parts to scores. • Explore and develop musical ideas based on sources such as imagination or sounds in the environment. • Write music for commercial mediums, including advertising jingles or film soundtracks. • Transpose music from one voice or instrument to another to accommodate particular musicians. • Rewrite original musical scores in different musical styles by changing rhythms, harmonies, or tempos.