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Music Composer

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AVG. SALARY

$58,220

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EDUCATION

Bachelor's degree or higher +

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JOB OUTLOOK

Stable

What They Do

Music Directors and Composers Career Video

About This Career

Conducts, directs, plans, and leads instrumental or vocal performances by musical artists or groups, such as orchestras, bands, choirs, and glee clubs; or creates original works of music.

This career is part of the Arts, Audio-Video Technology and Communications cluster Performing Arts pathway.

A person in this career:

  • Uses gestures to shape the music being played, communicating desired tempo, phrasing, tone, color, pitch, volume, and other performance aspects.
  • Directs groups at rehearsals and live or recorded performances to achieve desired effects such as tonal and harmonic balance dynamics, rhythm, and tempo.
  • Studies scores to learn the music in detail, and to develop interpretations.
  • Applies elements of music theory to create musical and tonal structures, including harmonies and melodies.
  • Considers such factors as ensemble size and abilities, availability of scores, and the need for musical variety, to select music to be performed.
  • Determines voices, instruments, harmonic structures, rhythms, tempos, and tone balances required to achieve the effects desired in a musical composition.
  • Experiments with different sounds, and types and pieces of music, using synthesizers and computers as necessary to test and evaluate ideas.
  • Transcribes ideas for musical compositions into musical notation, using instruments, pen and paper, or computers.
  • Auditions and selects performers for musical presentations.
  • Plans and schedules rehearsals and performances, and arranges details such as locations, accompanists, and instrumentalists.

Working Conditions and Physical Demands

People who do this job report that:

  • You would sit most of the time. There's some walking and standing. You may have to lift and carry things like books, papers or tools weighing 10 lbs. or less.
  • Work in this occupation requires being inside most of the time

Working in this career involves (physical activities):

  • Picking out a particular sound in the presence of other sounds
  • Detecting sounds and hearing the differences between sounds of different pitch and loudness
  • Seeing clearly up close
  • Speaking clearly enough to be able to be understood by others
  • Identifying and understanding the speech of another person

Work Hours and Travel

  • Regular working hours and limited travel

Specialty and Similar Careers

Careers that are more detailed or close to this career:

  • Arranger
  • Producer — Plans and coordinates various aspects of radio, television, stage or motion picture production, such as selecting scripts, coordinating writing, directing and editing, and arranging financing.
  • Composer
  • Music Producer — Oversees the development of songs by drawing together instrumental and vocal elements.
  • Songwriter
  • Orchestra Director
  • Music Director
  • Conductor — Conductors direct bands and orchestras and choirs in performing instrumental and vocal compositions.
  • Choir Director

Contact

  • Email Support

  • 1-800-GO-TO-XAP (1-800-468-6927)
    From outside the U.S., please call +1 (424) 750-3900

Support


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