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>Performing Arts
>Music Directors and Composers
A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
Many of these occupations involve coordinating, supervising, managing, or training others. Examples include real estate brokers, sales managers, database administrators, graphic designers, chemists, art directors, and cost estimators.
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.
Salary at 10th Percentile: $23K
Salary at 25th Percentile: $33K
Median Salary: $52K
Salary at 75th Percentile: $76K
Salary at 90th Percentile: $124K
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.
Perform administrative tasks such as applying for grants, developing budgets, negotiating contracts, and designing and printing programs and other promotional materials.
Position members within groups to obtain balance among instrumental or vocal sections.
Confer with producers and directors to define the nature and placement of film or television music.
Fill in details of orchestral sketches, such as adding vocal parts to scores.
Meet with soloists and concertmasters to discuss and prepare for performances.
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.
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.
Coordinate and organize tours, or hire touring companies to arrange concert dates, venues, accommodations, and transportation for longer tours.
Study films or scripts to determine how musical scores can be used to create desired effects or moods.
Transcribe musical compositions and melodic lines to adapt them to a particular group, or to create a particular musical style.
Create original musical forms, or write within circumscribed musical forms such as sonatas, symphonies, or operas.
Collaborate with other colleagues, such as copyists, to complete final scores.
Copy parts from scores for individual performers.
Knowledge of the theory and techniques required to compose, produce, and perform works of music, dance, visual arts, drama, and sculpture.
Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
Knowledge of different philosophical systems and religions. This includes their basic principles, values, ethics, ways of thinking, customs, practices, and their impact on human culture.
Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Managing one's own time and the time of others.
Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Teaching others how to do something.
The ability to detect or tell the differences between sounds that vary in pitch and loudness.
The ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem.
The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
The ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).
The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
The ability to focus on a single source of sound in the presence of other distracting sounds.
The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
Coordinate musical rehearsals or performances.
Study details of musical compositions.
Create musical compositions, arrangements or scores.
Determine presentation subjects or content.
Audition or interview potential performers or staff members.
Select staff, team members, or performers.
Design layout of art or product exhibits, displays, or promotional materials.
Negotiate for services.
Direct fundraising or financing activities.
Collaborate with others to determine technical details of productions.
Collaborate with others to prepare or perform artistic productions.
Coordinate artistic activities.
Study scripts to determine project requirements.
Coordinate logistics for productions or events.
Operate audio recording equipment.
Stay informed about current developments in field of specialization.
Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.
Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.
Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.
Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
Job requires being honest and ethical.
Job requires creativity and alternative thinking to develop new ideas for and answers to work-related problems.
Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.
Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.
Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.
Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high stress situations.
Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.
Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.
Occupations that satisfy this work value offer advancement, potential for leadership, and are often considered prestigious. Corresponding needs are Advancement, Authority, Recognition and Social Status.
Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.
Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.
Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.