Music director
Also known as: music conductor, band director, orchestra conductor, music leader, musical director, conductor
About this occupation
Music directors lead musical groups such as orchestras and bands during live performances or recording sessions. They organise the music and composition, coordinate the playing musicians and record the performance. Music directors are professionals working in diverse places such as the film industry, music videos, radio stations, musical ensembles or schools.
Essential skills and knowledge
- rewrite musical scores
- transcribe ideas into musical notation
- organise musical events
- supervise music groups
- musical genres
- coordinate music with scenes
- musical instruments
- orchestrate music
- manage musical staff
- supervise musicians
- develop musical ideas
- attend music recording sessions
Typical tasks and preparation
From the related US occupation profile Music Directors and Composers (O*NET 27-2041.00). Linked by an official crosswalk: related, not identical; details vary by country.
- 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.
- Typical education (US)
- Master's Degree
- Preparation
- Job Zone 4 of 5
- Interests
- Artistic, Enterprising, Social
Top skills: Active Listening, Speaking, Reading Comprehension, Critical Thinking, Judgment and Decision Making, Writing
US median pay: US$73,710 a year (2025), 12,540 employed. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Subjects this work relies on
How important each subject's knowledge is in the job itself, rated by people doing it (1 to 5).
- Fine Art or Music or Drama and TheatreO*NET: Fine ArtsExtremely important (4.7)
- English or Literature in EnglishO*NET: English LanguageVery important (3.8)
- Computer StudiesO*NET: Computers and ElectronicsImportant (3.4)
- Divinity or PhilosophyO*NET: Philosophy and TheologyImportant (3.1)
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Preparation needed
Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
- Most common education (US)
- Master's Degree
- Education
- Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
- Experience
- 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.
- Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Related occupations
Occupations O*NET links to this one by similar work, skills and knowledge.
- Musicians and Singers
- Choreographers
- Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary
- Producers and Directors
- Talent Directors
- Music Therapists
- Poets, Lyricists and Creative Writers
- Art Directors
- Media Programming Directors
- Film and Video Editors
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.