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Directors and Composers Job Overview

Directors and composers create and arrange music for movies, concerts and television shows. Directors sketch, pilot and direct vocal or even instrumental performances by choirs, orchestras or musical groups, while composers make original scores.

Directors and Composers Schools and Degrees

Formal training under the guidance of a proficient musician at a university or college is usually required to enter this profession. The National Association of Schools of Music approves more than 600 programs at the college level. These courses are comprised of a curriculum on music interpretation, music theory and instrumental or vocal performance.

Job Requirements

Directors and composers need to have knowledge about the different styles of music and also about the style that interests them personally. Continuous training is absolutely essential as it not only helps maintain the skills they have learned, but also helps them develop new techniques and better their performance.

Directors and composers need managers and agents to help them find work. They also help directors and composers settle contracts and sketch out their careers.

Those wishing to pursue a career as a director or composer need to have an inherent love of music. Versatility, originality, self-assurance and stage presence are all absolute essentials. Self-discipline is also very valuable. Perseverance is a very important quality of directors and composers.

Nature of Work

Directors direct and guide vocal and instrumental performances. They audition and select musicians; and also decide the kind of music is apt for the kind of talent they possess. They maneuver them to achieve rhythm, tempo, harmony and the most wanted effects of music at rehearsals and performances. Composers make music such as symphonies, film scores, advertisement jingles, operas, and popular songs. Composers often pen their music compositions on paper while some even use computer software to make and to edit their scores.

Directors and composers mostly perform during the evenings and on weekends. They spend a lot of their time rehearsing and perfecting their performances. Depending on the assignment, many may be required to travel. Those under a long term contract work at a steady pace and don’t travel as much. Those who do not have regular contracts often look for other sources of employment to sustain themselves.

Directors and Composers Jobs and Outlook

According to research in 2006, directors and composers held about 68,000 jobs in the US. Employment is the highest in the following industries :

• Elementary and Secondary schools
• Independent Artists, Writers and Performers
• Motion Picture and Video Industries
• Performing Arts Companies
• Religious Organizations

The average annual salary of directors and composers was around $39,000 in 2006.

Job Numbers and Growth

There are an estimated 68,000 directors and composers nationally. Most recently, workers have experienced a high level of joblessness. An estimated 5% of employees did not have employment in 2008.

Area Job Conditions

Directors and composers -of-a-feather seem to flock to Corvallis (Oregon), Salem (Oregon), and Medford (Oregon). They are less likely to be found around Washington (District of Columbia), Orlando (Florida), and Houston (Texas).

Compensation of workers is best in Cincinnati (Ohio), San Diego (California), and Houston (Texas), and much worse in Scranton (Pennsylvania), Syracuse (New York), and Rochester (New York).

Training and Education

Employees often find employers are looking for a bachelor's or higher degree, plus work experience. Directors and composers, in 53% of cases, have bachelor's degree or higher. After high school, 28% of workers pursued some additional career education. Employees, in 19% of cases, had only a high school education. Recommended schools are shown in the column to the right; request information from them to help you decide which if any could help you with this career.

Part-Time Work and Self-Employment

Directors and composers employed part-time are 37% of the total. Workers, in about 45% of cases, work for themselves.

Directors And Composers by Metropolitan Area (city and its surroundings)

In the table below, a Job Density near 0% means the area has an average number of people in this occupation, for its population. A higher or lower Job Density (e.g., +22% or -45%) tells you there are that many more or fewer workers of that type there than in the average US metro area. So, the higher the number, the more common the occupation.

California

District of Columbia

Florida

Hawaii

Illinois

Maryland

Massachusetts

Minnesota

New Jersey

New York

Ohio

Oregon

Pennsylvania

Rhode Island

Texas

Virginia

Washington

Wisconsin