Occupations/27-2041.00
Music Directors and Composers
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.
Usually a four-year bachelor’s degree.
AI automation risk
42%
Mixed exposure
Human characteristics
63%
Strong human-characteristic mix
Task orientation
54%
Mixed exposure
A day in this job
- Task
Use gestures to shape the music being played, communicating desired tempo, phrasing, tone, color, pitch, volume, and other performance aspects.
- Task
Direct groups at rehearsals and live or recorded performances to achieve desired effects such as tonal and harmonic balance dynamics, rhythm, and tempo.
- Task
Study scores to learn the music in detail, and to develop interpretations.
These are core tasks from O*NET. The wording didn’t clearly split routine from human, so they are listed without that label.
Core tasks
- 01Use gestures to shape the music being played, communicating desired tempo, phrasing, tone, color, pitch, volume, and other performance aspects.
- 02Direct groups at rehearsals and live or recorded performances to achieve desired effects such as tonal and harmonic balance dynamics, rhythm, and tempo.
- 03Study scores to learn the music in detail, and to develop interpretations.
- 04Apply elements of music theory to create musical and tonal structures, including harmonies and melodies.
- 05Consider such factors as ensemble size and abilities, availability of scores, and the need for musical variety, to select music to be performed.
- 06Determine voices, instruments, harmonic structures, rhythms, tempos, and tone balances required to achieve the effects desired in a musical composition.
Model drivers (O*NET 1–5)
- Repeating same tasks3.35
- Degree of automation1.35
- Time sitting3.44
- Originality (ability)3.75
- Conflict situations2.70
- Hands-on objects/tools3.30
- Outdoors / weather1.50
- Disease exposure1.63
- Decision freedom4.70
Top abilities
- Hearing Sensitivity4.25
- Written Comprehension3.75
- Originality3.75
- Information Ordering3.75
- Fluency of Ideas3.75
- Oral Expression3.62
- Oral Comprehension3.62
- Auditory Attention3.62
Essential skills
- Reading Comprehension3.50
- Active Listening3.88
- Writing3.38
- Speaking3.62
- Mathematics2.12
- Science1.25
- Critical Thinking3.50
- Active Learning3.38
- Learning Strategies2.75
- Monitoring3.25
CIP matches
Schools offering related programs
12 of 80 shown
Earnings are College Scorecard medians for that program, 1 and 2 years after completion. A dash means the Department suppressed the cell or the campus is not in the field file.
| Institution | Program | Tuition | Admit | Grad 6-yr | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
The University of Texas at Austin Austin, TX · Public | Musical Theatre 50.0509 | $11,700 | 31% | 88% | 1 yr $41,565 2 yr $45,128 Bachelor's · CIP 50.05 |
Georgia State University Atlanta, GA · Public | Music Performance, General 50.0903 | $9,200 | 67% | 56% | 1 yr — 2 yr $39,729 Bachelor's · CIP 50.09 |
Columbia University in the City of New York New York, NY · Private nonprofit | Musical Theatre 50.0509 | $68,200 | 4% | 96% | 1 yr $38,289 2 yr $33,565 Master's · CIP 50.05 |
Oregon State University Corvallis, OR · Public | Music Performance, General 50.0903 | $13,200 | 83% | 68% | 1 yr $33,993 2 yr $15,552 Bachelor's · CIP 50.09 |
University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison, WI · Public | Musical Theatre 50.0509 | $11,200 | 49% | 89% | 1 yr $31,941 2 yr $29,685 Bachelor's · CIP 50.05 |
Texas A & M University-College Station College Station, TX · Public | Musical Theatre 50.0509 | $13,200 | 63% | 83% | 1 yr $31,839 2 yr $28,960 Bachelor's · CIP 50.05 |
Lincoln College of Technology-Indianapolis Indianapolis, IN · Private for-profit | Musical Theatre 50.0509 | $18,600 | 100% | 64% | 1 yr $31,314 2 yr $24,532 Bachelor's · CIP 50.05 |
Howard University Washington, DC · Private nonprofit | Musical Theatre 50.0509 | $33,200 | 53% | 65% | 1 yr — 2 yr $31,305 Bachelor's · CIP 50.05 |
Northeastern University Boston, MA · Private nonprofit | Musical Theatre 50.0509 | $63,200 | 7% | 91% | 1 yr $30,771 2 yr $24,035 Bachelor's · CIP 50.05 |
University of Washington-Seattle Campus Seattle, WA · Public | Musical Theatre 50.0509 | $12,600 | 48% | 84% | 1 yr $29,685 2 yr $31,305 Bachelor's · CIP 50.05 |
Metropolitan State University St. Paul, MN · Public | Musical Theatre 50.0509 | $9,600 | 82% | 48% | 1 yr $28,960 2 yr $29,685 Bachelor's · CIP 50.05 |
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, NC · Public | Musical Theatre 50.0509 | $9,000 | 17% | 91% | 1 yr $28,816 2 yr $28,960 Bachelor's · CIP 50.05 |