What is a director of music and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

Directors of music lead and prepare music groups such as orchestras and choirs for performances. They consider the specifications and constraints of a platform and work with available resources to organize performances. They hold auditions for new musical talent and delegate parts to different musicians. Furthermore, they provide vocal and instrumental directions where necessary. Also, they select music and organize interviews, PR opportunities, and performances for radio and television. Asides from that, they coordinate and schedule all performances for their musical group. Additionally, they conduct live and recorded performances.

Applicants may be required to have at least a bachelor's degree in music. You must have an excellent understanding of music techniques, theory, and performance. Key skills include organization, leadership, interpersonal, time management, decision-making, multitasking, and communication skills. Directors of music earn an average salary of $55,653 per annum. This ranges from $35,000 to $90,000.

ScoreDirector Of MusicUS Average
Salary
3.8

Avg. Salary $48,096

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level
5.5

Growth Rate 5%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity
9.0
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.18%

Asian 5.27%

Black or African American 5.62%

Hispanic or Latino 9.49%

Unknown 4.75%

White 74.69%

Gender

female 35.73%

male 64.27%

Age - 41
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 41
Stress Level
5.5

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity Level
7.8

Complexity Level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance
10.0

Work Life balance is excellent

6.4 - fair

Director Of Music career paths

Key steps to become a director of music

  1. Explore director of music education requirements

    Most common director of music degrees

    Bachelor's

    68.6 %

    Master's

    14.8 %

    Associate

    7.5 %
  2. Start to develop specific director of music skills

    Skills
    ascdesc
    Percentages
    ascdesc
    Music Program18.51%
    Music Theory11.90%
    General Music5.98%
    Fine Arts5.71%
    Instrumental Ensembles4.62%
  3. Complete relevant director of music training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 1-2 years on post-employment, on-the-job training. New directors of music learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a director of music based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real director of music resumes.
  4. Research director of music duties and responsibilities

    • Manage entire music program, schedule ministers, concerts, and prayer services.
    • Achieve staff competence with 4 staff members, encouraging the growth and development of one staff member into a leadership position.
    • Direct 7th - 8th girls chorus.
    • Introduce and integrate Orff instruments to vocal songs.
  5. Get director of music experience

    Generally, it takes 4-6 years to become a director of music. The most common roles before becoming a director of music include music teacher, internship team lead and pianist.
  6. Prepare your director of music resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your director of music resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a director of music resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose From 10+ Customizable Director Of Music Resume templates

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  7. Apply for director of music jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a director of music job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How Did You Land Your First Director Of Music Job

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Average director of music salary

The average Director Of Music salary in the United States is $48,096 per year or $23 per hour. Director of music salaries range between $27,000 and $84,000 per year.

Average Director Of Music Salary
$48,096 Yearly
$23.12 hourly

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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