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Job Definition
Direct and conduct instrumental or vocal performances by musical groups, such as orchestras or choirs.
Job Zone

Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed

A bachelor's degree is the minimum formal education required for these occupations. However, many also require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).

Interests
Artistic - 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.
Social - Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.
Enterprising - 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.
Knowledge
Fine Arts - Knowledge of the theory and techniques required to compose, produce, and perform works of music, dance, visual arts, drama, and sculpture.
Administration and Management - 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.
Personnel and Human Resources - Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.
Skills
Coordination - Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Instructing - Teaching others how to do something.
Management of Personnel Resources - Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, identifying the best people for the job.
Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Active Listening - 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.
Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Learning Strategies - Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
Time Management - Managing one's own time and the time of others.
Active Learning - Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Tasks
Audition and select performers for musical presentations.
Conduct guest soloists in addition to ensemble members.
Consider such factors as ensemble size and abilities, availability of scores, and the need for musical variety, in order to select music to be performed.
Direct groups at rehearsals and live or recorded performances in order to achieve desired effects such as tonal and harmonic balance dynamics, rhythm, and tempo.
Meet with soloists and concertmasters to discuss and prepare for performances.
Plan and schedule rehearsals and performances, and arrange details such as locations, accompanists, and instrumentalists.
Position members within groups to obtain balance among instrumental or vocal sections.
Study scores to learn the music in detail, and to develop interpretations.
Use gestures to shape the music being played, communicating desired tempo, phrasing, tone, color, pitch, volume, and other performance aspects.
Assign and review staff work in such areas as scoring, arranging, and copying music, and vocal coaching.
Collaborate with music librarians to ensure availability of scores.
Engage services of composers to write scores.
Meet with composers to discuss interpretations of their work.
Perform administrative tasks such as applying for grants, developing budgets, negotiating contracts, and designing and printing programs and other promotional materials.
Transcribe musical compositions and melodic lines to adapt them to a particular group, or to create a particular musical style.
Wages

Data not available

Outlook

During 2006, there were approximately 6,500 people employed in this field in California. It is projected that there will be 7,400 employed in 2016. This occupation will have about 90 openings due to growth and about 130 replacement openings for approximately 220 total annual openings. This occupation .

Colleges and Training
Below are college programs that are generally associated with this occupation. To view colleges that offer these programs, click on the titles below.
Conducting - A program that prepares individuals to master the art of leading bands, choirs, orchestras and other ensembles in performance, and related music leadership. Includes instruction in score analysis and arranging, rehearsal and performance leadership, music coaching, arrangement and performance planning, ensemble operations management, and applications to specific school or professional ensembles.
Similar Occupations
Art Directors - Formulate design concepts and presentation approaches, and direct workers engaged in art work, layout design, and copy writing for visual communications media, such as magazines, books, newspapers, and packaging.
Actors - Play parts in stage, television, radio, video, or motion picture productions for entertainment, information, or instruction. Interpret serious or comic role by speech, gesture, and body movement to entertain or inform audience. May dance and sing.
Talent Directors - Audition and interview performers to select most appropriate talent for parts in stage, television, radio, or motion picture productions.
Music Composers and Arrangers - Write and transcribe musical scores.
Singers - Sing songs on stage, radio, television, or motion pictures.
Musicians, Instrumental - Play one or more musical instruments in recital, in accompaniment, or as members of an orchestra, band, or other musical group.
Poets, Lyricists and Creative Writers - Create original written works, such as scripts, essays, prose, poetry or song lyrics, for publication or performance.
Costume Attendants - Select, fit, and take care of costumes for cast members, and aid entertainers.
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