A Music Conductor, sometimes called a Conductor, leads a group of musicians who perform together. Duties often listed in a Music Conductor job description include making decisions about the tempo and volume of music, performing gestures that direct and cue musicians during performances and running rehearsals.
A Music Conductor should be able to fulfill various duties and responsibilities. The following are some duties and responsibilities a Music Conductor should be able to execute:
- Analyzing and interpreting sheet music and making decisions about tempo, volume, phrasing and other elements of a performance
- Preparing scores to give each musician their assigned parts of a composition
- Auditioning musicians and helping assign chairs and solos
- Organizing and running rehearsals
- Motivating, coaching and critiquing musicians to help them refine their skills
- Using a baton and hand movements to keep tempo and cue musicians
A competitive Music Conductor will have certain skills and qualifications, including:
- In-depth knowledge of music theory, music translation, music history, music analysis, musical arranging and orchestration
- Ear training ability to be able to identify notes played and identify errors
- Interpersonal skills to provide constructive feedback and promote a positive working environment
- Leadership skills to direct the activities of musicians and maintain a cohesive team
- Decision-making skills to determine how to interpret music and assign chairs and solos
- Verbal and written communication skills to interact effectively with musicians, donors, audience members and other individuals
