Skills
Music Director Skills & Tools
The technical skills, people skills and tools employers look for in music directors, and how to build and show them.
What skills do music directors need?
Music Directors need technical skills such as conducting, music theory, and score study, plus people skills like leadership and listening. They also use tools such as Scores and Notation software.
Technical (hard) skills
- Conducting
- Music theory
- Score study
- Arranging
- Composition
- Rehearsal technique
People (soft) skills
- Leadership
- Listening
- Communication
- Creativity
Tools, equipment and technology
- Scores
- Notation software
- Digital audio workstations
- Pianos
- Batons
- Recording gear
Skills in action: common tasks
These step-by-step guides show how music directors put their skills to work:
- How to run an efficient ensemble rehearsal
- How to arrange a song for your ensemble
- How to compose a short cue for media
How to show these skills on a resume
- Lead your skills section with the technical skills from the job posting, for example, “Conducting” and “Music theory.”
- Prove soft skills with results: instead of listing “leadership,” describe a situation where you used it.
- List credentials such as Music degree near the top, with the issuing organization and date.
- Use the employer’s vocabulary. Our music director glossary covers the terms hiring managers expect.
How to build these skills
Formal training, supervised practice and certification are the most direct routes. Our Music Director training introduces each of these skills with plain-language lessons, procedures and a final knowledge check: a strong foundation before hands-on training or your first day.