If you dream of leading a band, orchestra, opera, or any other musical group by establishing the tempo, giving visual cues, and supporting the group’s overall performance, then being a music conductor could be the right career for you.
In addition to providing visual gestures to facilitate musical performances, some conductors double as music directors for the groups they conduct.
In these cases, the conductor is also responsible for selecting performance pieces for the ensemble.
In cases where the roles of conductor and music director are filled by two separate people, conductors are expected to work in close collaboration with the director to plan and discuss performances.
Conductors often also work closely with stage managers, musicians, church organists, and any others involved in music affairs at their place of employment.
Being a conductor requires dedicating a lot of time to studying musical scores in order to get a sense of how the music should be conducted prior to rehearsal time.
Interpreting musical scores in order to form a strategy for effectively leading a group of musicians through a song is one of the most crucial parts of being a conductor.
There are as many different types of music conductors as there are types of music, so there are tons of different options out there for aspiring conductors.
Orchestral conducting, choral conducting, and wind band conducting are just a few of the plethora of career paths conductors can take.
Other types of conductors include university ensemble conductors, conductors-in-residence, and guest conductors, all of whom may work in a variety of different settings.
For those who are interested in learning more about what becoming a music conductor entails, from the average annual salary conductors earn to the different jobs conductors can get and more, we have compiled some of the most essential information to know about conducting.
Salary – How Much Do Conductors Make?
There are many different jobs for music conductors, and as a result, conductors can earn a wide range of salaries depending on who employs them.
According to some sources, the average yearly pay for conductors is just under $50,000, but conductors can earn anywhere from $25,000 to $150,000 — a range that starts at only half of the median pay and goes all the way up to three times it.
The average annual salary for orchestra conductors in the United States is $47,384, which equates to an hourly rate of around $23, according to ZipRecruiter.
In reality, however, orchestra conductors can earn much more working for a large, accomplished professional symphony, and much less working for certain other employers.
Most orchestra conductors make somewhere between $33,000 and $53,500 — the 25th and 75th percentile markers, respectively — annually.
Only the 90th percentile of orchestra conductors earn $76,500 or more in a year.
According to Glassdoor, conductors who teach — like at a public high school, for example — earn an estimated annual salary of $63,063, which breaks down into a base salary of $43,220 and an estimated additional pay of $19,843.
Some conductors are college professors. Conductors who have professorships at a university music department can make anywhere from $77,527 to $148,975 each year, with an average base salary of $95,533 a year.
Additionally, it is common for conductors to work on a project-to-project basis as independent contractors.
Freelance conductors can either work independently and determine their own rates or work under a manager who determines pay and connects them with clients.
Some conductors offer private lessons for students of all ages, while others may offer conducting services to groups seeking to fill a temporary conducting position.
Because part-time, freelance work of this nature does not usually provide a stable, set stream of income, freelance conductors generally earn far less in a year than employed orchestra conductors, for example.
What Kind of Jobs Can Someone With a Conducting Degree Get?
Earning a conducting degree opens many doors to careers in the field of music, so there are many jobs out there from which someone with a conducting degree can choose. The three most common types of conducting jobs are lead conducting, assistant conducting, and professorships.
Lead conductors are the primary, and sometimes the sole, person in charge of leading a given group during the performance.
Key job responsibilities for lead conductors include guiding ensembles through rehearsals and performances using visual gestures and studying musical scores to formulate a plan for conducting different pieces.
Assistant conductors are generally responsible for the same tasks, but they are meant to support lead directors rather than direct matters themselves.
Conducting jobs arise wherever there is a musical group. Some examples of ensembles that need a conductor include symphony orchestras, college marching bands, opera houses, church choirs, and many more.
It is pretty common for conductors to have professorships, so jobs in higher education are also an option.
In addition to all the skills, knowledge, and responsibilities associated with being a professional conductor, conductors who have professorships also have all the duties that come with being a university professor.
These include creating syllabi, preparing lesson plans, leading class meetings, giving lectures, administering exams, and providing additional academic support to students as needed, to name just a few.
What Are the Best Schools for Pursuing a Conducting Degree?
There are many colleges that offer excellent degree programs for conducting.
One of these is the University of Michigan’s School of Music, Theatre & Dance.
One of the most well-renowned university departments of its kind in the country, U-M’s conducting department offers both MM and DMA programs in conducting.
Students in U-M’s conducting programs have the opportunity to work with world-class instructors and professional directors to develop the musical and pedagogical skills required for conducting.
The heart of the program is the Earl V. Moore Building, which has recently undergone $29.5 million worth of updates and expansion.
The building offers students access to state-of-the-art facilities such as recording studios and practice rooms.
Kenneth Kiesler leads the Department of Conducting and is also a professor and the director of orchestras at the school.
Kiesler has been in charge of conducting at the University of Michigan for almost 30 years, with past achievements including a Grammy nomination in 2014 and the American Prize in Conducting in 2011.
Another great school for pursuing a conducting degree is the Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University. The Peabody Conservatory offers several conducting programs at the master’s and doctoral levels.
Students in one of the Peabody Conservatory’s conducting programs can choose to emphasize orchestral or wind conducting.
Under the direction of Marin Alsop, students in the orchestral conducting program receive both academic instruction and ample opportunities to get hands-on, real-world experience working with professional conductors.
The University of Miami’s Frost School of Music also offers strong graduate degree programs in conducting.
Led by Gerard Schwarz, who also serves as U Miami’s music director, the school’s conducting program offers students rigorous training in a wide array of academic subject areas related to conducting, such as music theory and music history.
Should You Pursue a Career As a Conductor?
There are many reasons to pursue a career as a conductor. Of course, successfully pursuing this career requires a number of special skills.
A conductor’s day might involve attending and leading rehearsals, planning future performance programs, researching musical works being considered for performances, and communicating with music directors, musicians, and other performers to ensure that everyone is on the same page.
To become a great conductor, one must have a strong understanding of the art of conducting, music theory, the basic principles of music education, and anything else relevant to the practice of leading a musical ensemble.
Great communication skills, a strong capacity for creative thinking, and excellent musical ability are also central to succeeding as a music conductor.
This description of what it takes to become a conductor may initially sound overwhelming.
Although it may be true that this profession is relatively difficult — not to mention highly competitive — keep in mind that most conductors hold a master’s or doctoral degree in conducting.
In this sense, graduate school gives most aspiring conductors all the time they will need to acquire the skills and knowledge the career requires.
Most conductors also begin by pursuing an undergraduate degree as a performance or composition major, later deciding to study conducting at the graduate level.
Ultimately, whether or not you should pursue a career as a conductor is a question you need to ask yourself.
Your compatibility with this job depends heavily on your preferences, your professional aspirations, your leadership and communication skills, and — last but not least — your desires.
There is no sense in pursuing a career as a conductor if you know you would be happier performing or composing, for example.
On the other hand, if conducting is your passion, then you should certainly at least consider becoming a professional conductor.
