Music Director - Jobs in the Theatre - Part 10

The music director is the person that oversees all aspects of a theatrical production that involve music. This music can be live or recorded. It may be a combination of both things as well. The music director may be in charge of all live music or he or she may be in charge of overseeing others such as conductors and directors hired to be in charge of music.

The music director will read a play and understand how the music in it helps to serve the show. He or she will understand how it brings out emotions, helps the characters, and enhances the story telling. The musial director will make sure to be present, unless otherwise stated, or the casting and possible hiring of singers, orchestra members, and other musicians.

Once members are cast or hired as actors and musicians, the musial director may be in charge of teaching music to everybody. At the least, the musical director will make sure that all people are being taught music by the appropriate people delegated to that task. If teaching the music, it is like that the musical director will lead warm ups. The musical director, if not directly teaching and leading rehearsals, should be sure to attend at least a few of the musical rehearsals.

Once the play is coming together as a whole, the musical director will work closely with the sound designers in order to figure out where recorded sounds and music happen in the show if they are there. The sound designer may not be needed if live music is the only thing used. However, a sound designer will be an important part of the music director's team any time even the slightest recorded sound is used in a production. This can be even the pre-show and intermission music.

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