How To Become a Musical Theatre Music Director
In musical theatre, where I primarily work, the music director is the person that teaches the music to the performers, rehearses the band, and usually conducts the performers during the show.
Management Position
The music director of a symphony orchestra is usually the highest, or one of the highest, positions in the organization, and they often have absolute power over many aspects of planning and organizing. Outside of the classical world, however, the music director is almost always a middle management position. The music director (MD) is subordinate to the director and producers, and usually equal to the choreographer. Of these four groups, the MD is the only position that stays with the production for the duration of the run. Directors and choreographers are only part of the rehearsal or clean-up process, and producers usually adopt a hands-off approach to the artistic side of productions.
The music director position is sometimes one of the only points of communication between the actors/dancers/singers/musicians and upper management in a production – especially smaller productions. Music directors need to have a good mix of diplomacy and management skills to succeed in the important off-stage, non-musical aspects of the job.
Maintains Consistency
After the choreographers and directors leave a show, it is up to the stage manager and music director to maintain the show. The MD maintains the musical aspects of the show and the stage manager maintains everything else (blocking, dialogue, costumes, etc.). Especially during long runs, performances can begin to vary greatly, and it is important for the production to remain the same product throughout the run.
Study To Be a Musician First
Music directors usually play piano, but other instrumentalists can also be MDs, especially in pop, rock and other more commercial gigs. Some knowledge of the piano would be very useful to a music director, though, as certain job requirements, such as vocal warm-ups (which are sometimes required in non-union theatre), are often piano-based.
How Do You Become a Music Director?
There’s no certification process to becoming an MD, and there’s no standardized path to the career. In my own case, people started to refer to me as a music director before I realized that I had become one. When I was younger I was involved in local theatre groups. I quickly grew out of acting and into music. These same theatre groups began hiring me to play piano at auditions when I was around the age of 14. I worked my way into playing rehearsals, then performances, and eventually I began leading the bands, hiring the musicians, writing out missing parts, recording rehearsal tapes, coaching singers and handing out paychecks. By the time I went to college I was working as a music director, although, as I said, it would be a few years before I felt I could properly call myself an MD.
If you’re interested in becoming a music director, I would suggest you learn as much as you can about music and management. The best MDs – the ones that get the most work – are the ones that are able to work the easiest with a great variety of personality types – producers, directors, singers, dancers, tech crew, sound guys, actors, audience members and choreographers. Take classes or lessons in piano, conducting, orchestration and notation. Borrow books from the library on management techniques and how to best lead, manage, and inspire people.
Musical Theatre Music Directors
If you want to be a music director in musical theatre, learn as much as you can about the musical theatre repertoire. Borrow CDs and videos from your local library and get to know all of the musicals you can as well as you can. If you have good sight-reading skills, ask your local theatre company if they need an audition accompanist (they usually do), and tell them that you are available. Getting jobs is all about who you know, so get to know other people in theatre. Most importantly – go SEE theatre as much as you can, and find some way – ANY way – to get involved, even if it means painting sets.
Resources
Music director positions are posted online at several websites. The ones I often visit are:
Also, do an google search for all of the theatre companies and live theaters in your area. Find the contact information for the Artistic Director and send them your resume with a succinct cover letter letting them know who you are and that you are available. You never know – they might need someone and give you a chance.
Good luck!
About the author
Hello,
This is brilliant. Thanks for this!
it was really really intresting…..
im 16 just leaving school about to go to college and do sound tech, i have always loved musical theatre and been involved in the performing side for atleast 10 years, i’ve managed to involved with the uk tour of chicago and joseph and the technicolor dreamcoat, (helping with the lighting) i was talking with the MD of joseph, a really really nice guy who helped out with some of my questions!
i’ve produced backing tracks for various sites (good ones using samples etc, not that horrible midi sound) i’ve always wanted to play live for theatre BUT my big problem is the sight reading part, although the MD of joseph did say you dont have to be able to sight read that much in theatre, i can read music but i have to work it out and i’m really very slow at it….and just not good. my talent is listening to music and being able to play it by ear perfectly, when i produce backing tracks for theatre companies and these sites i just have to pick out all the layers (instrument parts) by my ear, and then fuiger out how to play them and record! thats what im best at, (i use logic pro 8 on a mac to sequence the tracks and various samplers) i went up to grade 5 in piano…. and my sight reading really is poor.
I would LOVE so much a job in musical theatre playing piano down in the pit, the MD of joseph did say he just improvises alot of it now after playing it so many times where as the other keyboard players have to stick more to the music, but he was doing the lead piano so he didnt…. i really do want a job in this area, but with my poor sight reading will this effect what i want to do?
i’ve tried my best to learn or teach myself to do it better but i just dont have the knack, the only thing i can think of doing is starting off at grade 1 sight reading and working my way up, but i really am poor at it, it anoys me beacuse i’ve done so much musical stuff (backing track wise) and playing live with my own little gigs, and playing live for theatre companies with the one off song, but its not had anything to do with reading music, all just coming out naturally, will it bother me not being able to sight read?
because i REALLY REALLY want this as a carear, but i do worry that my music reading will get in the way of everything :(
it really anoys me, because i am capable of playing really well, just as good as you hear the people in the pit, but not from reading music :(
if anyone can help please do let me know, or give me some advice
Thankyou,
My email is harrisononthewall@hotmail.co.uk
Do have a look at me playing http://www.youtube.co.uk/jamez123123 or some of my backing tracks on http://www.youtube.co.uk/jhbackingtracks
Thankyou.
James
5/9/2009
I stumbled across this website just now. It was rather odd to hear your story that was so close to mine (scary, even!!). I went to an arts school in my youth as a non-classical pianist, and somehow I ended up being a musical theatre MD (one day I realized I was one) after years of working as the principal pianist in various productions.
Anyhoo, keep up the good work!
5/18/2009
hello…
well your article really helped me on tips of becoming a musical director. i am in high school and my homework was to find tips on how to be a musical director. luckily, your article was the best so far..
muchness,
vina jean fejeran “vee”
4/26/2010
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