Music Composers and Arrangers

Course Advisor; United States; On-site; USD 21,640 - 112,820; Full time

Job summary

Course Advisor seeks a Music Composer or Arranger for a role that involves composing music for various occasions and creating scores that align with instrumental capabilities. Applicants should have strong writing, critical thinking, and active listening skills, as well as experience with tools like Audacity and MakeMusic Finale. This position offers a unique opportunity to work in a growing field with a positive job outlook.

Qualifications

• Ability to write and transcribe musical scores.
• Knowledge of music theory and instrumental capabilities.
• Experience with computers and synthesizers for music composition.

Responsibilities

• Compose and arrange music for various occasions.
• Collaborate with colleagues to finalize scores.
• Create music for commercial mediums like advertisements.

Skills

Writing

Reading Comprehension

Active Listening

Critical Thinking

Judgment and Decision Making

Coordination

Tools

Audacity

MakeMusic Finale

Job description

Position Description

Write and transcribe musical scores.

A Day in the Life of a Music Composer or Arranger

• Score compositions so that they are consistent with instrumental and vocal capabilities such as ranges and keys, using knowledge of music theory.
• Accept commissions to create music for special occasions.
• Collaborate with other colleagues, such as copyists, to complete final scores.
• Use computers and synthesizers to compose, orchestrate, and arrange music.
• Fill in details of orchestral sketches, such as adding vocal parts to scores.
• Write music for commercial mediums, including advertising jingles or film soundtracks.

Key Skills and Competencies

When polled, Music Composers and Arrangers say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:

• Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
• Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
• Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
• Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
• Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
• Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others’ actions.

Types of Music Composer or Arranger

• Music Orchestrator
• Songwriter
• Conceptor
• Song Writer

Tools & Technologies Used by Music Composers and Arrangers

• Audacity
• MakeMusic Finale

Job Demand

There were about 74,800 jobs for Music Composer or Arranger in 2016 in the United States. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 5.7%, which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 4,300 new jobs for Music Composer or Arranger by 2026. The BLS estimates 7,700 yearly job openings in this field.

The states with the most job growth for Music Composer or Arranger are Colorado, Utah, and North Carolina. Watch out if you plan on working in Vermont, Kansas, or Wisconsin. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

Salary

The salary for Music Composers and Arrangers ranges between about $21,640 and $112,820 a year. Music Composers and Arrangers who work in Minnesota, Georgia, or New Jersey, make the highest salaries.