What You Need to Know About Music Composer or Arranger
Job Description: Write and transcribe musical scores.
What Do Music Composers and Arrangers Do On a Daily Basis?
- Fill in details of orchestral sketches, such as adding vocal parts to scores.
- Experiment with different sounds, and types and pieces of music, using synthesizers and computers as necessary to test and evaluate ideas.
- Guide musicians during rehearsals, performances, or recording sessions.
- Collaborate with other colleagues, such as copyists, to complete final scores.
- Study original pieces of music to become familiar with them prior to making any changes.
- Copy parts from scores for individual performers.
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Music Composer or Arranger Required Skills
These are the skills Music Composers and Arrangers say are the most useful in their careers:
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.
Other Music Composer or Arranger Job Titles
- Arranger
- Composer Teaching Artist
- Music Orchestrator
- Songwriter
- Music Producer
Music Composer or Arranger Employment Estimates
In the United States, there were 74,800 jobs for Music Composer or Arranger in 2016. 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. There will be an estimated 7,700 positions for Music Composer or Arranger per year.
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.
Music Composer or Arranger Average 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.
How much do Music Composers and Arrangers make in each U.S. state?
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $75,050 |
| Arizona | $57,810 |
| California | $64,600 |
| Colorado | $50,800 |
| Connecticut | $77,550 |
| District of Columbia | $77,220 |
| Florida | $72,420 |
| Georgia | $73,470 |
| Hawaii | $51,230 |
| Illinois | $40,220 |
| Indiana | $66,460 |
| Iowa | $52,430 |
| Kansas | $55,290 |
| Kentucky | $49,610 |
| Louisiana | $53,600 |
| Maryland | $58,570 |
| Massachusetts | $56,200 |
| Michigan | $51,180 |
| Minnesota | $88,570 |
| Mississippi | $53,000 |
| Missouri | $60,590 |
| Montana | $29,100 |
| Nebraska | $46,650 |
| New Jersey | $73,320 |
| New Mexico | $48,440 |
| New York | $66,120 |
| North Carolina | $48,920 |
| Ohio | $44,920 |
| Oklahoma | $38,530 |
| Oregon | $46,000 |
| Pennsylvania | $46,010 |
| Rhode Island | $64,200 |
| South Carolina | $53,700 |
| Texas | $61,210 |
| Utah | $57,780 |
| Vermont | $56,130 |
| Washington | $71,980 |
| Wisconsin | $71,350 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Music Composers and Arrangers
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Music Composers and Arrangers may use on a daily basis:
- Audacity
- Avid Technology Sibelius
- MakeMusic Finale
Becoming a Music Composer or Arranger
What kind of Music Composer or Arranger requirements are there?
How Long Does it Take to Become a Music Composer or Arranger?
Where Music Composers and Arrangers Are Employed
Music Composers and Arrangers work in the following industries:
References:
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