Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board: music director, job description

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techiedirector
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Joined: 12/11/07
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Topic: music director, job description
Posted: 12/11/07 at 8:01pm

Hi all! I'm looking for a job description for a music director. This is the first time that I am "hired" as a director before the music director is "hired". I've worked with some terrible ones in the past, and although I don't expect there to be much of a choice, I'd really like to be able to say, sure you're it, but here are the expectations. I do think this would alliviate some of the horribleness. Thanks

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JoeMc
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Posted: 12/11/07 at 9:03pm

Can't help much with an MD. like you I have ran into a few 'Wooden Tops' & "log Heads' in my time.
the only thing I can think of is they must have the ability to count from 1 to 2 & the prerequisite of being able to wave both both arms about, while tapping thier foot to the beat - all at the very same time? Wink

[western] Gondawandaland
"Hear the light & see the sound!
TOI TOI CHOOKAS
{may you always play to a full house!}

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Topper
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Posted: 12/11/07 at 11:10pm

Just about every Musical Director I've worked with in the past has also doubled as rehearsal pianist and conductor.
Other duties should include:
Rehearsing music with the cast and scheduling separate rehearsals with the orchestra, to avoid wasting each other's time.
In the final week or so, they bring the two elements together to coordinate voices and instrumentals.
Assigning parts to chorus members so harmonies are balanced.
Most MD's are fanatics for diction, making certain everybody is on beat, so voices don't overlap, muddying the lyrics.

"None of us really grow up. All we ever do is learn how to behave in public." -- Keith Johnstone

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pdavis69
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Posted: 12/13/07 at 10:27am

I would have to question the practice of hiring the music director before a director has been chosen. The director is ultimately responsible for the entire end product from soup to nuts. How can a musical director be appointed before the person who will shape the entire show? The exception I could see would be if you were in a small community and only had one person to MD and thus did all the shows.

Patrick L. Davis
Fort Findlay Playhouse

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TonyDi
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Joined: 9/13/06
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Posted: 12/13/07 at 1:00pm

WOW!! I MUST agree that it's a bit risky to hire a music director BEFORE a director is chosen. Often times (and maybe I've been lucky) if a director is chosen they bring their own music director choice with them. Now that isn't always the case - just the lucky cases. I have been chosen as MD many times because of having worked with directors who know me or have directed ME IN shows - musicals and such...or who I've worked for before as MD. FURTHER, a music director doesn't always have to play the piano. I play AT playing the piano and can pound out vocal lines for actors. And I can get through rehearsals well enough to fill until a qualified pianist can be found/hired. And then too, Music Directors aren't always qualified to work with singers. Yeah, I know, every piano player I ever ran across (seemingly) might have had a semester or two of voice training while in college or something but aren't REALLY qualified to instruct singers properly so as to not damage anyone's voice in the process. As we all know, musical theater is rigorous on the voice - damaging at times even. And using a music director who SAYS they can teach singers is risky as most of them cannot. And then you hire a vocal director to work with the singers who is sensitive to what singers need, and you run the risk of making a music director person angry because all they then have to do is play the piano for auditions, the rehearsal process and maybe the show - to say nothing of bringing an orchestra of any size along and being well versed in orchestral music and instrumentation to be able to deal with that phase.

If you can find a WELL ROUNDED musician who knows vocal music, instrumental music and musicians and can play the piano - you're as lucky as they come. But a piano teacher/player might NOT be a vocal person, might NOT understand how all orchestral instruments/musicians work much less work together, and who is not on the same page as the director well then you have an uphill battle as director. BUT the DIRECTOR SHOULD be chosen first and then let them sit in on the choice of music director - it IS the director's vision after all you hire them for. And if a music director can't or won't follow what the directo would like to have done, then you're bound for conflicts.

This is one of the toughest jobs around. I've been lucky enough to be director, MD, vocal director and a combination of those. But I HAVE BEEN a vocal teacher, a MUSICIAN both from the standpoint of playing as one and directing an orchestra, as well as a theater director of musicals - so I'm lucky in that regard. And I've been lucky enough to work with people whom I trust in ANY of those jobs when I've been chosen solely to direct the show. But that's pretty rare to be that lucky. I guess I live in an area that can provide that level of expertise. It just doesn't happen everywhere. But you have to chose as WISELY as possible to cover all those bases. Even singers who SAY they can sing, still need direction and some leading so they don't overdo - as many good singers want to do (can you say illness during the run?). Anyway, it's a tough call to make. BUT I STILL think allowing the director of the show the opportunity to help make the choices is important....but THEY have to be chosen first.

Good luck on finding the right person/people. It's always a tough call to make....except as pdavis said - if there is only ONE person available.

TonyDi

"Almost famous"

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techiedirector
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Posted: 12/13/07 at 3:53pm

The last few times that I've done, it's been a small ct with a very specific population and the music director did their two shows a year, and he was fabulas with the group. Before that it was similar, but not set in stone. Now it's a kids show and the old md (three years running) can't do it this year. In this instance I am looking for a pianist and vocal all in one...

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Directing
Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board :Producing Theater :Directing

Author	Message
techiedirector Walk-On Joined: 12/11/07 Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Topic: music director, job description Posted: 12/11/07 at 8:01pm
	Hi all! I'm looking for a job description for a music director. This is the first time that I am "hired" as a director before the music director is "hired". I've worked with some terrible ones in the past, and although I don't expect there to be much of a choice, I'd really like to be able to say, sure you're it, but here are the expectations. I do think this would alliviate some of the horribleness. Thanks

	IP Logged

JoeMc Celebrity Joined: 3/13/06 Location: Australia Online Status: Offline Posts: 832	Posted: 12/11/07 at 9:03pm
	Can't help much with an MD. like you I have ran into a few 'Wooden Tops' & "log Heads' in my time. the only thing I can think of is they must have the ability to count from 1 to 2 & the prerequisite of being able to wave both both arms about, while tapping thier foot to the beat - all at the very same time?
	[western] Gondawandaland "Hear the light & see the sound! TOI TOI CHOOKAS {may you always play to a full house!}
	IP Logged

Topper Celebrity Joined: 1/27/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 543	Posted: 12/11/07 at 11:10pm
	Just about every Musical Director I've worked with in the past has also doubled as rehearsal pianist and conductor. Other duties should include: Rehearsing music with the cast and scheduling separate rehearsals with the orchestra, to avoid wasting each other's time. In the final week or so, they bring the two elements together to coordinate voices and instrumentals. Assigning parts to chorus members so harmonies are balanced. Most MD's are fanatics for diction, making certain everybody is on beat, so voices don't overlap, muddying the lyrics.
	"None of us really grow up. All we ever do is learn how to behave in public." -- Keith Johnstone
	IP Logged

pdavis69 Celebrity Joined: 3/26/06 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 437	Posted: 12/13/07 at 10:27am
	I would have to question the practice of hiring the music director before a director has been chosen. The director is ultimately responsible for the entire end product from soup to nuts. How can a musical director be appointed before the person who will shape the entire show? The exception I could see would be if you were in a small community and only had one person to MD and thus did all the shows.
	Patrick L. Davis Fort Findlay Playhouse
	IP Logged

TonyDi Celebrity Joined: 9/13/06 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 325	Posted: 12/13/07 at 1:00pm
	WOW!! I MUST agree that it's a bit risky to hire a music director BEFORE a director is chosen. Often times (and maybe I've been lucky) if a director is chosen they bring their own music director choice with them. Now that isn't always the case - just the lucky cases. I have been chosen as MD many times because of having worked with directors who know me or have directed ME IN shows - musicals and such...or who I've worked for before as MD. FURTHER, a music director doesn't always have to play the piano. I play AT playing the piano and can pound out vocal lines for actors. And I can get through rehearsals well enough to fill until a qualified pianist can be found/hired. And then too, Music Directors aren't always qualified to work with singers. Yeah, I know, every piano player I ever ran across (seemingly) might have had a semester or two of voice training while in college or something but aren't REALLY qualified to instruct singers properly so as to not damage anyone's voice in the process. As we all know, musical theater is rigorous on the voice - damaging at times even. And using a music director who SAYS they can teach singers is risky as most of them cannot. And then you hire a vocal director to work with the singers who is sensitive to what singers need, and you run the risk of making a music director person angry because all they then have to do is play the piano for auditions, the rehearsal process and maybe the show - to say nothing of bringing an orchestra of any size along and being well versed in orchestral music and instrumentation to be able to deal with that phase. If you can find a WELL ROUNDED musician who knows vocal music, instrumental music and musicians and can play the piano - you're as lucky as they come. But a piano teacher/player might NOT be a vocal person, might NOT understand how all orchestral instruments/musicians work much less work together, and who is not on the same page as the director well then you have an uphill battle as director. BUT the DIRECTOR SHOULD be chosen first and then let them sit in on the choice of music director - it IS the director's vision after all you hire them for. And if a music director can't or won't follow what the directo would like to have done, then you're bound for conflicts. This is one of the toughest jobs around. I've been lucky enough to be director, MD, vocal director and a combination of those. But I HAVE BEEN a vocal teacher, a MUSICIAN both from the standpoint of playing as one and directing an orchestra, as well as a theater director of musicals - so I'm lucky in that regard. And I've been lucky enough to work with people whom I trust in ANY of those jobs when I've been chosen solely to direct the show. But that's pretty rare to be that lucky. I guess I live in an area that can provide that level of expertise. It just doesn't happen everywhere. But you have to chose as WISELY as possible to cover all those bases. Even singers who SAY they can sing, still need direction and some leading so they don't overdo - as many good singers want to do (can you say illness during the run?). Anyway, it's a tough call to make. BUT I STILL think allowing the director of the show the opportunity to help make the choices is important....but THEY have to be chosen first. Good luck on finding the right person/people. It's always a tough call to make....except as pdavis said - if there is only ONE person available. TonyDi
	"Almost famous"
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techiedirector Walk-On Joined: 12/11/07 Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 12/13/07 at 3:53pm
	The last few times that I've done, it's been a small ct with a very specific population and the music director did their two shows a year, and he was fabulas with the group. Before that it was similar, but not set in stone. Now it's a kids show and the old md (three years running) can't do it this year. In this instance I am looking for a pianist and vocal all in one...
	IP Logged

Topic: music director, job description( Topic Closed)