Director of bands

Most students attend a four-year university to earn a bachelor's degree in music.

The ones that earn a Doctor of Music usually seek a professorship at an institution of higher learning.

The primary responsibilities of the conductor are to set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen and shape the sound of the ensemble.

An understanding of the basic elements of musical expression (tempo, dynamics, articulation) and the ability to communicate them effectively to an ensemble is necessary in order to conduct.

Conducting gestures may be choreographed beforehand by the conductor while studying the score, or may be spontaneous.