To become a band director, you’ll need strong musical abilities and, in most cases, a music education degree. The exceptions to this rule usually involve a high level of prestige and talent, as well as, in some cases, professional experience leading a band. For most people, the safest and most direct path to becoming a band director is to obtain a bachelor’s degree in music education or higher and begin gaining experience as a band director.
A bachelor’s degree in music education is the most important requirement for becoming a band director. This degree qualifies a person to work as a band director in elementary and secondary schools, which is where the majority of band directors work. While it is possible to work in this field without a degree, and bands can sometimes be found outside of educational settings, having this degree opens up a lot of doors.
When applying for band director jobs, it’s also important to have prior experience. Internships and volunteer opportunities can help you gain experience that will help you find work. Making connections with other professionals in the field can also lead to opportunities for directing.
Because some school band programs specialize in a single instrument, such as strings or drums, knowing at least one instrument can help you land a job as a band director. Nonetheless, breadth is important. A band director may be a student’s only instructor for a particular instrument at the elementary school level. This can be difficult because the director must be able to assist the performers in improving their performance on instruments with which the director has little experience.
The ultimate professional goal for many people is to direct bands at the college level. In many cases, this entails obtaining a doctorate or, at the very least, a master’s degree in music. There are many different types of bands at the college level, and the musicians are usually more polished. This allows for more complex music to be played, which some band directors find more satisfying. Even so, anyone aspiring to be a band director should anticipate working in the educational field.
Finding a job as a band director can be difficult, but there are numerous job boards dedicated to this field. Some people get jobs directing bands they used to play in. As a result, many people believe that experience playing music is just as important as experience directing, because it allows you to build a professional network and gain experience from the musician’s perspective.