What Does a Music Director Do?

When people think of live theatre, their minds often jump to the actors on stage or the lights, costumes, and high production value. But behind every note sung and every chord played is the meticulous work of a music director, better known as an "MD". The music director is the glue holding the score and cast together, making sure the music tells the story in the most dynamic and engaging way possible whether it's Broadway or regional productions.

What Does a Music Director Do?

Many people assume the role of an MD is limited to teaching the cast the score, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg. As a music director, your responsibilities span everything from coordinating with the director on the tone and style of the music, adjusting vocal arrangements to suit the different voices of the cast, collaborating and contracting the pit orchestra, working out tempos and timing with the dance captain and choreographer, and creating a rehearsal schedule to optimize our time in the studio.

In professional and regional productions, the MD also has to be a strong communicator. You are the conduit between the director, the cast, the choreographer, and the sound team. It’s our job to ensure that every musical element not only fits the production, but also creates a new world for audiences to be brought into.

Preparation Before Rehearsals

Much of the music director’s work happens long before the first rehearsal. Typically, we dive into the score weeks in advance, analyzing the music and breaking down how the vocals, harmonies, and orchestration will come together. This is also a good time to practice the piano score and start setting tempos and vocal assignments. If working with new or original music, you may be tasked with creating new arrangements, orchestrations, and scene change music. A lot of this also changes in the rehearsal space based on the director's blocking and the other production elements that adds to the length of the show.

In pre-production, it's a great opportunity to meet with the director to discuss the mood and style of the show. How does the music intertwine with the plot and characters? What sort of tone do we want to sent for the entire show? These questions help guide your approach as we prepare the vocal coaching sessions for the cast and the rehearsal materials for the musicians.

Rehearsals

This it the only chance you get to really shape the sound of a show and these moments and first impressions are crucial. We typically spend hours working with the cast, teaching them the music and helping them interpret their characters through song and the lyrics. Not everyone in the cast comes from the same music education background or skill level, so some of being an MD involves vocal coaching—helping singers with breath support, phrasing, and stylistic nuances, and interpretation. During these rehearsals, it’s important to strike a balance between technical precision and emotional depth. You want the singers to hit every note, but more importantly, you want them to live in the music.

This can be applied to the orchestra as well. Timing out your rehearsals to flow while also being productive is a great skill to have. Especially when musicians are on the clock and union rules are involved.

Opening Night

By the time opening night rolls around, the work of a music director is far from over. Even after the show starts its run, we continue to attend performances to monitor the music. Sometimes singers will grow into their roles, making slight adjustments to their performances, and it’s our job to ensure that the music stays true to the original vision. This is a good time to keep on the cast and leads to maintain what we've been working week on. It's easy for cast members to have many things to juggle from entrances, costume pieces, lighting, and the adrenaline of performing that they may forget ending consonants, phrasing, and some of the detailed music notes you had worked hard to achieve in the rehearsal space. Don't let up! Keep repeating those notes and holding them to it in order to bring the show to the next level.

Being a music director is about being adaptable, creative, and constantly tuned in to your environment, with both the cast and the musicians. The rewards of seeing it all come together, especially on opening night, are exciting and lots of hard work. Every production is unique, and that’s what makes being a music director so fulfilling.