Composer Job Description

Composers create musical compositions by writing sheet music. They use knowledge of harmonic, rhythmic, melodic and tonal structure as well as their knowledge of instrumental and vocal capabilities to create their musical ideas. The may compose music for special performances as well as for film, television and theatric productions.

Typical Job Duties

• Create musical score that adds an emotional layer to a production

• May create the musical theme for a production

• Create music that will be heard in the background of a production as well as the underscore used for dramatic effect

• Liaise with director and writer to ensure ideas are properly communicated and understood

• Create original musical form or write with circumscribed musical form, such as symphony or opera

• Transcribe musical ideas into musical notation

Scholarships for Becoming a Composer

The Applicable Majors section below shows fields of study relevant to a career as a Composer. You can search for scholarships matched to those fields of study on our All Scholarships by Major page.

Success Tip: Be sure to apply for any scholarships that you even barely qualify for, as there are millions of dollars of scholarships that go unused every year due to a lack of applicants!