The band director can have a great deal of responsibility. When I was in band, we had a band director and an assistant band director. That is not to mention the many jobs that was done by volunteers and parents of the band members. This can vary by school and their funds. A smaller school's director might have to perform all the duties, while one of a larger school might have help or can outsource some of the needs.

Some of the jobs that a band director performs includes taking care of the marching band, concert band and pep band. This includes picking out the arrangements of music, assigning parts and solos to band members, teaching the members to play the pieces correctly and arranging choreography.

A band director must be very organized and arrange meetings, camps, competitions, concerts, travel and fund-raising for the band. He/she must provide help to students who need guidance and assign chairs to the band members by their performance. It takes a very dedicated person to be a band director. It usually helps if he/she has a great deal of experience playing different insturments, a good knowledge of music, tempo, choreography and even art. Most people wouldn't think it, but to arrange a marching band performance takes a great deal of artistic ability. Of course, I assume that many people outsource this, but not all schools can afford to.

A band director will need to have a teaching certificate along with a major in music for most states. It will probably be a requirement or desired that he/she also participated in a college band. Many states will also require that a band director get a master's degree within a time frame after beginning their job. Many band directors might start off teaching elementary school kids first, chorus or be an assistance before getting a job with so much responsibility.