Meet Kojo Samuel and find out about his life as a music director. Part of our Bitesize world of work series.
Watching Glastonbury come to life was amazing. It was a big moment for Stormzy, it was a big moment for all of us.
Kojo turns a recorded piece of music into the music for a live concert or event. He reworks some of the songs, creates a setlist and chooses the live band
During the performance, Kojo will oversee the sound
Kojo says it is important to get to know the music you are working on, so that you can deconstruct it and make it interesting for a live audience. It is also helpful to have an understanding of most musical instruments
You will need technical computer skills and the ability to communicate with the band or artist and a team of people
Kojo did best at GCSE Music and Drama at school. He studied A-levels but says he was already developing as a producer, writer and musician. He decided to go straight into work at 18
He learned about the live music industry on the job as a keyboard player, touring with The Sugababes. He now creates sets for artists like Stormzy.
A role similar to Kojo's is a musician. Musicians create or perform different types of music, from classical to pop and rock.
What to expect if you want to be a musician
- Musician average salary: Variable.
- Musician typical working hours: 34 to 36 hours per week. Be prepared for long and unsociable hours at times.
What qualifications do you need to be a musician?
You could get into this role via a university course, a college course, applying directly or specialist courses run by private training organisations.
Sources: LMI for All, National Careers Service
This information is a guide and is constantly changing. Please check the for the latest information and all the qualifications needed.
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