The obvious duties of a band director include directing high school instrumental performances; coordinating auditions for band; helping with soloist performances made on behalf of the school; establishing performance standards; evaluating student understanding with the administration of proper testing; and enforcing the academic requirements for varsity band. A band director must provide a program of performances for both marching and concert band performances. He must also be active in band booster support activities and help by coordinating the funds raised with the immediate financial needs of the band.
All band directors must play the dual role of director and teacher. This means the band director must make sure all the students under their care meet the state education board's standards for music education. Instructing students in how to read music and teaching them the common musical instructions for tempo and delivery is required. Band directors are also responsible for keeping up with students' eligibility to perform in band as it is considered a varsity activity. This means a band director must check with each student's counselor to make sure she is academically eligible to enter and stay in band.
Bands travel frequently, to away games or even farther to competitions that may be several states away. Band directors are therefore responsible for estimating the budgets needed to travel, raising the funds in order to make the trip through booster activities and fund raisers. He also makes the travel arrangements, including choosing the transportation and accommodations. The director also needs to make sure he has followed procedure for securing permission from the participants' parents and arranging for chaperons to assist him during the trip.
Along with maintaining the school's band equipment, helping students care for their own equipment, and being responsible for the upkeep of the band hall, a band director must also take care of any budgeting requirements which must be approved by his school principal. Carefully planning for a budget makes it possible for the band director to give a proper assessment of financial needs for the booster club. A band director also has to participate in choosing and selecting an assistant band director who will help him with his duties.