Conducting - Help!!!

February 7, 2006 at 11:39 PM

At school, my director's 2nd daughter could be born any day now. And, in preperation, I was one of the three students selected to conduct for the week he's out.

So if anyone has tips, tricks, or links to information about couducting, I'll gladly take it.

Thanks!

From Colleen Russo
Posted on February 7, 2006 at 11:48 PM

Conducting your peers is tricky, you have to have the right balance between being in charge and making sure things get done, but at the same time not being too bossy! haha.. just have fun w/ it! I'm sure you'll be great!

From Sander Marcus
Posted on February 8, 2006 at 12:50 AM

Been there. I'm not a professional musician, and I've been in front of an orchestra as a conductor only a couple of times. It wasn't easy, and the following is based only on those brief experiences.

Don't get overly sophisticated. Make the beat clear and obvious, and strive for intonation. Tell everyone that it's a team effort and praise everything that's good. To make a correction, tell them that when they are standing where you are they will hear it like the audience hears it, and say, "Can I make a suggestion?" Be polite, quiet, and modest, but absolutely firm and confident. Don't tell jokes. Laugh at theirs, however. Good luck.

From Neil Cameron
Posted on February 8, 2006 at 3:46 AM

I have three pieces of advice for you:

1. Don't poke yourself in the eye with that white pointy stick thingy.

2. Don't take advice from people who can't count.

Neil

From Jessica Smith
Posted on February 8, 2006 at 4:35 AM

Neil- What happened to number three?

Thanks guys. There seems to be very little reading material online...

From Kelsey Z.
Posted on February 8, 2006 at 4:34 AM

To add to Neil's list. Don't give only three beats if the piece is in four. I did that once for a single bar in concert and it's amazing how much you can screw an ensemble up that way.

Above all, be clear in your beats and even though it's the most scary and isolating experience in the beginning it can be incrediably fun and rewarding (I loved it the few times I've done it) so have confidence!

Perhaps get your hands on a score and a recording and just practice conducting along and get the feel for what it's like.

Have fun and good luck!

From Patty Rutins
Posted on February 8, 2006 at 2:09 PM

Don't let the power go to your head!

It's definitely a fine line between being in charge and being bossy, but keep in mind that it's your job to make this group sound good. If it's anything like my high school orchestra was, that's a pretty rough job! So you might set out a few points in advance.

1) As the person waving their hands and coordinating, it's your job to be in charge.

2) As the orchestra, it's their job to follow you.

3) If you both do your jobs, you might just end up sounding pretty good.

Don't be afraid to lay down the law when necessary. In a high school classroom, that might end up being pretty often. Hopefully not! However, you might want the cooperation of a few senior members of the orchestra when keeping order, depending on your leadership style. You can make them feel important by telling them you need their help, and then they'll keep themselves in check as well as keeping some of the weenie freshmen from cutting up too much. ;)

Oh, and just remember that as long as the orchestra plays with good spirit, the audience will forgive a lot of mistakes and intonation. :)

From Patty Rutins
Posted on February 8, 2006 at 2:32 PM

Oh, and *definitely* get your hands on the score ahead of time. You don't want to be sight-reading the double bass part, the clarinet part and the second horn while trying to correct the intonation of the second violins! If you can glean enough from the printed score, great. Otherwise, get a recording.

From Linda Lerskier
Posted on February 8, 2006 at 8:00 PM

Wave your arms wildly and hop on on foot. You'll be fine.

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Conducting - Help!!!

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