Just exactly what does a music conductor do?

[Medellon]

Enlighten me all you band geeks out there. Whenever I see a performance it seems that everyone is looking at their music, not the conductor. This guy is standing up there waving his hands around and nobody is looking, what am I missing?

 

[Anubis]

the same thing i am

 

[Pepsi90919]

conduct

 

[Lifer]

i always wonder the same thing too. i guess they really only need him to get started. after that, he can go take a back seat.

if the musicians were somewhat competent, have rhythm and know when to come in, they can do w/out him.

 

[Encryptic]

Conducting music?

 

[BigKev]

He's just a prop .... and he looks like a jackass anyway.

 

[isasir]

It's fun to watch a guy flail his arms around franctically. They should dress him up in a clown costume or as a donkey to make it more amusing.

 

[ThePresence]

It's alot more than just rythym and tempo. His mood and his feeling determines what and how the orchestra plays.

 

[Ferocious]

Someone to focus on.....so you don't get distracted.

Imagine if your playing violin and you gaze out and see some hot babe or something.

 

[Beller0ph1]

Originally posted by: Medellon
Whenever I see a performance it seems that everyone is looking at their music, not the conductor.

As a longtime band member for about 10 years, a player is always supposed to look at the conductor. He gives you clues about what to play, when to play, and how to play. He sets the band to HIS tempo, and is especially required when the song changes tempo. Sure, great musicians should be able to adjust to a new tempo by themselves, but there is that little time when everyone is switching where things may go out of whack. The conductor is much more important than you think.

 

[Chaotic42]

For one thing he makes it easy to get back on track if you lose count, which isn't as much of an issue as you become a better player.

 

[notfred]

In my very limited experience, he does things like change the direction of the wind and make people open hidden doors in dungeons.

 

[Encryptic]

Originally posted by: notfred
In my very limited experience, he does things like change the direction of the wind and make people open hidden doors in dungeons.

Someone's been playing Zelda too much.

 

[dmcowen674]

Originally posted by: Beller0ph1

Originally posted by: Medellon
Whenever I see a performance it seems that everyone is looking at their music, not the conductor.

As a longtime band member for about 10 years, a player is always supposed to look at the conductor. He gives you clues about what to play, when to play, and how to play. He sets the band to HIS tempo, and is especially required when the song changes tempo. Sure, great musicians should be able to adjust to a new tempo by themselves, but there is that little time when everyone is switching where things may go out of whack. The conductor is much more important than you think.

The Conductor can help make or break a performance regardless of the talent of the musicians.

You can actually hear a difference in an Orchestra when they have a guest Conductor.

It's kind of like Nascar, you can have the best car on the track but if the driver has an off day forget about it.