10 Things You Need to Stop Doing (or Be Sure to Do) as a Conductor

Many musicians find themselves in a position where they are conducting without having had proper training as a conductor.  Here are 10 things that all novice (and even some professional!) conductors could use to be reminded of:

1.       Keep your score in your head, not your head in the score.   Know your score so you know what to expect and can focus your attention on the current performance. 

2.       Lead, don’t follow the ensemble.  A conductor paints music with the instrumentalists before him as her brush.  If you are being reactive you are not participating in creating the music, you are simply waving your arms afterwards.

3.       Make eye contact.  Especially when you cue an entrance.  Watch for any sign that they are uncertain or nervous.  Maintain eye contact whenever they are entering a treacherous section and be reassuring with your eyes.

4.       Don’t give “a measure for nothing.” Your cue should be strong enough to bring them in.

5.       Always breathe with the musicians when cueing--even if they are a string or percussion player and don’t normally need to breathe.  Breathe in the style of the music that you want to hear, and in time.  The breath is a powerful thing and should be used to set your intention.

6.       Know the basics cold.  Don’t conduct a piece in 5/4 or 6/4 if you are not comfortable with the pattern.  Know the music and know all the markings.  Be able to answer questions about it if the musicians ask.

7.       Come to rehearsal with a plan.  Know what will likely be challenging and have a few ideas on how to overcome those challenges.

8.       Give specific feedback.  After each run through, start with what was good, and then go over things that could be better.   Be specific on what you’d like and how to get there.

9.       When referring to a place in the music, first say who you want to play, then where in the music (measure numbers, etc.), then what musically you are looking at.  Giving directions in any other order will waste rehearsal time by not being clear and will confuse the musicians.

10.   Put it in context.  Whenever you work out an issue be sure to go back a little before it starts and play through so the musicians get an idea of what the isolated area in question sounds like as part of the full music.