The Conductor

Who am I and What do I do?

Tonight we have a concert. We have worked hard during rehearsals and now we get to perform. Let me tell you what it is like getting ready for a concert.

I wait until all of the instruments are tuned and ready to play. After the audience settles in their seats and quiets down the first violinist will walk out onto the stage and signal for the orchestra to get ready. When they are ready he motions to the first chair oboe player who sounds an A note. All of the other instruments get in tune from the oboe's sound. Now it is my turn.

I walk on stage onto the platform where I stand. I turn toward the audience and bow. I turn back to the orchestra and raise my baton as the signal that I am ready to begin. And we play.

Even though I don't play an instrument during our performance some people think I am probably the most important element of the orchestra. I set the tempo of the music, beat the time, and give meaning and shape to the composer's music by helping the players know how I want them to play, or interpret, the music.

During rehearsals, I work to let the musicians know how they should play the music. Sometimes I want it loud, or mysterious, or slower, or faster. I also help the orchestra stay in balance with each other so that when we finish playing the impression we leave on the audience is the one that we want.

I hope that you will enjoy your time on my site. I want to tell you about the orchestra and about the sound energy that the instruments make. I will tell you how each family of the orchestra works and what makes its sound special.

You can learn about other famous conductors by doing some research on the ones I have listed below. These conductors are modern day conductors.

Look Up These Famous Conductors