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From the lovely, funny and talented Jen Drake<\/a> of Darkwood Consort<\/a> fame, enjoy! I must also say that these instructions (and very astute observations they are) can apply to conductors which are faced by orchestras of every level (both budget and artistic).<\/p>\n Hey kids, who wants to be a conductor when they grow up? That’s great! Here is your chance to glean some valuable knowledge!<\/p>\n 1) You are allotted 2.5 hours in which to complete your rehearsal! Be sure to use every second of it. Repeat sections unnecessarily to fill time if you have nothing else to say.<\/p>\n 2) Let’s say you are rehearsing a 16 measure section, with the letters A and B at either end. A great way to save time is to stop the entire orchestra 8 measures after A and request that they resume at three measures before B. Why play those pesky 4 measures when you don’t have to?<\/p>\n 3) Singing an articulation (daaah) is always more effective than using a descriptive term (legato)<\/p>\n 4) If a section leader has a question upon stopping, ignore them to give your own thoughts first. It really can’t be that important if you didn’t notice it.<\/p>\n 5) Be sure to only address some members of the orchestra by name. Calling the principal trumpet by his first name, but the principal clarinet by ‘clarinet’ ensures that your hierarchy is well established in the minds of the entire orchestra.<\/p>\n 6) When in doubt of your own rhythmic integrity, let everyone know that they need to be more on top of the beat.<\/p>\n 7) Say something really specific before letting which group of instruments you are speaking to know it’s for them. “OK. On the second beat, the tenutos and slur passages of three before B with the percussive G# resolution? Make sure that you are just a smidgen later on that offbeat. Got it cellos?”<\/p>\n 8) Count OUT LOUD before starting. This way no one will have to follow you.<\/p>\n 9) Repeat sections if you have nothing else to say.<\/p>\n So, there you go! Remember these handy techniques for your future in conducting!<\/p><\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" From the lovely, funny and talented Jen Drake of Darkwood Consort fame, enjoy! I must also say that these instructions (and very astute observations they are) can apply to conductors which are faced by orchestras of every level (both budget and artistic). Hey kids, who wants to be a conductor when they grow up? That’s […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":303,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[2],"tags":[86,55,3656,3660],"class_list":["post-200","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-the-orchestra-world","tag-conductor","tag-orchestra","tag-the-orchestra-world","tag-viola"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pa8kC-3e","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":430,"url":"https:\/\/www.nobleviola.com\/wordpress\/2007\/09\/06\/eugene-conductor-tapped-for-nashville\/","url_meta":{"origin":200,"position":0},"title":"eugene conductor tapped for nashville","author":"Charles Noble","date":"September 6, 2007","format":false,"excerpt":"Giancarlo Guerrero, currently music director of the Eugene Symphony, has accepted the position of music director with the Nashville Symphony, effective the 2009-2010 season. Read more here. You can find his blog here.","rel":"","context":"In "the orchestra world"","block_context":{"text":"the orchestra world","link":"https:\/\/www.nobleviola.com\/wordpress\/category\/music\/the-orchestra-world\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"http:\/\/www.nobleviola.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/bilde?Site=DN&Date=20070906&Category=ENTERTAINMENT05&ArtNo=709060410&Ref=V2&Profile=1069&MaxW=525&MaxH=390&title=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":220,"url":"https:\/\/www.nobleviola.com\/wordpress\/2007\/02\/23\/long-term-conductor-search-in-philly\/","url_meta":{"origin":200,"position":1},"title":"yawns in Philly?","author":"Charles Noble","date":"February 23, 2007","format":false,"excerpt":"From today's Philadelphia Inquirer: In a surprise move made without the knowledge or approval of its full musician membership, the Philadelphia Orchestra has appointed Charles Dutoit chief conductor and artistic adviser. 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Hattner's first musical career was as a professional clarinetist, and his positions have included the Princeton Symphony, Cascade Music Festival Orchestra, New\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "conducting"","block_context":{"text":"conducting","link":"https:\/\/www.nobleviola.com\/wordpress\/category\/music\/conducting\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"David Hattner, music director designate of the Portland Youth Philharmonic","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.nobleviola.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/04\/david_hattner-226x300.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":277,"url":"https:\/\/www.nobleviola.com\/wordpress\/2007\/04\/13\/fischer-to-head-the-national-symphony\/","url_meta":{"origin":200,"position":3},"title":"Fischer to Head the National Symphony","author":"Charles Noble","date":"April 13, 2007","format":false,"excerpt":"It's starting to look like the western land grab movement in the US orchestral world. 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