I was just wonderin' what those guys do, exactly. I mean, the composer writes the music for all the musicians, and the players have the score in front of them, and they are generally good sight-readers and all, and have a good sense of rhythm... Hence, I ask, what's a conductor to do but just wave his stick in the air and keep up the pace? Isn't that a bit ridiculous, and getting paid for it? I mean, there must be something I'm not seeing here.

Who here has any desire to be a conductor? Why do you want to be one? Do you really think it can lead to a financially secure life?

Thanks!

The purpose of a conductor is not only to keep time but also to lead the group musically. Yes there is music written on the page but the majority of the "musicality" of the performance is not written. That comes from the implied aspect of music. The conductor’s job is to get everyone on the same page in interpretation as well as in time. The conductor is the general of the band if you will. Without the general, the troops have strategy for attack and will mostly likely be slaughtered.

As far as getting paid for it, most conductors get paid more than the musicians who they are conducting. So if you are a successful conductor, you most certainly can make a living at it.

I am a music educator and I conduct every day. I love to conduct, leading students to that great performance. And I feel as a teacher I won't make THAT bad of a living.

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Originally posted by Kosh:
Hence, I ask, what's a conductor to do but just wave his stick in the air and keep up the pace? Isn't that a bit ridiculous, and getting paid for it? I mean, there must be something I'm not seeing here.

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As Onelegger said, while a conductor is also responsible for keeping the players in the same rhythm, the great difference the conductor can make is the interpretation. I have 6 different recordings of Bruckner's 4th symphony, and all are very different. Even though two of them are performed by the same orchestra.

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Who here has any desire to be a conductor? Why do you want to be one?

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I'd love to be a conductor. And I honestly believe I could at least do some really good Bruckner interpretations (still haven't found a definitive recording of his 8th symphony, for example). The only problem is that I can't conduct.

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Do you really think it can lead to a financially secure life?

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Since I can't conduct...no. But great star conductors certainly don't have big financial problems.

If you're going to do a Bruckner concert in the future, think about how sore your arms will be after just first movement of a Bruckner symphony. then stretch that over the next hour.

Because it is a cardiovascular exercise, conducting is probably one of the VERY best things you can do.