nak asked:
I am just starting college and i would like to become an orchestral conductor, any tips or suggestions for a college bound student would be great.
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Try to contact the conductor of the most reputable orchestra near you. Ask him your question…
see your local school district office (ya know, for little kids) they are always in need of band directors and will tell you the requirments.
I have just one rule for you: Feel the music, react to the changes in the music with your amount of energy, get into it, it helps whoever your conducting to get into it also.
and dont be shy
if you go to the music department at your university, there should be a course specially tailor for those who want to be orchestral conductors. You’ll need to be familiar with orcheatral instruments and how to read scores of course. Good luck!
I study classical piano at Lynn University’s conservatory of music. If someone asked me what instrument I thought is the hardest to play, I’d say NO INSTRUMENT, but that being the conductor is the hardest role in the orchestra. You have to be TOTALLY familiar with each and every instrument and what’s going on in terms of dynamics, technicality, tempo, rhythm, etc. Plus you have to know and/or memorize BILLIONS of scores, each one including a separate section for each instrument. You should also have an extremely good ear. I think conductors are absolutely admirable but they have to work their ASSES OFF. Two thumbs up to you if you decide to take on the challenge!
I’ve been going to school for two years now going for music education (I’d be conducting more than likely bands.. high school, middle school, elementary and such) there are many classes that you’re going to have to take before you can start conducting, music theory, ear training, music history, orchestration, basically a bunch of music classes that are going to help you succeed in position you want to be placed in. It’s going to be a lot of hard work, but if this is really what you would like to do, I’m sure you can do it! Good luck at school this Fall!
Firstly you need a good standard of piano playing as well as a good standard on an ochestral instrument. You can’t conduct an orchestra unless you’ve played in one. Then improve your general musical knowledge, make sure you know as much standard orchestral repertoire as possible and research the various instruments. There’s always more to learn. Many college music degrees have a module in conducting that you could take, or if you already know the basics see if you can take conducting as a principle or joint principle study. Then get some experience. You’ll probably find you can set up you’re own chamber orchestra quite easily, as music students are always looking for opportunities to play. You may be able to conduct the college ensembles or local ones.
Get your gen ed’s out of the way, while researching a great school with a specific degree in conducting. Even if you stay in that school, Get your gen eds out of the way FIRST. (coming from a 5th year music ed student.) Music majors are some of the hardest degrees, (lots of stuff to learn) so you don’t want to be wasting your senior year on stupid stuff like biology and literature, like me. pfft.