Topmusicanswers
Indicating the beat with both hands is a waste of movement. It uses up your entire upper body and both hands.
- What does a conductor do with their hands?
- Why do orchestra conductors conduct ahead of the beat?
- Which side of the hand is responsible for conducting the beat?
- Why are conductors off beat?
What does a conductor do with their hands?
At the beginning of a piece of music, the conductor raises his hands (or hand if he only uses a single hand) to indicate that the piece is about to begin. This is a signal for the orchestra members to ready their instruments to be played or for the choristers to be ready and watching.
Why do orchestra conductors conduct ahead of the beat?
So, beating ahead gives the musicians the chance to follow the conductor's instructions with a bit of warning. ... Yet amateur orchestra conductors tend more typically to conduct on the beat, to act as a clear metronome for the musicians (Bernstein wouldn't like it, but hey-ho, it's good to be in time).
Which side of the hand is responsible for conducting the beat?
Traditionally (for right-handers, at least), the right hand holds the baton and keeps the beat. It controls tempo — faster here, slower there — and indicates how many beats occur in a measure. The baton usually signals the beginning of a measure with a downward motion (the downbeat).
Why are conductors off beat?
Here's the simple response: When an orchestra plays behind the conductor, it has the room to produce a more expressive sound. ... Waiting a tick allows the ensemble to take in the trajectory, speed and style of a conductor's beat, which helps them determine what kind of sound the conductor is hoping to achieve.
