Skills required

Conducting

Skills Required of a Conductor

No simple time beater, a modern conductor must have a passion for music and the initiative to seek out new solutions to old problems. A suitably commanding stage presence also helps, as does the ability to react quickly and appropriately in response to unexpected developments, particularly during a public performance. As a trained musician, he should also:

	Be familiar with a wide range of musical styles.
	Be aware of the problems of musical interpretation.
	Be able to read a full score.
	Have a good knowledge of the capabilities of the various instruments in the ensemble.
	Recognise pitch inaccuracy.
	Be able to maintain a proper balance and blend within the ensemble.
	Use clear and unambiguous conducting gestures.
	Establish a rapport with the players that enables him to elicit a cooperative response from the ensemble.