Comments on: Should Conductors Be Performing on Their Instruments? http://oboeinsight.com/2010/02/22/should-conductors-be-performing-on-their-instruments/ reed on! Fri, 25 May 2012 20:51:25 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: dk http://oboeinsight.com/2010/02/22/should-conductors-be-performing-on-their-instruments/comment-page-1/#comment-8944 dk Mon, 22 Feb 2010 17:39:36 +0000 http://oboeinsight.com/?p=12386#comment-8944 OK, I did that. I know I've looked at some of the student conductors we've worked with and thought "if only that person had spent some time playing in an orchestra they might have a clue about why what they are doing is so ineffectual". But continuing to practice an instrument? - I'm not sure I understand what benefit that would have on their conducting. Obviously the blogger feels that it affects his conducting, so I asked him exactly how it does; I will be interested to read his response. It would be interesting to know what our FMD* feels about that - I have heard him occasionally sit down at the piano and play beautifully, though I don't know if he actually still practices or not, and I wonder if he feels it has any effect on his conducting. *former music director OK, I did that. I know I’ve looked at some of the student conductors we’ve worked with and thought “if only that person had spent some time playing in an orchestra they might have a clue about why what they are doing is so ineffectual”. But continuing to practice an instrument? – I’m not sure I understand what benefit that would have on their conducting. Obviously the blogger feels that it affects his conducting, so I asked him exactly how it does; I will be interested to read his response. It would be interesting to know what our FMD* feels about that – I have heard him occasionally sit down at the piano and play beautifully, though I don’t know if he actually still practices or not, and I wonder if he feels it has any effect on his conducting.

*former music director

]]>