<p>So I don't play any instrument can I still conduct a orchestra? I do show great sense of taste of music though.</p>
<p>Conducting majors must also be very proficient on at least one instrument(or voice) and will end up playing more! Admission to these programs is highly competitive. Here is the audition requirement as copied from one major conservatory’s site:</p>
<p>Conducting (Orchestral)</p>
<p>The conducting program requires submission of video recordings demonstrating technical and musical accomplishment on an instrument or voice</p>
<p>1jupiter…</p>
<p>If someone will let you conduct, then you can conduct. Why don’t you look for job listings for conductors and apply. Or you could just start your on orchestra.</p>
<p>With all due respect, that’s kind of like saying “if you want to be a brain surgeon, just find someone who will let you operate.”</p>
<p>OP, musical “taste” alone is simply not all it takes, by any stretch. Not only do you ultimately need to be proficient at an (or many) instrument/or voice, you also have to know exactly how to read, sight read, sight sing orchestral music. You need to understand theory in order to interpret the music you’re reading. In addition, you have to be in a position where professional musicians respect you and where you can communicate well with professional players – unlikely if you do not possess a comparable depth of musical mastery.</p>
<p>You don’t say whether you can read music or whether you sing. If you do both, then theoretically you could develop those skills to ultimately conduct – so if what you meant is that you don’t play an instrument, that’s one thing. If you can’t or don’t want to learn to read music, study music theory, engage in aural theory and sight singing, I’m reasonably confident you would not be remotely employable in that capacity.</p>
<p>Don’t know whether this was a sincere post by someone with no musical knowledge, or a ■■■■■ out for a bit of fun, the way it was written could be either. </p>
<p>That said, the answer to your question is no, conducting is not about standing in front of an orchestra and waving your arms, it is about understanding the music and getting a group of people to play it the way you envision it, and that takes all the skills mentioned and more. As far as taste in music goes, if that were a requirement, a lot of conductors, some of them prominent, would be unemployable in my opinion:)</p>
<p>Some orchestras offer audience members the opportunity to conduct as a thank-you for large donations. :)</p>
<p>Oh, c’mon. All they do is wave their hands to the beat, don’t they?</p>
<p>j/k, j/k, j/k… (I think imagep’s comment was also tongue in cheek.) I didn’t post earlier because I thought this smelled trollish.</p>
<p>I love listening to well-trained, talented musicians discuss conductors. My S had to play in an “audition” orchestra for conducting students when he was at Juilliard, and he could tell within minutes who “had it” and who didn’t. </p>
<p>Conductors need to know music inside and out - both written and audible. What is it saying, and how? They need to know about all the instruments and what they can and cannot do. They need to be able to communicate their intent visually and decisively. They need to have the respect of those they are conducting.</p>
<p>It is testimony to their level of talent that they make it look easy.</p>
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<p>Yup. That’s the point.</p>
<p>Either get Gilbert-Kaplan-kinda-rich (in which case the London Symphony will even let you record with them), or realize that you’d have much better odds if you decided that, though you don’t know how to play basketball, you’d like to coach an NBA team.</p>
<p>Being a conductor means a lot of work, and the LEAST of the skills you need is proficiency of an instrument (preferably piano), ability to transpose, read/sight read music, pedagogical skills, arranging etc.</p>
<p>Well, I once heard “conductor” defined as someone capable of following many different musicians, all at once. I have known a few amateurs who formed their own groups and put a lot of their own money into them, just so they can conduct. They often pair up with singers and instrumentalists who are willing to pay reasonably large sums to secure roles that they would not otherwise ever get to sing or play. The results, while frequently painful, are rarely fatal and occasionally comical.</p>
<p>This OP was clearly joking and it is interesting how big a response he got. Preferably piano??? That is highly disputable.</p>
<p>Necessity of a conductor at all is a more interesting topic. And yes on performance day most great orchestras could have and have had Mickey Mouse conducting.</p>
<p>^Have you checked with the OP to be sure? I am actually betting he was not joking, but was ignorant.
As to the latter, I’m not taking the bait ;)</p>
<p>It was not bait as Mickey Mouse and other “characters”, actors, donors, famous people, have conducted performances. Sometimes there is no conductor. </p>
<p>I was trying to be nice and not assume the OP was ignorant, but that is a very real possiblity. Hey I have a good ear for music, maybe I should apply with the Philharmonic.</p>
<p>On another thread, the OP asked if there is such a thing as a 3-year Engineering/Business undergraduate program.</p>
<p>^I didn’t mean ignorant in a “bad” way; just the uninformed way.</p>
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<p>On other threads the OP asked a LOT of really odd questions. Hmmm, I am not sure what to make of it.</p>
<p>Well, it appears the OP is foreign.</p>
<p>I won’t say it’s impossible, but it’s pretty close to that.
First of all, if you don’t play an instrument, then you should have a crazy good theory background (which doesn’t usually come without playing or singing). You need to know TONS bout theory to be a good conductor. Also, it’s a good idea to have a basic knowledge of all instruments in an orchestra (basic techniques and effects) in order to communicate the sound you are wanting from the instrumentalists. If you want to be a conductor (keep in mind it’s EXTREMELY competitive), then I recommend learning an instrument (piano is always good) or taking classical voice lessons. It’s never to late to learn, just don’t be too disappointed if you don’t go pro.</p>