Whats the point of a conductor for orchestra? Sure when they start so they start together, but then what? amirite?

To keep everybody in time, so that people don't get off tempo.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

Uhhh...Yeah...And to cue people...And to time with the ballet/actors in the pit...And to cue dynamics/synchronize ritardandos/accelerandos...And to look spiffy with a magic wand...

by Anonymous 13 years ago

heh heh... spiffy... i love that word ^.^ ima use that more often... :)

by Anonymous 13 years ago

If you don't know why, you obviously don't play an instrument

by Anonymous 13 years ago

Yupp.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

No, I don't. Thank you

by Anonymous 13 years ago

Conductors have the toughest job on the stage (unless there's soloist), and there's a reason why the most successful conductors get multi-million dollar salaries. I've played in orchestras, and a bad conductor can make the entire group sound bad, as well as the converse.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

Seriously you don't have to be a genius to realize they're very important.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

But you do need to be an idiot to think otherwise. :)

by Anonymous 13 years ago

Orchestra's need a conductor to keep everyone in time. If there was no conductor the music would sound bad.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

The conductor doesn't exist to just start off the orchestra. And they don't just keep the tempo. A good orchestra can do that by well-practiced ensemble. Think of the orchestra as an instrument and the conductor as the performer. It's the conductor's interpretation of that piece—the subtle changes in tempo, the swells in volume, the phrasing—that makes the piece come alive.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

There are, however, some orchestras that perform with no conductor.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

obviously you don't play an instrument, so why would say something about stuff you don't know?

by Anonymous 13 years ago

Well, you seem rather ignorant.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

Sheesh chill people, its just a simple post...

by Anonymous 13 years ago

THANK YOU!!!

by Anonymous 13 years ago

Lol what? did you think they were up there just because its fun? If they dont keep tempo right, que you in right, or emphasize thing like dynamics, you can bet your band or orchestra is screwed!

by Anonymous 13 years ago

So they're not just there for the hell of it? Well, I guess I should find a new career choice. just kidding, just kidding, but seriously? The person who posted this is really not smart(:

by Anonymous 13 years ago

This post is like commenting on a book that you've never read; If you've never been in orchestra/band/choir you don't know anything about them!

by Anonymous 13 years ago

You obviously don't know anything about music. And don't you think that if they were useless we would have gotten rid of them by now?

by Anonymous 13 years ago

In the evolution of musical instruments, it all started with the woodwinds. However, it was soon found that there were too many keys for some people to handle. So they made fewer keys and the brass instruments were born. Later however, it was found that these instruments were still too complicated for some people, so they gave those people two sticks and stuck them in the back and the percussion section was born. However, someone still could handle the complexity of this, so they took one stick away and stuck him up front and he became the conductor.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

to keep everyone together

by Anonymous 13 years ago

Ignorant :)

by Anonymous 13 years ago

Ok! Caught me, I did this on purpose to annoy everyone and make people mad at me. . .

by Anonymous 13 years ago

I'm in the school band, (& you might say that's different, but not really, you just don't have strings) and a couple years ago our conductor was busy, so me and a couple of my friends decided to get our whole band to play one of our songs. When we finished our conductor was amazed at how well we stayed together and everything. So if we could do that in the 8th grade, (& we weren't that good) I really believe that a good orchestra does not need a conductor. :)

by Anonymous 13 years ago

You are right in the fact that some bands and orchestra's can play together without a conductor. However, I doubt you guys were playing Shostakovich 5 or Beethoven's 9th. There is a huge difference. I GUARANTEE you that you sounded 20 times better with a conductor because your concentration was on his control with tempo and dynamics, not your interpretation.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

Really, anyone who voted "yeah, you're right" on this is just ignorant. It's not just tempo you have to worry about, you have to make sure you pay attention to dynamics and accents and ritardundos. The movements of the conductor orchestrate (ahaha, play on words..)everything that goes on in a piece. (IdkWat2Put): obviously if you're band wasn't that good, how would you know if you really did a phenomenal performance? I dont doubt that there were multiple errors that wouldn't have been made, had there been a conductor.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

I'm sure their band might have done a good job for their skill level, which is why the teacher complimented them, but you're right in that it probably wasn't close to what it could have been if they'd put in the same effort and concentration WHILE the conductor was there.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

I didn't say that a conductor wouldn't make it better. I just said that a good orchestra probably wouldn't NEED one. And I was just using example that if our band, that wasn't even that good, could play a song good without a conductor, I'm sure lots of better orchestras and such could play it very good without a conductor.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

Alright, i wasn't trying to put your band down or anything, so sorry if i seemed like a bitch. But think about it-- if an orchestra didn't have a conductor at all, who would teach them the piece? An orchestra (or band, choir, what have you) needs ONE vision to follow: the conductor's. And the conductor is what keeps the group as one single unit working together to achieve the same goal. But i do respect your opinion.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

It's not to hard to learn pieces on your own, and if someone needed help they could just ask someone that played the same instrument. I'm just saying that they don't NEED one, even though I would recommend having one.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

It is the music conductor whose vision leads the musical group he is conducting. As Sonal Panse once wrote, a conductor must know "more than just how to twirl the stick."

by Anonymous 13 years ago

You're not IN an orchestra, are you? Leeeeeearn . . .

by Anonymous 13 years ago

Obviously. . .

by Anonymous 13 years ago

Thanks for just insulting my job.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

aahh!! im not trying to insult anyone!! i promise :'( And as u probably can tell i've never played an instrument in my life so yeah i honestly didn't know. but if it makes you feel any better i know now!! sorry!

by Anonymous 13 years ago

Obviosly you dont play an instrument huh,(: Well, I didnt know anythingy about music, but now I do(: Learn the facts before you speak. ;]

by Anonymous 13 years ago

I know that you did not know and that it was a mistake. I don't think people were trying to insult you, or if they were, they were just immature. But it is a very hard job. They also have plenty of behind the scenes work with understanding the score of music. It is much more challenging than you or most people understand. I hope now you realize the challenges. Go to an orchestra concert or a symphony and you can see how cool it is what one person can do!

by Anonymous 13 years ago

Ok! Thanks for not getting mad at me :)

by Anonymous 13 years ago

Okay, my life revolves around music. I play 5 instruments, i also sing, and ive been in several music competitions and concerts, and i performed at the Kennedy Center at D.C., and my mother is a music major and teaches music even till this day, and let me tell you this. An orchestra/band/choir can NEVER function well without a conductor. A conductor isnt just there to keep the beat steady or to conduct us through the dynamics and the accents and accidentals and the other musical details added. A conductor is NEEDED to actually lead the whole group to perform simultaneously and to make sure we all hear one another and follow through with what the conductor says. At times, the conductor may change what is written on a piece, because everyone in the world has a different taste in music, but obviously, not all the 50 or so individuals in an orchestra can play at whichever tempo they prefer, or whichever key to start in, and such. the music would sound like an utter dissapoinment. Now, d...

by Anonymous 13 years ago

Okay as I said I didn't know but now I do say relax there buddy

by Anonymous 13 years ago

conductors are the most important people in any orchestra. In addition to their duties during the concert (keeping everyone on time, cuing instruments that have difficult entrances, etc..), they also have a lot of duties during rehearsals. They know the music really well, so they know where to place accents, when certain parts need to come out, and help different parts play together. Anyone who thinks that they don't have a point is ignorant. I don't care if this is just a simple post and not an actual topic of debate, you shouldn't be posting things you don't know anything about.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

Wow ok I'm sorry but I'm not ignorant and actually I'm not sorry I posted this bc now I know but it's people who are jerks about an honest mistake that are annoying. I'm so sorry I can't be like you and know everything, but I'm trying.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

To keep the performers from completely falling apart. Without a conductor, they'd be screwed. Take it from someone who knows.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

K

by Anonymous 13 years ago

wow this blahblahblah chick has pissed all the band geeks off. (btw i was a band geek so it's ok if i say it. it's like the n-word)

by Anonymous 13 years ago

I think I've figured that out hah. . .

by Anonymous 13 years ago