Interlude: Conducting
Showing Style with the Right Hand
Much of the style of a piece of music can be shown with the right hand
alone: short, choppy strokes for a piece like a march; long flowing
strokes for a more lyric song; a small pattern for quiet sections; a larger
pattern for loud sections.The Left Hand
Though the left hand may also beat out the patterns you just learned, the
left normally shows dynamics, articulations, cues (telling instruments or
soloists when to come in), and cut-offs.
The independence of each hand takes some effort to master. It’s a lot like
rubbing your head and patting your stomach at the same time. Try not to
beat out the pattern simultaneously with both hands (called mirroring).
It’s generally considered bad conducting form.
While you’re conducting, if you’re having trouble getting your left hand
to act independently, just let it hang at your side.Dynamics
There are several ways to show dynamics while conducting: body
position, facial expression, and hand position. Let’s start with hand
position.Hand Position
If you conduct with a very small pattern (say two square inches in
front of you), players—if they’re watching you—will play more
quietly. In contrast, very large motions will cause a group to play or
sing more loudly.
To show crescendos (gradually louden), start with the left hand
down near your gut with the palm up and gradually raise it where
the crescendo in the music should happen. By the time your hand
reaches a position above the height of your shoulder, the crescendo
should be at its peak. At the same time, the pattern in the right hand
should start small and grow larger. It’s easier to say than it is to do.
Try it.