A conductor does not “conduct;” he, by the nature of his being and his spirit, causes people to sing; he evokes sounds that hopefully, are reflective of each person’s individual life experiences.  Granted, technique and the mechanics of conducting must be taught and respected.  However, the stuff that allows for the creation of great music is rarely dealt with in the teaching of conducting.

I recently read the above from The Musician’s Soul, by James Jordan.  I like….and believe in….the idea that music does not come from technique.  I have witnessed many auditions where the performer had “monster chops” but somehow the performance lacked any type of emotional appeal.  Similarly, I have heard bands that can play all the notes and rhythms, but the performance is lifeless, unable to draw the listener in.

Of course we need to spend the time to give our students the technical skills to perform.  But more importantly, perhaps, we need to learn to use the essence of our being and spirit to inspire our students to move beyond pure technique.  After all, what is on the page is simply a representation of what we are performing.  The music comes from within, and should have the power to move the listener.

Make Today a Magnificent Day!

Gary L Rupert

Lead Mentor/COO

II:Leaders Creating:II Leaders

LCL Mentors @ Marching Arts Education