THIS IS A PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT
Listen up people ... DON'T BE FOOLED.
You do not need expensive music lessons to be an orchestra conductor. All you need is a small stick or knitting needle which you wave in the air haphazardly. See video below.

...show your musical passion.
ReplyDeleteIndeed. God bless, Tom.
DeleteWhen my brother was a little boy, my mother would give him a stick of uncooked (of course) spaghetti so he could pretend he was conducting a symphony. Easy and cheap entertainment!
ReplyDeleteBlessings, Victor!
Oh yes, how silly of me. A spaghetti stick will do; especially for Italian operas like Rossini. And Nessun Dorma. Thanx Martha.
DeleteGod bless you.
I don't suppose these Maestros just happen upon their jobs by good luck. All the same, what they're doing is all Greek to me.
ReplyDeleteYes Mevely; it is just good luck - right place at the right time and the right connections. Most of them don't know music. Just waving their stick around. Try it next time you play a record out loud at home. It's really easy. Let us know how you get on.
DeleteGod bless you.
One of the most enjoyable part of a symphony is watching the unique style of an awesome conductor.
ReplyDeletePlay the video again Debby and watch me. Do you like my style?
DeleteGod bless always.
I love music, especially music from "before my time". I was born in 1956, and I love music from the early 1900's to 1940's. :)
ReplyDeleteWhen on the radio I used to play music from the 1950s to late 1970s.
DeleteGod bless, Linda.
They are normally trying to keep flies and mosquitoes away. The tradition started in the 1700s when there were many outdoors orchestras in European countries - hence the flying insects.
ReplyDeleteGod bless, Sandie.
Hello Victor, happy Tuesday... and thank you.
ReplyDeleteOne of the delights of blogging is you never know what you are going to find out!
After reading your post I looked up five things you didn't know about conductors ...
One is: The first known recorded history of a conductor is Pherekydes of Patrae, known in ancient Greece as the ‘Giver of Rhythm’. A report from 709 BC describes him leading a group of 800 musicians by beating a golden staff.
More to read here:-
https://wno.org.uk/news/five-things-you-didnt-know-about-conductors
All the best Jan
Thank you so much, Jan. This was fascinating. I'm grateful for your time researching this. I often wondered which instruments conductors play. André Rieu plays the violin. Do they all have to be professional in an instrument before they conduct?
DeleteGod bless.
Hello Victor
DeleteApparently conductors do not need to play an instrument (although of course many do). Aspiring conductors can study at colleges and universities. Orchestra conductors typically hold a master's degree in music.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conducting
All the best Jan
This is amazing. I never expected them to have to study conducting. And I did think they should at least be able to play an instrument. How can a person conduct if they can't play an instrument? Aha ... it proves my point ... all you need to do is wave a stick haphazardly!!!
DeleteGod bless you Jan. Keep smiling. And thank you for researching this for me.
Maybe I'll even give it a whirl someday.
ReplyDeleteYou'll enjoy it, Mimi.
DeleteGod bless.