Orchestral Studies Book
I aspire to be an orchestral conductor: how can I learn conducting while still in high school?
I am fifteen years old, and aspire to be an orchestral conductor. I have been playing the violin for 11 years (taught by my mother), go to nearly every local Symphony concert (in which my mom plays violin), and listen to practicaly only classical music, so you could say I have quite a musical background.
I want to learn to conduct now (I don’t want to wait until I’m a graduate student in college). I’ve read several books on time beating and conducting, and have learned how to beat time in most time-signatures (by mimicing conductors like Miriam Burns and David Hoose), but have never had a conducting lesson. I have studied only one score (Berlioz Symphony Fantastique), and know almost every part by heart. How can I find a teacher, and continue learning about this absolutely captivating profession?
I dream being the conductor of a symphony orchestra. Any professional musicians or those involved in the classical music field who can contribute any advice: your input is needed.
I think it’s great that you already want to jumpstart your conducting career, but as a high school music student, your primary focus should be on violin. Universities and conservatories do not have conducting majors for undergraduates, so they will only accept you into their schools of music based on your violin audition. As an education major, however, you won’t have to focus as much on performance, but becoming a good player is still a crucial part of becoming a good conductor. No great conductor was merely a mediocre player in his past.
Since your mother is a professional violinist, she probably knows someone who could give you conducting lessons. Also be sure talk to your youth orchestra and/or high school orchestra conductor. It’s very possible that he/she gives conducting lessons, and if not he/she probably knows someone locally who could teach you. Perhaps your youth orchestra conductor or your high school orchestra conductor would even let you conduct a piece for a few minutes during rehearsal.
By the way, where are you from? I played under Miriam’s baton once in Tallahassee.
Texas All State Cello Etude Duport #8