Do i have to know how to play all instruments in order to conduct a band/orchestra?

Question

i would love to be a conductor someday. i already know how to play piano, guitar, sax, and clarinet pretty well. i always wondered do i have to know how to play all instruments such as violin, cello, bassoon, oboe, trumpet..etc in order to conduct a band or orchestra? that would take many many years. my emphasis is on clarinet and sax. can someone help?

Answer 1

There is a difference between a conductor and a band/orchestra teacher.  While almost all band/orchestra teachers also conduct - all conductors don't also teach.

A band/orchestra teacher does indeed need to know how to play every instrument.  This will be part of the music education program and is called "methods" class.  You won't be required to play them all well but you will have to be able to play everything.  It doesn't take as long as you would think.  Once you learn one instrument in the family, the rest come along pretty quickly.  As an example, get a flute and try to learn it.  Since you play sax and clarinet, I bet you will be playing flute in a couple days.  Do oboe and bassoon next - they might take a few extra days.

A conductor that isn't also a band/orchestra teacher does not get a degree in music education.  The conductor gets a master's degree or doctorate (DMus or DMA) in conducting.  That program doesn't usually include methods classes but will include a lot of music theory.  Many are very skilled pianists.

Clarify in your own mind what you're thinking about here.  If you mean public school band and orchestra director then that's different than the conductor of a professional orchestra (or band or choir).

There is indeed such a job as a professional conductor.  There are far fewer of them than band/orchestra teachers but they do exist out there.  The US military alone has hundreds working for them, those bandmasters of the military bands are not all music teachers.  The conductors of professional symphonies are not music teachers either - they are professional conductors.  Ã¢Â˜Âº

Answer 2

No, most conductors don't know how to play all of the instruments. Basic knowledge about the workings of all the instruments is important though. If a musician or section is not playing a passage the way you want, you'll need to explain how they should play it (faster bow, more air "through" the horn, staccato should be more defined, etc).

Since you already play woodwind instruments, you'll know more about wind instruments than strings. However, since a large part of an orchestra is the string section, you'll definitely need some knowledge on the techniques. Some examples are:

-vibrato (slow or fast makes a difference in the sound!)

-speed of the bow

-near the frog, middle, or tip of the bow (the frog is the where string players hold their bows)

I hope this helps!

Answer 3

Absolutely not.  It would be good to know the basics for each type of instrument.  You can learn what you need in a while getting a Music ed degree.

The piano skills will be a tremendous help.

Answer 4

Yes, you have to be able to teach them and know how to play them just as well as them.

It shouldn't take that long.

Answer 5

No, you don't have to know how to play them all--at least at a virtuosic level.  Depending on what sort of group you want to conduct -- band is a very different animal than orchestra -- you do need to have a very good general idea about how the instruments work.  

Answer 6

I'm a music major. If you want an efficient band, YES, you better know all of the fingerings and positionis of every instrument in that band, You can NOT fix a problem if you do not know the solution. usually issues in young bands (elementary-HS) are because of fingerings and the kids don't know alternate ways.

It's going to take you a while to learn them all. Get to work

Answer 7

You definitely want to have a good basis on every instrument. To be a professional conductor (IE symphony orchestra) you'd have to get a strong degree in conducting to begin with. I'd suggest pursuing music education and be a school band/orchestra conductor, and move up out of schools one day if you'd like. Music ed majors learn most every instrument, so that might be the way to go.

Answer 8

Same here actually! I play all woodwinds besides bassoon, and have basic fretted string/keyboard/percussion knowledge. There isn't such a job as a professional "conductor" usually those who conduct orchestras or bands are composers or educators. You would want to get at least a masters in instrumental music and with this degree, you have to be proficient in every instrument they throw at you. Good luck!

Answer 9

you should be able to;

1. know the ranges & intonation tendencies of ALL the instruments

2. know tone control, bowing and embouchure issues

3. know bow markings

4. know special percussion markings

5. know transpositions for all instruments

6. be able to read all clefs (including alto & tenor clefs)

7. be able to balance an ensemble & each section of the ensemble

8. know how to conduct a plethora of meters

9. be able to portray/communicate the character of the music you are conducting

10. be able to study & analyze a score long before rehearsing it, know how you want it to sound

the best course of study would be a bachelors degree in music education followed by a graduate degree in conducting.

the music ed degree gets you through rigorous basics of all the instruments, basic conducting skills, score reading & analysis, lots of ensemble performance experience!

the graduate degree in conducting gets you monster chops in conducting,..............

Answer 10

Typically in college if you major in conducting/directing, they make you learn all the major instruments in master classes.