Well. Im only 13 and im desperate to learn to conduct, but i have no idea wear i can learn, ive seen some courses advertised on the internet but there are 17+. Ive also seen some website with tips, but those i already new. I want to be a conductor when im older / a music teacher. Can anyone reccomend some books i can get?

Are you interested in choral conducting, orchestral conducting or both?

Ensemble more than choral.

So orchestral

Watch some conductors at work if you can. Have you a local orchestra or a choir nearby? If so why not ask their conductors if you could sit in on a few rehearsals? (You will need to take a parent with you though because of your age.) You could read a book or two about the art of conducting and then perhaps get hold of a few orchestral scores and recordings and imagine that you are conducting them. You can practise following the scores, beating time and showing the instruments what dynamics you would like etc. This is great fun. I used to do this a lot as a teen and I used to line up teddy bears, busts of Beethoven and Bach and even jam jars to give me the feel of having a group of musicians infront of me. It sounds very silly but it used to help me a lot.
Would your school let you direct the orchestra in a piece or two? It is possible to get private lessons in conducting if you are in the right area. Good luck with it.

Hello cello

Do you play in any ensembles at school which you might be allowed to try directing sometimes? Would some of your friends occasionally turn up to play for you and take it seriously?

When I was 15, my school music teacher gave me the junior recorder group to train and direct. I probably learnt more about conducting then than I ever did at music college or from books! Yes, do a search for books on google or amazon and see what you can find (not likely to be cheap though) but you just can't beat getting help from a good teacher and actually starting to do some conducting.

You may find you love it - or you may find it's not for you.

Have you asked your school music teacher if they have any tips for you?

The other thing is to try "conducting" to CDs etc (probably in private) and see how it feels. Might sound a bit far-fetched but plenty of pro conductors have done this in front of a mirror to get their technique right as they were learning their art.

Finally, just remember becoming a professional conductor is a very hard profession. Many set out but few make it. So aim to become a really good all-round musician too so you've plenty of choice later on.

thanks for the advice, but do you know the names / authors of any books? I can get orchestral scores off a good website. www.mfiles.co.uk if anyone wants it. So i might just do that. As for the school orchestra, at my new school in september, a friend and might start a Swing band of which ill most likely conduct, as i can sight read quite well and all, i just need to learn better patterens and stuff like that.

---EDIT---

Thanks oboist, just read your post. My old music teacher from middle school might help me, in exchange for some arrangements, haha.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Conducting-Techniq...0774&sr=8-1

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Conducting-Choir-A...774&sr=8-11


Do you think these would be any good?

'The Grammer Of Conducting' looks like a great book, however its quite pricey. Ill have to see what the parenta units think about that one

Maybe you could find the book second hand from somewhere or from a library?

ive looked through the library online catalouge. And yay they dont have any books on conducting. i might buy those two books i put the links to, Only £10 in total.

I'd say that would be a worthy investment then Go for it, and good luck, you seem very enthusiastic.

Thanks

Your support is very much appreciated!

Not a problem - all the best for the future.

Hi hello_cello - have you seen the comments of a professional musician (AmanadaL) on conductors in this thread: http://forums.abrsm.org/index.php?showtopic=24678 ?

depending on where you are in the country (just the general area, no details) you may find different opportunities to try conducting.
And also different people know of different contacts that might help.