As an avid clarinettist and pianist to a reasonably high(ish) standard and armed with enthusiastic zeal, i proceeded to ask my music teacher at school if i could conduct a group. Heaps happened. Not. I managed to half take a rehersal of a guitar group. I was looking for slightly more, so i proceeded to ask to possibly take a school orchestra rehearsal. My teacher agreed but never got round to arranging such a time. Ideally i am looking at a way into the profession of conducting at a possible view of studying it later or at least taking it futher with uni groups etc. I, however can find no tutors around my neck of the woods, aberdeen (cmon the dons ) and are considering a different course of action. I have conducted to plenty of recordings quite aptly (cue inescapeable hilarity from replies) and feel i would have a great nack for shaping sound and drawing effects from an ensemble. So bsically, can anyone reccommend a course of action; keep searching for a teacher? Go on a summer course that isnt canford and thus is less than 10000 miles from where i live? Get conducting experiance in some other way? All suggestions welcome.

Is there any way you could volunteer at a local primary school (at lunchtime or after school) to set up a group - eg wind band, orchestra, recorder group or to work with an already established group?
They are always looking for people to do things like this because not every primary school has the good fortune to have a music specialist on the staff and many of the classroom teachers feel very anxious about musical activities if they have minimal experience themselves.

Do you have friends that could make a suitable ensemble for you to run? Could you pursuade the school to get a chamber consort sub-set of the main orchestra up and going, in which you could have rather more involvement?

Wrong time of year, but in six months' time could you get a group together for carol singing and conduct them?

The best things I can recommend you do are to watch and observe lots of different conductors, and grab any opportunity you can to do conducting that you possibly can. I'm largely self-taught when it comes to conducting, and I worked things out largely by observation and practising a lot.

All the best 1993allende

Is there anywhere near you that runs the Arts Awards?
The orchestra I play in does this and some of the young people have been learning something about conducting as part of these awards. They rehearsed a piece each with the junior band and conducted it in the christmas concert. Those interested are contiuning to develop their skills by having a junior band piece which is theirs to rehearse. This is with the support of the usual conductor.

Hi allande,

I have a few pieces of advice for you as a Head of Music who has trained as a conductor.


There is a huge amount of work you can do on your own at this stage which will help you in the long run.
To start with, the conductor has to be the best musician of the orcherstra, all the players working with you must have confidence in your ability and be able to have faith in the decisions you have made about the music.
To do this I can't recommend enough that you continue with your theory grades and work diligently on your aural skills. You need to understand the ins and outs of each instrument and their problems. I'ts vital that you understand these problems so that you can mould the sound with your players.

When I started conducting, I was often thrown my some of the questions I was asked. They could range from the historical interpretation of a particular bar, to 'My clarinet part is in A can I play it on a Bb instrument'. Not particularly difficult questions, but daunting when you have to answer straight away in front of 50 odd excellent musicians!
You will always need to be one step ahead of your ensemble so will have to research the music and learn it to the best of your ability. Singing through each part is very helpful, and marking out the main themes on your score as you listen. Test yourself my working with a score away from the cd also and try to pick out themes and structure before you listen.

When working with a choir or younger people it really does help if you are approachable and have good people skills. It really does make life easier if they can talk to you. A choir, particularly has a very different relationship with it's leader than an orchestra because often 100 odd pairs of eyes are looking at you at once, and if they like you, they will follow you anywhere musically!

As for training..................

In school, music teachers are under enormous pressure and are often overworked. It can be quite easy to offer something that there's no time to follow through on.
So my advice is to help out with the running of clubs, the bits the teacher hasn't time for. Offer to sort the music out or be orchestra librarian, make the posters for the concert, help with the seating plan. Make yourself indispensible and at the same time you will be learning the skills needed to run a good ensemble, because the actual conducting is just a small part.
I have many students who do these things and they often take over the rehearsals if I need to pop out. These students were so well trusted that I trained them to conduct alongside me, and they often ended up conducting in concerts, or were helped to set up their own school ensembles. SO, it's true what they say about working your way up by starting at the bottom. All of these skills would look great on your CV for Uni.

Finally, official training:

Contact local orchestra, professional and non professional and ask to sit in on their rehearsals. Introduce yourself to the manager or often there is a schools liaison person. You need to be very proactive when doing things like this.

Join a choir! Even if it's for a couple of weeks, you will see how somebody else runs rehearsals, and you will improve your sight reading. You might also enjoy it!

Network, network, network...........ask around for any opportunities. The more experience you can get in ANY area, the better. And the more people you know, the more opportunities. Do some accompanying, help the GCSE students with their aural, play the piano for the school choir, give clarinet lessons. By doing these things you will be expanding your musical knowledge enormously. There is nothing better than experience.

And finally, I know Canford is a billion miles away but the course is exceptional. Just have a think about it.
Also Dartington does an excellent summer school and I think that might be nearer for you.

Best of luck with it all! Keep us posted and feel free to keep asking questions!

thanks for the feedback...btw my forum name is allende not allande, but you are forgiven if you arent too hot on chilean communist leaders!.

Finally is would it be possible to discuss the feasibility of the dipabrsm in music directing (obviously not in the short term) but otherwise- is it a good qualification to have? Just how awkward is it to gain eg forming ensembles? If i am getting ahead of myself (im pretty sure i am) feel free to let me know ...

Perhaps the beam in thine own eye is obscuring the view of your dictionary...

Sorry thats gone completely over my head

If you have a local music centre of the variety that rehearses various musical ensembles on a Saturday morning, you might be able to get some time with the groups there if you are friendly enough with the people in charge. Failing that, I have a friend who actually set up his own baroque orchestra, partly because he likes baroque music and partly so he could conduct.