SEPTEMBER 24, 2020

Kadima Conductors
Your weekly guide for all things conducting

Knowledge is
Power
Read, explore, and
learn as much as
possible.

A Video Guide to the Orchestra

Always be
https://philharmonia.co.uk/resources/instruments/ curious
Expanding the mind
Based in London, England, the Philharmonia Orchestra provides us with a will lead to greater
wonderful overview of the orchestra instrument family. You are not only interpretation.
able to read about each instrument’s history and technical specifications, but
will also have short video segments from the orchestra members
demonstrating each instrument.

HENRY’S 4 TRUTHS TO CONDUCTING (AND LIFE)

Nature is the
ultimate

1 2 3 4
inspiration
Take a walk, go on a
hike. Being one with
WORK HARD BE HONEST BE HUMBLE BE THANKFUL nature opens the
musical soul.

1
 SEPTEMBER 24, 2020

Instrument
Transpositions
Why can’t we all just play in concert
pitch?
For some of us, what we see on the page is the
note that we play and the note that comes out
of our instrument. For others, what we see on
the page is the note that we play and a note
that sounds lower or higher than what is even get appointed for no particular reason.
written. You look down at your score and see all sorts of
instruments, concert pitched and transposing,
If you play a concert pitched instrument like a and now you’re confused.
violin, cello, or flute, you don’t even think twice
about this and probably think this whole idea of As a leader of an ensemble, you have to be able
transposing is unnecessary. If you play a to understand and “speak” each instrument’s
transposing instrument like the clarinet, language. And ensemble leader with more
trumpet, or even the string bass, you don’t even knowledge about this will gain the respect of
think twice about it and just know that simply their players.
that’s how your instrument works.
The video link above will summarize and give a
Now, if all you do in your musical life is simply good understanding of the whole concept.
play your instrument, then none of this is ever
an issue. But maybe at some point, you decide
you want to lead an ensemble or you might

SCORE READING: AT A GLANCE

As you get more familiar with instrument transpositions and the
different clefs, you’ll want to be able to start reading this music on
your instrument, but preferably at a piano. One of the most important
tools for any conductor is the piano because it allows you to read and
play the score so you can hear the notes in your head. Remember
that as conductors, we don’t usually have an orchestra readily
available for us to practice on so this is the next best thing.

Most of our time is spent simply reading and studying these scores.
Hearing how all of the notes sound, looking at the complexities of
each part, and most of all, interpreting the music to your personal
taste.