What a conductor actually does on stage
It’s more than just dancing around.
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If you’ve ever seen an orchestra perform you’ve probably had a difficult time looking away from the person dead center on the stage – the conductor. It’s hard to miss someone as they swing their arms around pointing at the musicians that seem to be focused instead on their music stands. So what exactly is the conductor doing?
We decided to ask James Gaffigan – a conductor who recently guest conducted the New York Philharmonic in Central Park – just what it is that makes a conductor so necessary and how their actions shape the performance.
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@simoneric
April 4, 2026 at 10:06 am
Still Confused Gang 🙋♂️
@pygmy_leopard
April 4, 2026 at 10:06 am
Do you try to embody the composer ?
@joshuawillard9813
April 4, 2026 at 10:06 am
Doesn't answer the question I've genuinely wanted to know since I was a child.
What is the purpose? Like, couldn't they just read from the sheet?
@knifeteeth
April 4, 2026 at 10:06 am
Absolutely unnecessary and everyone knows it
@ZacharyNecan
April 4, 2026 at 10:06 am
you conduct not command there's a difference.
@youwonder472
April 4, 2026 at 10:06 am
Thanks for confirming conductor is indeed absolutelly useless. He is just a clown on the podium.
@balbila2681
April 4, 2026 at 10:06 am
I still don't understand what a conductor does
@Yashahiro_
April 4, 2026 at 10:06 am
I always found conductors to be redundant. Musicians already practice playing for a long time before playing a piece. I never looked at my conductor while playing, and he never really made a difference
@PeterLittlehorse-s6h
April 4, 2026 at 10:06 am
James Last was the master.
@RedAvery1
April 4, 2026 at 10:06 am
What am I doing with my life
@Mr.Bimbpleton
April 4, 2026 at 10:06 am
Still don't know what a conductor does. The whole orchestra practiced and rehearsed until numb, what does the conductor do… nothing
@Spadooch
April 4, 2026 at 10:06 am
I came in fully expecting and hoping to be convinced that the conductor isn't useless. It did not meet my expectations lol
@bantehayes9973
April 4, 2026 at 10:06 am
Mr. Krabs is gonna need you to get his dollar back.
@QuicklearnPro-m6r
April 4, 2026 at 10:06 am
@QuicklearnPro-m6r?sub_confirmation=1
@realeques
April 4, 2026 at 10:06 am
i like that actually … so the gist is : every player loads off a bit of responsability to the conductor and plays better
@Sheenifier
April 4, 2026 at 10:06 am
What I get from this is that that the orchestra are the body parts and the conductor is the brain. The body parts know they're function and roles, but the brain provides the coordination and control of the body
@loredofuego
April 4, 2026 at 10:06 am
Play Maestro on VR.
@BigKev2425
April 4, 2026 at 10:06 am
From what I see conductors are useless. The bands already practiced everything they play so the conductors just wave their hands around willy nilly
@BløødMother33
April 4, 2026 at 10:06 am
After about an hour of researching orchestral conducting I am not afraid to say I still don't understand conducting one bit..
@DeadlyRivfader
April 4, 2026 at 10:06 am
"you should focus on the music. not the conductor"
Well when I saw Metal meets Classics in Wacken 2014, a metal festival, the two conductors decided that during the Pirates of the Caribbean theme they should have a duel with their batons.
@RoryBrown-j4s
April 4, 2026 at 10:06 am
so its useless lol
@cate01a
April 4, 2026 at 10:06 am
the computer will stay true to the composers intent 😉
@charlessmith263
April 4, 2026 at 10:06 am
Suppose I were the conductor, and I had to conduct an excerpt of the B minor section of the "Pathetique" symphony–the 2nd movement, (the B section), with the basses and timpani doing the D pedal point in 5/4. The upper strings and winds, with the help of the brass, do measured accents on beats 1 and 3, making beats 2, 4, and 5—weak.
From this, I can create my own 5/4 beat pattern here, using the front tip of the baton, or the RH (without baton), as a guide.
Starting at the imaginary center plane at roughly chest level before doing the ictus……..
1st beat – Going to the L of the center plane, do a drop motion going SW.
2nd beat -Going also to the L of center plane, do another drop motion, lower this tiime, also going SW.
3rd beat – Now going to the R of center plane, do a slight upward motion going NE.
4th beat – Staying in the R of the center plane, do a slight upward motion going N.
5th beat – Staying in the R of the center plane, do a slight upward motion going also NE.
Repeat that beat pattern.
@ShadowT23
April 4, 2026 at 10:06 am
Hot pockets guy back at it again
@danzackblack5829
April 4, 2026 at 10:06 am
This didn't really explain anything
@HitsuyoAku
April 4, 2026 at 10:06 am
It just dawned on me while watching this that the orchestra can’t hear the orchestra while they’re playing. And the conductor is the one that’s actually playing the orchestra as a meta-instrument. Fire.
@janhansen554
April 4, 2026 at 10:06 am
I witness my state channel tv to have a beginner as conductor in front of pro musicians who have played for year and perform perfectly. Well, it turn to be a very terrible performance for the them… Music was complete mess, and it didnt sound right at all.
Not a conductor at all, but yes, they do make sure u hear great music
@shirleypianosounds
April 4, 2026 at 10:06 am
To add conductors help keep it all in time , otherwise sloppy playing
@shirleypianosounds
April 4, 2026 at 10:06 am
It’s only now joining a music ensemble I realise how difficult being a conductor is , it’s like they need to know all the instruments dynamics
@clhound
April 4, 2026 at 10:06 am
Bob Cobb makes a good point.
@hardcorehunter7162
April 4, 2026 at 10:06 am
They aren't that important for the show since everyone is practiced. In fact Beethoven's orchestra just ignored what he was doing because he would just flail his arms without any rhyme or reason due to being deaf. Everyone for the most part knows their role by the time opening night happens.
@daanjansen7327
April 4, 2026 at 10:06 am
if there are 50 people that a very good a playing a single instrument that doenst mean they get the whole situation of everyone thats is playing along them. Also physically you are sitting in 1 spot whilst the conductor sees everyone.. I can also imagine that the conductor can correct the person behind you that you cannot see. Sometimes a manager is really just nessecary.
@JayBoyboy-i7i
April 4, 2026 at 10:06 am
I still have no idea what you do.
@DigitalDiamonds24
April 4, 2026 at 10:06 am
Introductions unclear, items are now levitating around me
@bradical2723
April 4, 2026 at 10:06 am
Im walking away from this video actually knowing less about what a conductor does…. youre telling me, the people playing the instruments dont know what the count would be by looking atbtje music, or how to play the song without the conductor there?
Comments are closed.