Conductor

 

Watching an orchestration piece the other day and thought about the conductor.

A conductor is a person who directs the performance of an orchestra or choir.

A conductor is a person in charge of a train, streetcar, or other public conveyance, who collects fares and sells tickets.

A conductor is a substance or body capable of transmitting light, electricity, heat, or sound. Copper is a good conductor of electricity.

So here is this person who walks out on a stage in front of seated musicians, turns his or her back on the audience, picks up a chop stick and waves it in the air and the music starts. Multiple musicians play the complicated piece of music in time and on point with the conductor guiding them silently. When the music stops and the applause begin, the conductor turns around and takes a bow.

What did the conductor do? Didn’t play any instrument. Just waved a stick and receives appreciation.

The conductor doesn’t need to be the composer, but is assigned to get a group of individuals to play for audience music as well as they are capable. The conductor has to work with each section of the orchestra to find the best arrangement for the group assembled. Then the conductor practice all the assembled until they all work well together.

On the night of the presentation, the conductor walks out on the stage hoping all the preparation will be rewarded in a fine performance. The oboe player just had a romantic breakup. The French horn player has a daughter in the hospital. The piccolo player car needs new brakes and the second violinist is pregnant. The brass need to calm down so they don’t over blast the woodwinds and when the percussion comes in the strings will be lost.

The conductor is the captain of the ship on the stage and must keep all the parts working together to earn the applause. Whether the band is in the pit for a show tune or a power packed stadium festival, someone has to conduct the show. Improvisation is great in clubs but when a musical group only has so many minutes of stage time, the conductor keeps the pace. A glance or a point can pick out a wrong note for future discipline.

A boss or supervisor is a conductor. They are in charge of multiple personalities and abilities to accomplish a goal. If everyone doesn’t follow the sheet of music note-by-note, adjustments must be made.

You are the conductor of your life. You are handed options and opinions and decisions and as a conductor you choose the best for you.

Tickets please.