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Bringing the Music to Life

gestures effectively (so that even in the sight-reading room, As we embark upon the “concert season”, I invite you to
your musicians will respond accordingly) do some self-analysis with regards to your conducting. If
• Decide what emotion, and what sectional colors the your conducting skills tend to lack in any major area, work
composer’s music calls for and try to show that in your on those areas. Add some variety to your conducting skills
conducting. no matter how seasoned you are. Sir Georg Solti wrote, “I
• Watch and learn from excellent orchestral and wind am still striving to improve my conducting at the age of
symphony conductors. 70.” Perhaps you may not think your conducting of the
• Rent orchestral videos that show the greats: Sir Georg music is critical. Perhaps there IS something keeping you
Solti, Seiji Ozawa, Frederick Fennel, and Robert Reynolds. from embracing growth, and accepting effective conducting
• Study the moves of our contemporary greats at TMEA as “your job.” Maybe someday you will “climb out of the
concerts, college wind conductors, and many colleagues in box” and discover the wonderful adventures that await you
the state. Discover what works for them as an exciting, insightful conductor. For your student’s sake
• Above all, GET THE TEMPO RIGHT! (Every time) and for the music’s sake, I hope you will.
• Practice difficult time meters and meter changes so My colleagues, I beseech you, please offer encouragement
that YOU are not in the way of the music making process. and praise to those band conductors who do try to bring
(If you’re not clear and confident, don’t expect the kids to the music to life. The art of conducting takes years to
be) master. Although it comes easier for some than others,
My Five Pleases it takes a major commitment to successfully become a
Please don’t start a selection with your eyes down in good conductor. Keep this in mind when you judge the
the score. contests and festivals. Extend to them your praise and
Please don’t conduct the same size beat for all dynamics. encouragement. In my opinion, when they conduct the
Please don’t mirror too much (left hand doing same music and help their students bring the music to life,
pattern as the right hand). they’re simply doing their job.
Please don’t rock or bounce at the knees as you conduct; Let me close with a few insightful words of the great
this is so distracting. orchestral conductor Sir Georg Solti from his book,
Please don’t bury your head in the score; this isn’t Memoirs (1997). “The inexplicable miracle of conducting
conducting. is that the body, eyes, and soul of a conductor transfer
Through your conducting, you should guide the something intangible and unique to an orchestra. Aside
audience’s ear and attention to the main line, key entrances, from wielding the baton, a basic necessity for a conductor
and impressive technical sections as they enter show the is to know exactly how a certain passage should sound.
audience where to listen. Remember, the notes on the If your imagination is clear, then you will communicate
printed page are mere ink dots and markings; it is the with the orchestra even if your beat and technique are not
written script waiting for the director-conductor and his first-rate. If a conductor believes in what he is doing, if he
musicians to bring the music to life. is convincing and does not vacillate, the musicians will
always follow him.”

Don Haynes, Jr. served as the Director of Bands at LBJ High School in Austin, Texas for 40 years. During his tenure, the LBJ Band earned many
sweepstakes honors, and proudly performed across the globe including ambassador trips to Beijing, China, London, England, Paris, France, and Rome,
Italy. Mr. Haynes was awarded the prestigious Texas UIL “Denius Award” in 1994, which is presented to Texas’ top UIL sponsors. At LBJ High School, his
colleagues selected him “Teacher of the Year” four times. He was recognized as the Outstanding Community Leader (Austin) in 2015. He is frequently invited
to serve as an adjudicator for competitions, and now serves in the role of music consultant for schools across Texas. Mr. Haynes has become a motivational
speaker for young leaders in the band and music industry. He is a practicing Life Coach with a focus on music educators. DonHaynes2@aol.com

Bandmasters Review • December 2017 18 Texas Bandmasters Association