CMS - Orchestra

kudos to them, they sound great. potentially stupid question , but what purpose does the conductor serve if no one is looking at them? do they really need to be there?

onemoretime :
lol. Good question. My kid told me the conductor helps them start on the same beat, and yes he does look down at the music but he does glance up at the conductor.

JAMom1120 :
They sound great! The practice shows.

Kittle :
Thank you!All the kids were so proud.

onemoretime :
As the parent of a musical (now adult) kiddo, I can say that they're *supposed to* be watching the conductor, but at the early learner level, they're likely focusing on their music more than they will be as they become more proficient and able to split their attention. The conductor is a bit like an air traffic controller -- they indicate who is coming in when, how low/high (soft/loud) they're flying, what the tempo is, etc. And they're also there for the audience -- they'll often introduce the music and give context, and you can watch for signals (both arms placed down by sides) to know when it's time to clap so you don't accidentally clap during a pause in the music.

IsisVale :
oh, very informative, thanks.I just know bugs' leopold

JAMom1120 :
We have a good friend whose GS was there too playing violin!

SteveT :
That's great. It was an amazing performance!