#212. “Where Am I?”

In my previous blog, I discussed a specific way to use a video recording to help assess your conducting. Here’s another terrific technique. Video yourself conducting a piece from beginning to end. If the piece has several movements, record them all. Then, with the sound turned off, start playing the video at some random spot. After watching for only a few seconds, ask yourself this simple question: “Where am I in the piece?”

Then, using the fast-forward and reverse controls, arbitrarily pause at random spots in the video, asking yourself the same question each time you stop. The hope is that the specifics of our conducting gestures, our body language, and our face will give us a clear answer. Honing that ability will also ensure we are giving our students the best and most helpful information we can.

Peter Loel Boonshaft, Director of Education
KHS America