Conducting - important?

I'm taking a conducting course in uni at the moment - and very interesting it is too.

So I was just interested what your opinions are on the matter; what importance do you think conducting has to a career in composition nowadays if any? Do you think it helps to be able to conduct your own stuff?

Well, if you are conducting your own work, then you will have a massive advantage as you will know exactly what the composer intended, and as composer you can get exactly what you want out of a performence, which you may not necessarily be able to get if someone else if conducting your work. So I think yes, it is important, which is exactly why I'm learning too :angry:

what importance do you think conducting has to a career in composition nowadays if any?

I wouldn't think it would have any importance unless one of two things happen:

1. Learning to be a conductor actually helps you compositions to be better.

2. You actually become a popular conductor and thus your fame as a conductor helps your compositions become noticed and/or played.

Do you think it helps to be able to conduct your own stuff?

Helps?

In what way? With respect to being important to your career as a composer? Probably not, unless it has affected one of the two things I've already mentioned.

I don't think you can go wrong learning how to conduct, but I don't see that as necessarily being important to a career in composing. This is just a guess on my part, but I just don't see the connection unless you actually become a conductor, and the exposure to being so close to the performances might help you personally as a composer. But I don't think that would be guaranteed, it may or may not help. That probably depends on the individual.

The real question is whether or not you think it will help YOU.

If you feel that it will then you may very well be right!

Go for it!

Well, if you are conducting your own work, then you will have a massive advantage as you will know exactly what the composer intended, and as composer you can get exactly what you want out of a performence, which you may not necessarily be able to get if someone else if conducting your work. So I think yes, it is important, which is exactly why I'm learning too :angry:

Advantage, well who says that your interpretation of your own piece is the best? Yes, of course it is your own piece that you have written, but that doesn't mean that you would conduct it best, right?

Advantage, well who says that your interpretation of your own piece is the best? Yes, of course it is your own piece that you have written, but that doesn't mean that you would conduct it best, right?

Well if you were crap at conducting, that's probably the case. But then, surely your interpretation is the most important one - but maybe one another conductor might not agree with.

That said, a fresh interpretation would probably be helpful as well.

I wouldn't think it would have any importance unless one of two things happen:

1. Learning to be a conductor actually helps you compositions to be better.

Interesting thought. I suppose constant exposure to other orchestral scores can only be good for your own work.

I have to work on my conducting. After a full year of conducting classes I'm pretty horrible.

Lets face it, as a composer/classical musician, if you want to get anywhere, you'll HAVE to conduct something somewhere. No doubt about it, you need to know how to conduct as a composer, however basic your knowledge of it may be.

Interesting thought. I suppose constant exposure to other orchestral scores can only be good for your own work.

Differnet individuals gain inspiration in differnet ways. This is true of all art forms. If you feel that devilling into the art of conducting then it’s obviously right for you since this is what is “calling” you. But that doesn’t mean that it would necessarily be absolutely right for everyone.

That’s all I’m saying. In other words, the question is a personal one and may have a different answer for differnet people. The mere fact that you feel it may be important suggests that it probably will be important for you. I just don’t believe that anyone can say with conviction that becoming a conductor is necessarily important for all composers.

For me, learning to play a wide variety of instruments seems to be beneficial. The more instruments I learn to play the more compelled I am to write music for them. Yet, I’m not about to claim that this would necessary be beneficial for all composers across the board. I can only say that I find it highly inspirational and I strongly recommend learning to play as many differnet instruments as you possibly can. But I’m sure there are others who would suggest that they see no benefit in this at all.

On a similar note, because I compose with instruments in hand I tend to write music from the perspective of the performers. (I’m not saying that this is necessary good, I’m just pointing out the perspective). If you focus on conducting you’ll very well be incline to compose music from the point of view of a conductor. (Again, I’m not saying one is better than the other, I’m merely stating that they are two entirely differnet perspectives)

The perspective that works best for any given composer is mostly likely a very personal thing. It’s art. I’m sure that there are many composers who prefer not to even think about performing or conducting at all when they compose and they approach their music writing from an entirely differnet perspective all together.

The bottom line is that if you are attracted to conducting and feel that it would be beneficial for you, then you’re probably right because this is what you find compelling. I certainly wouldn’t argue against what you feel is calling you personally. If you feel a calling to conduct, then by all means do it! It's obviously right for you if that's what you find compelling.