Small musical ensembles do not need a conductor. Decisions regarding musical style are agreed upon during rehearsal. The performers stay together rhythmically during a performance by listening to each other and by using gestures and eye contact. They can adjust quickly to each other's tuning, dynamics, and performance style.
But this kind of communication becomes impossible with larger groups. A conductor is needed. During rehearsals, the conductor makes and conveys decisions regarding musical style (tempo, dynamics, and articulation, to name a few). During performances, the conductor's beat keeps the group to the tempo as well as making sure that everyone plays each beat at exactly the same time. The conductor also uses various gestures to remind the ensemble about dynamics, articulation, etc.
Conductors of early orchestras conducted from the keyboard or beat on the floor or a music stand with a stick. But the orchestra kept getting larger, stopped including the harpsichord, and started including more soft passages in which audible stick-beating was unpleasant. Conductors since the Classical period have stood in front of the musicians, facing them and conducting using gestures.
As a general rule, conducting is done with the right hand. Conductors of large instrumental groups usually use a conducting stick, called a baton, so that the precise downbeat is easy to see. This helps all the instrumentalists, even those in the far back, "attack" the note at exactly the same time. Conductors of choral groups and of smaller instrumental groups may not need a baton. They often choose to conduct just with the hand.
Below you will find some simple diagrams and animations showing the conductor's motions for beating measures of 2, 3, or 4. The diagrams and animations are very simplified in order to make the basic gesture easy to understand; a real conductor would not use such straight, stiff motions.
For some classroom activities that allow younger students to do some "conducting", please see Conducting Music: Classroom Activities.
With elementary-age children, you will probably want to stick to a very simple style of conducting, as suggested in Conducting Music: Classroom Activities. If you or your students is interested in practicing a more standard style of conducting, here are some diagrams and animations that may help. Keep in mind, however, that even these are very simplistic, too straight and rigid, and show only the basic motions. The style of a real conductor will be very rigid in terms of showing exactly when the beat happens, but it will tend to be more fluid and curved in between the beats. An outstanding conductor may even at times dispense altogether with going through the proper motions, conducting with a gesture, a nod of the head, or facial expressions alone. (Only very good conductors can do this; if anyone else tries it, the result is confusion among the musicians.)
Illustrations by Ellen Rockett.
Conducting Music: Classroom Activities
