Posted by Tom Mason on May 21, 2003 at 06:32:03:
In Reply to: Re: Re: are Band Directors Musicians? posted by Rick Denney on May 20, 2003 at 22:59:47:
I don't know if they have to be, but I bet that most good conductors are also very good on their instrument at one time, unless they have spent so much time away from the instrument that they might have a few cob webs to blow out. I suspect that this is true because they had to have some way of getting the music out before they became conductors.
Maybe I am seeing the difference between good and great differently than others. I don't think that a great conductor should have to be able to play a particular solo to be able to conduct the orchestra that is accompaning, but at one time or another the conductor probably was able to come close.
I mostly agree with the last paragraph. I feel that the conductor will be good on one instrument.
Tom Mason