Muhamad Yusri

The following are just my personal thoughts and notes. You may find it familiar or may be experiencing the same. Please do share and let’s all learn from one another. The objective here is to drive musical performances in the direction of engagement and amazing experiences both for the ensemble and the audience. Thank you in advance for reading and for your sharing.

An ensemble will sound better if the conductor knows the score well enough to not use it during performance. I have been looking at some videos of ensemble performances and I realized that the performances would have been even better if the conductors “conduct” rather then beat time and look down at the score most of the time. Each time he/she looked down, there was a dip in the engagement level between the music and the listeners as the flow of music was disrupted. Beating time is so monotonous.

A weak ensemble can sound good and a good ensemble will sound amazing! I thoroughly believe that this idea is possible if the conductors show more presence on the podium. Majority of concert-goers are supporters of the musicians on stage and therefore, the performance does not effect them much. They are there to give support and encouragement. However, their overall experience can be enhanced if they felt the connection to the music and with the performance.

When was the last you had a good meal? A 3-course dinner that left your taste buds tingling with sensations and the only thought you had after the meal was when you would be going back? A musical performance should have the same effect. I once watched a concert with 3 conductors and the contrast between each Maestro and the engagement level with the ensemble was staggering. The audience was left thinking whether they had just attended 3 concerts of 3 different ensembles in a span of 90 minutes. I guess in a way, the personality of the conductors do have a role to play in the ensemble’s performance but … I must say that the best performance was with the Maestro who milked every musical phrase and made sure that everyone in the ensemble was watching him. Spectacular! The audience was on their toes throughout the segment.

Things to work on and think about…

1. Know your score well. You can use it during rehearsals but try not to during a performance. Keep the focus on the flow and the balance and on the ensemble. When the ensemble is engaged, they will play many times better. Trust me on this.
2. Smile and be more encouraging. You may have weak players but one day, they will get better. You should be an agent of progress and not a destroyer of the human spirit.
3. Be understanding. Every musician in your group is trying their level best and sometimes they can’t come to rehearsals, not because they don’t want to but because they have work to do. So do not reprimand them when they attend after missing some. They might not come back for good.
4. Choose good repertoire that matches the group. Something too philosophical or too far beyond them might just break them. Be mindful of the capabilities of each member in the group and find a balance. I find this really hard to do. If you have a formula on this, please share.

I am constantly looking for experiences that will help me in my personal growth as a Conductor and Conducting tutor. I look forward to your sharing and thoughts. Thank you.