Conducting, I tried it once off the cuff, and quickly realized there were subtle aspects that I was missing. There is a lot more to it that I was able to grasp simply by watching conductors.
I do basically what a conductor does with a baton, except I also play along with the orchestra. So I have to juggle the roles of playing the concertmaster; sometimes I drop the violin and wave my arms.
Conducting is way over my head.
The success of our operas rests most of the time in the hands of the conductor. This person is as necessary as a tenor or a prima donna.
Conducting was just something that happened by fluke.
I can't even touch another conductor's baton. The center of gravity, the feel of the handle, puts me totally off.
I have so much regard for the art of conducting. It's easy to look not so good up there.
Conducting is a strange thing to teach.
