Conducting Music with the Left Hand

Part of the Video Series How to Be a Music Conductor

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Music conductor's use of the left hand. Learn tips and techniques for conducting music with these video instructions.

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Conducting Music with the Left Hand
Hello, my name is Duane Carter and, on behalf of Expert Village, I will be talking about band conducting. The left hand may occasionally be used to mirror the right hand. This is rare and should not be used regularly. It is usually used during the choral passages, where shape is more important than strict time. Often, during these types of sections, the music will robato, a sort of flexibility of time or rollentondo, a gradual slowing down or stretching of time. The left hand is also used for dynamics. The hand can indicate whether a section of music is to be played louder or softer. It shows both crescendos and dimuendos. Likewise, the right hand can determine the dynamics by how large or how small the pattern is. However, it is best when the two hands work together to produce the desired effect. Also, the left hand is used to provide cues. These cues indicate when a soloist or section of the ensemble is to make an essential entrance. Like, with conducting time, there is usually a preparatory beat before the actual entrance. This can become quite complicated when there are multiple entrances across the ensemble that requires cueing. Therefore, it is extremely important that the conductor is very familiar with the piece.

About the Expert

Expert: Duane Carter has performed with and arranged for many jazz, R & B, and classical ensembles and earned a B.A. in Music Performance from California State University, Los Angeles. Read More