Interview with founder

Can really every child learn to conduct or is musical education necessary?

Conducting is an intuitive child-friendly action, because it expresses what you want with facial expressions and gestures. In fact, any child can do this. Conducting lessons "only" refine this activity for the time being. Since we also offer conducting lessons as early music education and beginner lessons at every age level, no previous musical training is necessary. Conducting creates a comprehensive basis for any instrumental lessons, since all musical rules - from note reading to form and analysis - are indispensable here. 

What are the challenges for young conductors?

Children naturally find it more difficult to dare to stand in front of an orchestra and give instructions to older people. This sometimes requires a lot of inviting gestures and persuasion. But once the little ones have gained confidence, the rehearsals are carried along by a refreshing liveliness, which is also fun for the musicians in a special way.

What fascinates you most about working with professionals & children?

That the saying “children have no filter" so often proves to be true. Children have a wonderfully unpretentious way of expressing their thoughts. This often results in a beautiful sound of the orchestra more quickly and sustainably than with many adults.

What are the prerequisites for conducting?

Basically, all you need is the will to create music and the desire to work in a team. And a bit of courage! 

What important experiences do the musicians have with the amateur conductors?

The musicians are in the situation of NOT being able to rely on a conductor as usual. So they have to listen to each other even more closely in concert and act even more precisely. The result is an amazingly high quality, which is more than good for the music.

For which professional teams is a conducting workshop interesting?

Wherever people come into contact with demanding customers, conducting helps to sell: in service, in customer retention, in public relations and, of course, directly in sales. When time is money, we have to say exactly the right thing in just a few words, act impressively, and back up what we say with perfect nonverbal communication. All of this can be trained well in front of an orchestra. In addition, working with an orchestra sensitises the conductor to his personal idiosyncrasies and "quirks". Conducting helps to eliminate them, because the sound experience is 1:1 dependent on the body language of the conductor. That's why we offer the Hauptstadt-Sinfonieorchester as a place for regular practice with an ensemble.