Conducting Resources for Students of the Craft

Introduction

Conducting sits at a unique intersection of music, movement, and communication. It’s not just about keeping time—it’s about shaping sound, guiding intention, and helping an ensemble breathe and move together as one.

As a conductor, your gestures become a kind of language. A clear beat can create confidence. A well-shaped phrase can inspire musicality. A single cue can bring an entire section to life. Over time, you’ll discover that conducting is less about controlling musicians and more about revealing the music to them.

This resource page is designed to support that process.

You’ll find:

• A glossary of common terms to help you navigate scores and rehearsals with clarity
• Videos and playlists to observe different conducting styles and techniques
• Examples of great conductors to study how gesture, expression, and clarity come together

As you explore, try to stay curious and experimental. Watch how different conductors move. Notice what feels clear, what feels expressive, and what feels confusing. Then bring those observations into your own conducting—refining your gestures, simplifying where needed, and always aiming to communicate as clearly and musically as possible.

There’s no single “correct” way to conduct—but there is a continual process of listening, adjusting, and growing.

And most importantly:
Your goal isn’t just to show the beat.
Your goal is to help the music come alive.

Glossary

A simple reference of the most common terms you’ll see and use as a conductor

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Tempor (speed)

• Largo — very slow
• Adagio — slow
• Andante — walking pace
• Moderato — medium speed
• Allegro — fast
• Presto — very fast
• Ritardando (rit.) — slow down
• Accelerando (accel.) — speed up
• A tempo — back to original speed

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Articulation (how notes are played)

• Legato — smooth and connected
• Staccato — short and detached
• Tenuto — held full length
• Accent (>) — emphasized note
• Marcato — strongly marked

Dynamics (Volume)

• p (piano) — soft
• mp — medium soft
• mf — medium loud
• f (forte) — loud
• Crescendo — getting louder
• Diminuendo — getting softer

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Style & Character

• Dolce — sweet, gentle
• Cantabile — singing
• Agitato — agitated, energetic
• Maestoso — majestic

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General Conducting Terms

• Beat — the pulse
• Downbeat — first beat of the measure
• Ictus — exact point of the beat
• Prep — gesture before the entrance
• Cutoff — how you end a note

Start with these—this covers most of what you’ll need early on. Everything else builds from here.

Videos

Hindemith Book