Conductor

The conductor of the orchestra is very important. He or she has the role of keeping the tempo (or beat) so that the musicians play together, starting and stopping at the same time. The conductor must also decide how to make the notes sound beautiful. Both of the conductor’s arms are used to do these two jobs at one time.

Each conductor has his or her own way of making each piece special. They interpret it in their own way.

The conductor holds a special stick, called a baton, in his or her right hand and keeps the tempo with the right arm. The left arm is used to give the musicians instructions on how to make their parts sound beautiful.

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