[Fmpro] Conducting (was "Opera")

[Susan Poliniak]

I don't know about the other conductors here, but in my younger days  
when I was a post-grad and just starting out as a serious conductor  
(Marinho, I was up the street from you at Mannes for conducting), I  
would sometimes feel as though I'd walk into a rehearsal space with  
"fresh meat" written all over my forehead.

Some colleagues of mine would immediately turn into dictators in  
those situations--that if they looked and acted like dobermans, they  
would somehow gain "respect"--but I've never understood the point of  
conductors being mean and bossy for the sake of being mean and bossy.  
Most musicians want to work and play well with others. That said, I  
did I have to learn the hard way that, with some people, being  
effective and being nice do not always go together (I had a rather  
"enlightening" experience on a gig for a major classical label years  
ago). Sometimes, you need to kick someone to the benches so the rest  
of the team can play to win. The good news is that the remaining  
players usually thank you for it.

I've noticed that the attitudes tend to congregate towards the bottom  
of the food chain, so this is an issue I've had to deal with less and  
less as the years pass. I've also noticed that, when I've had an  
unpleasant experience on a conducting gig (and, fortunately, the last  
such experience was *many* years and *many* gigs, ago), it's because  
I *didn't* fire someone who was being unprofessional.

Cheers -
Susan

> I agree with you completely Ted. Patience is the key. But both you  
> and Mr King, must have
> neglected the fact that on that particular situation, I had a  
> musician with an attitude who
> presented a plain lack of cooperation on a recital rehearsal with a  
> very limited budget and
> schedule.
>
> I have had excellent experiences with small ensembles, string  
> quartets and smaller orchestras,
> in and out of school. For the most, the musicians were so skilled  
> and we were all so in tune with
> each other that sessions went smooth and flawless.
>
> I have witnessed corrective action from conductors,composers and  
> even producers throughout
> history when things got to the last straw. I am however confident  
> that with most orchestras today,
> including brilliant musicians, aka workhorses, that isn't an issue  
> and rarely there is ever a
> reason for any stress related episodes.
>
> Furthermore, I trully believe that part of being a great leader is  
> conquering the liking of those who
> are dropping blood sweat and tears for your work.
>
> But having had to fire musicians yourself and knowing how schedules  
> go specially on film where
> there are literally no rehearsals and little to no forgiveness from  
> the directors and producers,
> you have to be steadfast and act quickly should things go wrong.
>
> And that's what I did, at that time, at that situation.
>
>
> Marinho Nobre
> Music for Motion Picture
> score at marinhonobre.com
> Voice 347-424-4985  Fax - (718) 210-3151
> http://www.marinhonobre.com
> http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1971862/
> _______________________________________________
> The Film Music Pro List is sponsored by Film Music Magazine -   
> http://www.filmmusicmag.com
>
> Best of FMPRO: http://www.fmproquotes.com - Quotes site  by Billy  
> Hale Music
>
> To edit your list options or unsubscribe, visit:
> http://nxport.com/mailman/listinfo/fmpro


** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **
Susan Poliniak
susan at susanpoliniak dot com
www dot susanpoliniak dot com