I don’t remember when or where I first learned of it—it’s in my files somewhere, but it struck me as an important matter that Milan Conservatory singers conducted themselves while vocalizing. This is one of those things to tell students in singing lessons.

This isn’t too big a deal for those students who’ve had prior music training (see my previous post on piano studies, etc), but can be a real trip for those who haven’t.

I learned to conduct early on in my musical journey, only later learning its historical importance to singing. Yes—the Muse made me do it—and have students conduct themselves when they can breathe correctly, form pure vowels, and vocalize on 5-tone and 9-tone scales.

Why?

Rhythm is the basis of all music. The singer who has a lovely voice but can’t keep time? They won’t be given time on the stage. It’s that simple.

The idea that anyone can throw on a heavy costume, stare into bright lights, connect with the conductor in the pit, and experience the waterfall of applause at the end of the opera is overrated. That’s the end result. The beginning is standing alone in a practice room, waving your arm in time to the music, and getting your hand to coordinate with your mouth.

Over and over and over: a zillion times.

Conduct with a metronome and you’ll be cooking. Conduct with your left hand and you will likely end up behind yourself.

Right hand please—it helps engage your right ear: the necessary leading ear in singing which is especially important for singers who are mixed-dominant.

[Danger, Will Robinson! I worked with an important academic who fancied himself a conductor—a mixed-dominant man who routinely conducted behind his own beat and would become rather annoyed if you followed him exactly. If you are a mixed-dominant singer? Using the right hand my feel weird at first, but it’s right.]

The technique of conducting? You just have to get a sense of where the beats are in space. Yes—it takes practice. Yes—you will find and become the music if you—and I reiterate for emphasis—coordinate your hand with your mouth.

Persist and you may find yourself a professional.

Keeping vs beating

Alice sighed wearily. `I think you might do something better with the time,' she said, `than waste it in asking riddles that have no answers.'

`If you knew Time as well as I do,' said the Hatter, `you wouldn't talk about wasting it. It's him.'

`I don't know what you mean,' said Alice.

`Of course you don't!' the Hatter said, tossing his head contemptuously. `I dare say you never even spoke to Time!'

`Perhaps not,' Alice cautiously replied: `but I know I have to beat time when I learn music.'

`Ah! that accounts for it,' said the Hatter. `He won't stand beating. Now, if you only kept on good terms with him, he'd do almost anything you liked with the clock. For instance, suppose it were nine o'clock in the morning, just time to begin lessons: you'd only have to whisper a hint to Time, and round goes the clock in a twinkling! Half-past one, time for dinner!'

—Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Chapter VII