ABSTRACT
Our quest for a model of the effective choral conductor has underscored some of conducting’s complexities and issues. Rather like learning to swim, there is much that is natural about the activity, but there is much still to learn. In the sameway that swimming can becomemore efficient, so conductingwill benefit frombeing efficient. The big difference between the two activities is, however, that with conducting we have the potential to influence the musical and emotional lives of other students and choir members, whereas swimming tends to be a lonesome activity, unless, of course you are saving someone from drowning or taking part in some communal water sport. Conducting is not just about waving the arms in the air; gestures are as meaningful as language and have the capacity to create pleasant or ugly sounds. We as conductors can and do influence sound.
