ABSTRACT
Most conductors have experienced expanding their arms outwardly to elicit a crescendo only to have the ensemble respond with little or no audible change. The kinesthetic authenticity demonstrated by the leading conductors, however, is a direct result of their mental energy. Most of the existing pedagogical resources are written from the vantage point of the conductor. The ability to assess the quality and effectiveness of a conductor's non-verbal communication is where the expertise of Jerald Schwiebert shines. The reality is that the role of the conductor is divided into two components. On one side is the need to attend to various technical considerations and navigational aspects of a performance. The other side comprises shaping an ongoing conversation between the ensemble and the conductor that unfolds in real time. This second aspect of the conductor's purpose is where expressivity and spontaneity live. It is where master conductors spend a great deal of their time and effort.
