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Good Conductor

What makes a good conductor?  Well, musical imagination and intelligence certainly come first since there's no point in trying to communicate with an orchestra without ideas worth communicating.  An excellent ear is essential, both for judging overall results and for pinpointing specific problems.  And so is a rock-solid sense of rhythm.  A good conductor must also have a certain physical grace, or at least coordination in order to produce a clear beat and musically meaningful gestures.  And it almost goes without saying that a conductor will have enough personal presence to be a convincing and even inspiring leader.  Although this may seem obvious, with a good conductor, both the music and the orchestra playing it sound better after rehearsal than they did before.  And like all good musicians, a conductor must have a flair for performance, the ability to bring something extra when it counts the most.

A Minute with Miles – a production of South Carolina ETV Radio, made possible by the J.M. Smith Corporation.

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Miles Hoffman is the founder and violist of the American Chamber Players, with whom he regularly tours the United States, and the Virginia I. Norman Distinguished Visiting Professor of Chamber Music at the Schwob School of Music, in Columbus, Georgia. He has appeared as viola soloist with orchestras across the country, and his solo performances on YouTube have received well over 700,000 views.