In sheet music and keeping the beat: eye contact, hand gestures, breath intake and a myriad of other physical and emotional cues all play a role in guiding an orchestra, band or other group.
Some basic terms you'll have to know:
* Tempo The musical work's pace. Such instructions as ''andante'' ("walking pace"), ''adagio'' ("at ease"), ''largo'' ("very slow") and ''presto'' ("faster") signify how fast or slow to play.
* Meter Serves as the measuring mark for the beat. Commonly occurring measures are 3/4 time (typically waltzes), 4/4 time and 6/8 time.
* Dynamics Signifies how loudly of softly to play, when to increase or decrease volume according to the feeling of the work.
You will need to learn how to read music, and might want to begin by learning an instrument yourself. A history and pointers to leading a musical ensemble.
While conductors typically use batons to mark the beat, you can also use your hands to conduct.
