How to conduct tempo changes

Conducting Pills Conducting tempo changes By Gianmaria Griglio

Conducting Pills How do you choose the right tempo? A tempo is a pace at which a piece is performed. It’s one of the big challenges of conducting, both from a musical and from a technical point of view.

Conducting Pills How do you choose the right tempo? The right tempo occurs only when you manage to convince the orchestra and the audience that that is how the composer intended it.

Conducting Pills Tempo changes A tempo change is introduced by the composer with either a different marking that immediately changes the tempo with no transition or with a gradual tempo change through a rallentando or accelerando.

Conducting Pills Instant tempo change If there’s a break between the 2 sections simply stop and give an upbeat in the new tempo

Conducting Pills Instant tempo change If there’s no interruption you are going to need to stop your gesture before the tempo change, and wait until you have just enough time to give the upbeat in the new tempo.

Conducting Pills Transitional tempo change As a general rule, the amplitude of the stroke is proportionally inverse to the speed you are trying to reach .