A Little more sweat maestro, please

[Iago]

November 9, 2007,  12:18 pm
A Little More Sweat, Maestro
Want to look as buff as an orchestra conductor?


(Richard Termine for The New York Times (left and center); Eddy Risch/Keystone)

For the audience, a symphony performance is about relaxing to beautiful music. But for the conductor, it's a workout. Most conductors wave their arms, jump and break a sweat during every performance.

Inspired by the aerobic workout he gets from leading an orchestra, long-time conductor David Dworkin has created "Conductorcise,'' an exercise program that has participants waving batons and sweating to the really-oldies by Beethoven and Mozart.

"There's such energy in classical music,'' said Mr. Dworkin, 73, a retired Metropolitan Opera clarinetist and former conductor of the New Jersey and Vermont symphonies, among others. "I try to translate the musical energy into physical energy.''

While there's no scientific research on the health benefits of Conductorcise, studies do show that physical activity that boosts heart rate is good for you. Conductorcise also works out the upper body, which is often neglected by walkers and runners. And it is low impact and requires no skill, making it easy for people who are older, very overweight or chair bound. Mr. Dworkin teaches his students some basic conducting techniques based on the beat of the music, such as the "2-4″ and the "4-4," among others. But the real goal is for participants to feel the beat and wave their arms to the music. "I put a baton in your hand, but you don't need to be precise,'' he noted.

Mr. Dworkin has hosted warm-ups before American Heart Association walk-a-thons and conducts classes all over the country, including workshops in nursing homes. On Sunday, he will host two large classes at the Forever Young: 50-Plus Expo in New York City. You can see a video on his Web site.

How much of a workout you end up getting from Conductorcise all depends on the music. For high-energy conducting, Mr. Dworkin suggests "Stars and Stripes Forever" by John Philip Sousa. The first movement of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony or the "Thunder and Lightning Polka" by Johann Strauss are also heart rate-boosting options. For a cool-down or meditative moment, he recommends the middle movement of Mozart's 21st Piano Concerto.

[jochanaan]

And that's nothing compared to the workout the players get! 

[MishaK]

And it is low impact and requires no skill, making it easy for people who are older, very overweight or chair bound.

Oh, to how many actual maestros does this apply? 

[Iago]

Oh, to how many actual maestros does this apply? 

I've often said, you're a dingbat. Do you think "I" wrote that article?
It's from the NY Times.  Ask THEM!!

[Larry Rinkel]

Does Levine do this too?

[MishaK]

I've often said, you're a dingbat. Do you think "I" wrote that article?
It's from the NY Times.  Ask THEM!!

You're a little slow. So I'll give you a chance to re-read my post and explain to me where I ever alleged that you wrote the article. (You've in any case never written anything that extensive or coherent in this forum, so nobody could have reasonably attributed that article to your authorship.) While you're at it, take note of the smiley. To most posters that indicates that the remark is supposed to be taken with humor and not seriously.

[Mozart]

He stole my idea! What a douche! George...you remember don't you? I called it conductorobics.....damnit I knew I shouldn't have let that idea out.

[Mozart]

BTW, what is the purpose of the letter a in sweat? Wouldn't swet work just as well? Wet with an s in front of it.

[techniquest]

BTW, what is the purpose of the letter a in sweat? Wouldn't swet work just as well? Wet with an s in front of it.

The eccentricities of the English language; there's probably a reason for it back in the mists of time.
I like the idea of 'conductorobics' and, being someone who could certainly afford to lose a few pounds, I think a fun (and very private) workout to some Prokofiev (for example) could be a good idea. Imagine having the discipline to be able to work up to the whole of Mahlers' 'Resurrection'!!
BTW, I'd like to nominate the worlds sweatiest conductor as Gianandrea Noseda.

[MishaK]

BTW, what is the purpose of the letter a in sweat? Wouldn't swet work just as well? Wet with an s in front of it.

Due to the absence of any equivalent to the Académie Française, the English language is hopelessly incongruous when it comes to pronunciation and ortography. It all depends on the etymology of each individual word and how it was incorporated into English. A favorite example of linguists is that conceivably you could spell the word "fish" instead as "ghoti" and it wouldn't be illogical in English: "gh" as in "tough" for the "f" sound; "o" as in "women" for the "i" sound; and "ti" as in "nation" for the "sh" sound.

[Iago]

The "sweatiest" conductor in history HAS to be Leonard Bernstein.
After a work like the Mahler "Resurrection" or the Shostakovich 5th Symphony, the first few rows in the concert hall must be vacated in order to mop up all the sweat
that has flowed off his body.

[jochanaan]

"You should not perspire when conducting: only the audience should get warm." --Richard Strauss

[12tone.]

BTW, what is the purpose of the letter a in sweat? Wouldn't swet work just as well? Wet with an s in front of it.

And we all go thither to ye olde English!  Let us brayk forth and swet a long to music of thine harp and flute!