Page 1 of 1
PreparatoryBeats?
Posted: Tue Jun 02, 2026 11:26 am
by robcat2075
How many preparatory beats are you getting from... or giving as... the conductor in your adult classical-ish ensembles?
These are the beats you conduct before the music starts.
When I had introductory conducting classes c. 1980, one preparatory beat was the rule. We were drilled on that. We had to be able to cleanly start the ensemble with just one preparatory beat; as players that was what we were to expect.
And that's what think i was mostly seeing out in the wild among real conductors.
But now-a-days I'm seeing two maybe even three beats among highly-placed conductors and ensembles.
What is the convention where you are? (we can omit jazz ensembles where it is a tradition to give long audible counts)
Re: PreparatoryBeats?
Posted: Tue Jun 02, 2026 12:45 pm
by JohnL
robcat2075 wrote: Tue Jun 02, 2026 11:26 amWhat is the convention where you are?
Over the last couple months, I've seen about a dozen local community groups (over two different festivals) and did not notice any particular "convention".
Re: PreparatoryBeats?
Posted: Tue Jun 02, 2026 3:59 pm
by LeTromboniste
robcat2075 wrote: Tue Jun 02, 2026 11:26 am
How many preparatory beats are you getting from... or giving as... the conductor in your adult classical-ish ensembles?
These are the beats you conduct before the music starts.
When I had introductory conducting classes c. 1980,
one preparatory beat was the rule. We were drilled on that. We had to be able to cleanly start the ensemble with just one preparatory beat; as players that was what we were to expect.
And that's what think i was mostly seeing out in the wild among real conductors.
But now-a-days I'm seeing two maybe even three beats among highly-placed conductors and ensembles.
What is the convention where you are? (we can omit jazz ensembles where it is a tradition to give long audible counts)
Generally speaking, one, but it's not a hard rule and it depends on any number of factors.
-Tempo (past a certain tempo, giving only one beat is a recipe for disaster),
-Meter (in 3, more likely to give a full bar – you should give at least one beat unit, and many things in 3 are more aptly conceived of as being in a subdivided slow 1, musically speaking. Likewise with fast things in 2/4 or 4/4 in faster tempo where the musical best is really on the half note but where you're beating quarters)
-Level of the ensemble (amateur players are less likely to have the awareness and preparedness to start well with just one beat)
-Size of the ensemble, acoustic, distances between musicians, etc.
Re: PreparatoryBeats?
Posted: Tue Jun 02, 2026 9:50 pm
by AtomicClock
In rehearsal tonight, I saw two prep beats several times.
Re: PreparatoryBeats?
Posted: Wed Jun 03, 2026 6:53 am
by PhilTrombone
Rather than the number of prep beats, what irks me is inconsistency from a conductor.
Re: PreparatoryBeats?
Posted: Wed Jun 03, 2026 8:44 am
by JohnL
PhilTrombone wrote: Wed Jun 03, 2026 6:53 am
Rather than the number of prep beats, what irks me is inconsistency from a conductor.
Consistently inconsistent. Seems to go with the territory.
Re: PreparatoryBeats?
Posted: Wed Jun 03, 2026 8:56 am
by hyperbolica
With lower end groups and in pop situations, I see a full measure or even two, often in the form of a count off, like "one... two... one, two, three, four". Often in situations with no conductor, from a leader who also plays or a drummer.
Re: PreparatoryBeats?
Posted: Thu Jun 04, 2026 9:47 am
by CalgaryTbone
I regularly see an extra prep beat from some conductors, and still see just a single beat fro some. As long as it's clear and consistent, everyone's happy.
Jim Scott
Re: PreparatoryBeats?
Posted: Fri Jun 05, 2026 9:22 pm
by slipperyslide
Thinking back to brass band state/national competitions it tended to be a ‘ready’ holding of the baton/hands, then big one-count in.
But often there was a sneaky preview ‘this is the tempo’ bar or two before that
Re: PreparatoryBeats?
Posted: Sat Jun 06, 2026 2:33 pm
by kying832
One conductor I have follows the "1 prep beat only" to a T.
Others give more or less depending on the tempo. Faster tunes might get a full bar of prep, and slower ones get one or two beats of prep.
Compound meter pieces in something like 5/8 often get at least 1 bar of prep.
Ensemble skill level also plays a role. Getting more than one par of prep for faster tempo pieces is more likely in the lower end community band I play in.
Re: PreparatoryBeats?
Posted: Thu Jun 11, 2026 2:55 pm
by AtomicClock
When the group is to start playing at a new time signature, I often see a full prep measure. Some conductors give the measure in the new meter, some in the old. I wonder if either is more correct.
