For more classes like this one, please visit the Benjamin Zander Center - www.benjaminza... Daniel Cho, conductor Benjamin Zander's Interpretation of Music, Lessons for Life Dave Jamrog, Audio/Video
Heartfelt Quotes of Zander: "The first thing to do is to decide exactly what to do." "Don't look worried, don't allow yourself to look worried." "You're not worried, you are sharing something great. Worry is about you, sharing something great is about Beethoven, and about them (note: them = orchestra players). " "What you need to do is give the feeling of the line, that's the hard thing." "Your facial expressions are very limited...be more interesting, more gestures, more variety, more colors, more emotions, more everything!" "Every note in music is going somewhere, or coming from somewhere." "Our routine is the death of music, so conductors have a very big role to play, because they spend 90 % of the life doing routine." "Tell the story!" "The reason they are applauding, is because you've opened something in them that wasn't there before." "Thank you Beethoven! for opening up that key which is my full emotion, my full expression, my full participation in life. That's what your job is. That's conducting!" " (on youth orchestra) You think they'are 12, 13, 14 year old, what can they do? They are just kids. No. They can do anything you ask them to do, but you have to ask them." " (on orchestra players) They love to be asked the limit, they don't want to be asked half-hearted." "We can't afford to be casual, because people depend on us, like they depend on the priest or the Dalai Lama. That's why we have to tell the truth musically. We have to tell the truth, because people depend on us. So that's why it is not good to muddle about with the truth. Beethoven's truth is as clear as it could be." "Don't conduct!" "You don't need every beat, they don't need every beat." "Don't do what I do. Everybody has to do their own way, but it has to be a change of character." "If the eyes are shining, you know you're doing it. "It would be great, if we could act in the world so that other people have shiny eyes." "Music makes people more beautiful than anything else does."
I am not a musician but Mr. Zander’s advice teaches me a a lot about being a better listener. Also I feel like his approach to work and people can be very very successfully applied in business settings.
14:20 That whiplash moment made me laugh but also made me feel for the little guy! 14:37 Ouch! I just love Mr.Zander and his passion for music! You can feel Beethoven's presence in his conducting.
@@faresvanlierde4597 You're absolutely right. None at all. Benjamin Zander is a beautiful teacher and is a joy to watch at work. What a privilege it must be to learn from him.
Benjamin Zander is a master teacher, any instrument, conducting, no matter what. He knows exactly how to get the best out of anyone and always concludes by praising the pupil. I think his best attribute is his tremendous enthusiasm and love for music. Mr Zander, I salute you sir!
My day begins with Benjamin Zander.... just the things that come out of his mouth... they make me think real hard about literally everything I do in a day's time, let alone how productive my practice is, how productive my teaching is, how enthusiastic and motivated I am, how I am perceived, how I perceive every nuance of every thing. This man is so hyper-observant with music...not just music, but all aspects of music... notation, studying the author... his insight and experiences, empirical data, the things he shares, they are priceless. A little Zander with a good hot cup of Coffee gets me set for the day. Benjamin Zander is an anomaly. I have not found anyone, anywhere that comes close to providing what he provides to his audience. If anyone else has, please, let me know! I'm a sucker for a good education, the learning experience (regardless of what I am learning at the time) and the evolution of learning into knowledge, knowledge into wisdom, wisdom into application. The application of wisdom to daily living. Benjamin Zander, has he written any books? He is definitely more than 'just a musician'
He's more than a musician because he points people to God. Even if he himself does not realize it, God is the one who "unlocks the human spirit." When he talks he mixes truth with musical thoughts. Even though he does not flat out say why he feels this way about music, his meaningful words make you ponder. The reason why he has that knowledge and wisdom because it comes from God. If you crave for meaning/wisdom/knowledge to make a difference, surrender your life to Jesus. When you give up all of your desires/passions/pursuits to follow Jesus, he gives you a new worldview of wonder and awe about everything He's made. So when it comes to music, the joy/pain/suffering/love which you share to the audience becomes spiritual and meaningful because the musician does not play for himself, but for God.
What a wonderful video. I was so moved by everything Benjamin said; when the guy played the joyful section and I was literally smiling like I've never have before. This young man's improvements after every comment were mind-blowing. We all need a Benjamin in our lives to show us it's true colours. For comparison listen to him at the start 00:01 and at the end 27:38 of the video.
SHINY EYES Those who know love shiny eyes, Awakening of Kids’ desires, When teaching of the ancient past To lead towards values that will last - A thing to which we should aspire.
I have never seen such an incredible conducting class! Mr. Zander devotes his entire being, his heart and his soul into music. He takes great care of every single note and every single motion. He has reached the pinnacle of the art in both conducting and teaching. His tremendous enthusiasm and love for music is truly unforgettable.
I met Mr. Zander at a lecture he was giving in Akron, he is just absolutely amazing and such a vibrant person to be around. He gives a new style to intellectual thinking that, like what he said, unlocks the human spirit which is tangled inside of fear and pride. Absolutely amazing.
I LOVE these! Zander had my Beethoven tears going, in between the laughs. He wonderfully describes composers and so "gets" Beethoven. I found myself even conducting (well, sort of) with Cho and Zander.
I realize that this is a bit late, but it's the the beginning of the first movement to Mahler's 1st Symphony. Here's a recording by Bernstein with the score: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-ypClfhEwwCw.html
Such positive energy and feeling. You truly ear how Zander is teaching from his heart and that energy is directly going to the musician performancing. A true inspiration for all conductors.
Love to see you Mr. Zander, here's my understanding, he needs to invite the music into the mind and soul, and then release the beats by using each part of the body, when the soul is soaking into music, the body will be automatically in one accord, I hope I am right, I wish to be your student 💐💐💐💐💐❤❤❤God bless you
What a fantastic video and such energy, I really got caught up in it and everything, this man could make anyone feel like life's worth living if only to appreciate Beethoven's works! What a privilege to have watched him teach. I really felt the joyful experience that was portrayed through this session, I even caught myself smiling and, I don't know how to explain it other than it was like synchronizing with the music. The energy in it played me like I was one of the instruments being played. Absolutely astonishing!
Dear Benjamin Zander ! You Tell us your Story every time , thank you ! I start my day with you , learning from you …… i am not musician, but i learn Lessons for Life from you !!! So thankful for that …..
What's amazing is how little the performers actually look at either conductor. So it's not like all the histrionics actually make any difference. What's important is the verbal communication.
@@cush6827well, yes in real life many preachers lied or simply hadn't learn themselves and NOT knowing the truth before coming out to preach to the audience....but here Benjamin meant that a passionate and called preacher MUST tell them truth (implying that they've gone thru their life and learnt, known and understand the truth before they preach),
the music comes to live when the musicians play excellent and together on beats and at good rhythm...and the conductor job is to make them play happily.
I'll start by admitting I am sort of new to western classical music, except as a listener, which isn't too vast either. Having only watched a few videos of orchestra being conducted, I've perhaps assumed things about the way it works. So, when he says you don't have to direct them at every beat or movement, is that how it works? Aren't conductors expected to bring out the perfect, precise synchronization in the various orchestra pieces, more than at a macro-level as he seems to suggest? Please excuse me if I've flawed jargon...
29:21 It will be great if we could do act so that other people have shiny eyes. What we worry about is whether we have enough money, whether we have enough power, whether we have the kind of influence we want. I don't care about that. I care about those shiny eyes. -- Benjamin Zander. What a beautiful quote, I am stealing it!
I wonder if this is how classical music used to be conducted and played? Of course when the greats conducted it most certainly was, esp the ever emotional Beethoven. This is what made rock music so successful, and no reason classical shouldn't do the same. I was in tears for the whole program. Zander opened me up to the wonder and emotion of an all-too-familiar piece!
