Shows / Ask The Maestro
Ask The Maestro
Ask The Maestro is your daily front-row seat to the hidden world of classical music. Conductor Robert Emery steps onto the podium to answer the questions you’ve always wondered about — from the drama of the orchestra to the secrets behind the score. Engaging and straight to the point, each episode uncovers the stories, traditions, and secrets of the concert hall — one question at a time. Listen daily and stay curious. Send your question to ask@robertemery.com
Episodes
Ask The MaestroDay 180: Baton Accident?!
Robert Emery shares whether he has ever had a baton-related accident on stage. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be answered on Ask…
Ask The MaestroDay 179: Weirdest Thing I’ve Carried?
Robert Emery reveals the weirdest thing he has ever had to carry while travelling for a concert. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to…
Ask The MaestroDay 178: Strangest Meal On Tour?
Robert Emery shares the most unusual meal he has experienced while on tour. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be answered on Ask…
Ask The MaestroDay 177: Strangest Transport To A Gig?
Robert Emery reveals the strangest form of transport he has ever taken to a performance. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be…
Ask The MaestroDay 176: Weirdest Food On Tour?
Robert Emery shares the weirdest food he has ever been served while touring. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be answered on Ask…
Ask The MaestroDay 175: Missed Flight To A Concert?
Robert Emery reveals whether he has ever missed a flight on the way to a concert. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be answered on…
Ask The MaestroDay 174: Weirdest Cultural Encounter?
Robert Emery shares one of the strangest cultural encounters he has experienced on tour. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be…
Ask The MaestroDay 173: Lost Passport On Tour?
Robert Emery reveals whether he has ever lost a passport while travelling for concerts. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be…
Ask The MaestroDay 172: Tour Day From Hell?
Robert Emery shares a tour day that seemed determined to go wrong. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be answered on Ask The…
Ask The MaestroDay 171: Worst Hotel On Tour?
Robert Emery reveals the worst hotel he has ever stayed in while on tour. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be answered on Ask The…
Ask The MaestroDay 170: Musicians Crying On Stage?
Robert Emery shares whether he has ever seen musicians brought to tears during a performance. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be…
Ask The MaestroDay 169: Can Orchestras Feel Mood?
Robert Emery explores whether orchestras can sense and react to a conductor’s mood. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be answered…
Ask The MaestroDay 168: Can Conductors Read Minds?
Robert Emery explains whether conductors can really tell what musicians are thinking. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be answered…
Ask The MaestroDay 167: Weirdest Venue Ever?
Robert Emery reveals the strangest venue in which he has ever performed. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be answered on Ask The…
Ask The MaestroDay 166: Most Unexpected Concert Moment?
Robert Emery shares the most unexpected moment he has experienced during a concert. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be answered…
Ask The MaestroDay 165: Conducting In Extreme Weather
Robert Emery reveals what it’s like conducting in extreme weather conditions. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be answered on Ask…
Ask The MaestroDay 164: Impossible Acoustics?
Robert Emery shares how conductors cope with concert halls that seem acoustically impossible. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be…
Ask The MaestroDay 163: Why Does Violin 1 Bow First?
Robert Emery explains why the first violins traditionally bow before the rest of the orchestra. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to…
Ask The MaestroDay 162: How Are Orchestras Funded?
Robert Emery explains how orchestras are funded and kept running. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be answered on Ask The Maestro…
Ask The MaestroDay 161: How Do Musicians Join Orchestras?
Robert Emery explains how musicians earn places in professional orchestras. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be answered on Ask…
Ask The MaestroDay 160: Are Conductors Freelance?
Robert Emery explains whether conductors are freelancers or permanent employees. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be answered on…
Ask The MaestroDay 159: A Day In Orchestra Life
Robert Emery gives a glimpse into a typical day in the life of an orchestral musician. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be…
Ask The MaestroDay 158: Finding Your Inner Voice
Robert Emery shares how musicians and conductors can discover their own artistic voice. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be…
Ask The MaestroDay 157: Connecting With The Lyrics?
Robert Emery explains how he connects with lyrics when preparing vocal music. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be answered on Ask…
Ask The MaestroDay 156: Most Memorable Performance?
Robert Emery reflects on the most memorable performance of his career. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be answered on Ask The…
Ask The MaestroDay 155: How Do I Handle Uncertainty?
Robert Emery explains how he handles uncertainty when preparing for a performance. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be answered on…
Ask The MaestroDay 154: Do I Work With A Team?
Robert Emery shares whether conducting is a solo pursuit or the result of working with a wider team. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery…
Ask The MaestroDay 153: Does Conducting Experience Help?
Robert Emery explains whether conducting experience really makes a difference on music interpretation. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert…
Ask The MaestroDay 152: Biggest Creative Factor?
Robert Emery reveals what he believes is the biggest creative factor in shaping a performance. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be…
Ask The MaestroDay 151: Perfecting An Interpretation
Robert Emery explains what it takes to perfect an interpretation of a musical work. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be answered…
Ask The MaestroDay 150: The most dramatic entrance you’ve made?
Robert Emery reveals the most dramatic entrance he has ever made on stage. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be answered on Ask The…
Ask The MaestroDay 149: Do you conduct music you secretly disliked?
Robert Emery shares whether he has ever conducted music he secretly disliked. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be answered on Ask…
Ask The MaestroDay 148: Have you ever conducted the wrong piece in front of an audience?
Robert Emery reveals whether he has ever conducted the wrong piece in front of an audience. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be…
Ask The MaestroDay 147: Have you ever accidentally cue'd the wrong section?
Robert Emery shares whether he has ever accidentally cued the wrong section. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be answered on Ask…
Ask The MaestroDay 146: Have you ever conducted a piece upside-down?
Robert Emery reveals whether he has ever conducted a piece upside-down. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be answered on Ask The…
Ask The MaestroDay 145: Do you conduct from memory?
Robert Emery shares whether he conducts from memory or relies on the score. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be answered on Ask…
Ask The MaestroDay 144: Can a conductor make an audience feel suspense?
Robert Emery explains whether a conductor can make an audience feel suspense. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be answered on Ask…
Ask The MaestroDay 143: How do string players coordinate bowing?
Robert Emery explains how string players coordinate their bowing so precisely. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be answered on Ask…
Ask The MaestroDay 142: How do conductors know every note in a score?
Robert Emery explains how conductors become so familiar with every note in a score. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be answered…
Ask The MaestroDay 141: How do brass players avoid running out of breath?
Robert Emery explains how brass players manage their breathing during long passages. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be answered…
Ask The MaestroDay 140: Have you ever conducted with one hand due to injury?
Robert Emery reveals whether he has ever conducted using only one hand due to injury. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be answered…
Ask The MaestroDay 139: Thoughts on Eurovision 2026
Robert Emery shares his thoughts and opinions on the previously held Eurovision Song Contest 2026. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery…
Ask The MaestroDay 138: Who's the biggest diva you’ve worked with?
Robert Emery shares his experience working with particularly demanding performers. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be answered on…
Ask The MaestroDay 137: What’s the weirdest thing you’ve been asked to autograph?
Robert Emery reveals the strangest thing he has ever been asked to autograph. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be answered on Ask…
Ask The MaestroDay 136: Why do some instruments transpose?
Robert Emery explains why some instruments transpose and what that means in practice. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be answered…
Ask The MaestroDay 135: Give an example of a fugue in a John Williams soundtrack
Robert Emery gives an example of a fugue within a soundtrack by John Williams. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be answered on Ask…
Ask The MaestroDay 134: How do you communicate emotion to an orchestra without saying a word?
Robert Emery explains how a conductor communicates emotion to an orchestra without speaking. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be…
Ask The MaestroDay 133: Do conductors use different layouts?
Robert Emery explains whether conductors use different orchestral layouts. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be answered on Ask The…
Ask The MaestroDay 132: How do you decide which musical lines come through?
Robert Emery explains how conductors decide which musical lines should be heard most clearly. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be…
Ask The MaestroDay 131: Have you ever had an important part of a section not turn up?
Robert Emery shares what happens if an important section player doesn’t turn up. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be answered on…
Ask The MaestroDay 130: What comes first in movie music - the music or the picture?
Robert Emery explains whether music or picture comes first when composing for film. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be answered…
Ask The MaestroDay 129: How can one composer write for every instrument in an orchestra?
Robert Emery explains how a composer is able to write for every instrument in the orchestra. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be…
Ask The MaestroDay 128: What is the '4' in a 3/4 time signature?
Robert Emery explains what the “4” represents in a 3/4 time signature. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be answered on Ask The…
Ask The MaestroDay 127: What is the job of principal players in sections?
Robert Emery explains the role of principal players within each section of the orchestra. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be…
Ask The MaestroDay 126: Favourite time signature?
Robert Emery shares his favourite time signature and why it stands out to him. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be answered on Ask…
Ask The MaestroDay 125: How do orchestras tune with rock musicians?
Robert Emery explains how orchestras manage to tune when performing alongside rock musicians. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be…
Ask The MaestroDay 124: How do you decide on your interpretation of a piece?
Robert Emery explains how conductors decide on their interpretation of a piece. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be answered on…
Ask The MaestroDay 123: Have you considered writing a book?
Robert Emery shares whether he has ever considered writing a book about his experiences in music. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to…
Ask The MaestroDay 122: What’s the most bizarre fan gift you’ve ever received?
Robert Emery reveals the most bizarre or unexpected fan gift he has ever received. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be answered on…
Ask The MaestroDay 121: Have you ever had a fan rush the stage?
Robert Emery shares whether he has ever had an enthusiastic fan rush the stage after a concert. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to…