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 60: What is one of your favourite pieces to conduct?
Robert Emery shares one of his favourite pieces to conduct and explains why it’s so special to him. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery…
Ask The MaestroDay 59: Is there any point in faith?
Robert Emery reflects on whether faith or belief has any place in music and performance. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be…
Ask The MaestroDay 58: Show me some unusual things about an orchestra.
Robert Emery shares some unusual and surprising facts about orchestras that most audiences never notice. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert…
Ask The MaestroDay 57: If you weren’t a conductor, what career would you choose?
Robert Emery shares which career he might have chosen if he weren’t a conductor. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be answered on…
Ask The MaestroDay 56: Do you have a lucky charm?
Robert Emery reveals whether he has a lucky charm before performances. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be answered on Ask The…
Ask The MaestroDay 55: Why do orchestras play on a specific layout?
Robert Emery explains why orchestras sit in a specific layout on stage. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be answered on Ask The…
Ask The MaestroDay 54: Who invented the piano?
Robert Emery explains who invented the piano and why it changed music history. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be answered on Ask…
Ask The MaestroDay 53: Do you watch any other conductor and learn from them?
Robert Emery explains why watching other conductors is an important part of learning. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be answered…
Ask The MaestroDay 52: What instruments do you play and how does it help you conduct?
Robert Emery shares which instruments he plays and how they help his conducting. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be answered on…
Ask The MaestroDay 51: Can an orchestra play without a conductor?
Robert Emery explains whether an orchestra can perform without a conductor. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be answered on Ask…
Ask The MaestroDay 50: What does a conductor do during a cadenza?
Robert Emery explains what a conductor does during a soloist’s cadenza. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be answered on Ask The…
Ask The MaestroDay 49: Why are musical terms in Italian?
Robert Emery explains why so many musical terms are written in Italian. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be answered on Ask The…
Ask The MaestroDay 48: Why is sheet music written on 5 lines?
Robert Emery explains why sheet music is written on five lines. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be answered on Ask The Maestro…
Ask The MaestroDay 47: How do you get the players to stop playing at the end of a music?
Robert Emery explains how conductors signal the exact moment an orchestra should stop playing. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be…
Ask The MaestroDay 46: What do you do when things go wrong?
Robert Emery shares what he does when things go wrong on stage. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be answered on Ask The Maestro…
Ask The MaestroDay 45: How do you deal with mistakes during live performance?
Robert Emery explains how conductors handle mistakes during live performances. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be answered on Ask…
Ask The MaestroDay 44: Why do all orchestras tune to a equals 440 hz?
Robert Emery explains why standard orchestral tuning is set to A equals 440 hertz. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be answered on…
Ask The MaestroDay 43: Why do orchestras tune to an a and why is it usually the oboe that provides the A?
Robert Emery explains why orchestras tune to an A and why the oboe usually provides it. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be…
Ask The MaestroDay 42: What was so special about the conductor Toscanini?
Day 42: What was so special about the conductor Toscanini? Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be answered on Ask The Maestro…
Ask The MaestroDay 41: What is the history of the baton?
Robert Emery shares the history of the conducting baton. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be answered on Ask The Maestro…
Ask The MaestroDay 40: How do you give a cue to a single instrument when it’s their turn to play?
Robert Emery explains how conductors cue a single instrument at exactly the right moment. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be…
Ask The MaestroDay 39: How do you conduct unusual beat patterns like 7/8, 5/4, or 12/8?
Robert Emery explains how to conduct unusual time signatures like 7/8, 5/4, or 12/8. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be answered…
Ask The MaestroDay 38: How do you signal to an orchestra about speed changes like accelerandos and ritenutos?
Robert Emery explains how conductors signal speed changes like accelerandos and ritenutos. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be…
Ask The MaestroDay 37: How do musicians keep the pulse if they're playing syncopated rhythms or off-beats?
Robert Emery explains how musicians keep the pulse during syncopated or off-beat rhythms. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be…
Ask The MaestroDay 36: What's the difference between a choir conductor and an orchestra conductor?
Robert Emery explains the difference between a choir conductor and an orchestra conductor. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be…
Ask The MaestroDay 35: Who was the first-ever conductor?
Robert Emery explores who the first-ever conductor was. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be answered on Ask The Maestro…
Ask The MaestroDay 34: Do you need to learn every instrument to be able to be a conductor?
Robert Emery explains whether conductors need to learn every instrument. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be answered on Ask The…
Ask The MaestroDay 33: What piece of classical music inspired you when you were younger?
Robert Emery shares which piece of classical music inspired him when he was younger. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be answered…
Ask The MaestroDay 32: What's the biggest mistake does the audience make about conductors?
Robert Emery reveals the biggest misconception audiences have about conductors. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be answered on…
Ask The MaestroDay 31: Have you ever had a performance go off-script?
Robert Emery shares a moment when a performance went off-script. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be answered on Ask The Maestro…
Ask The MaestroDay 30: How do you show dynamics?
Robert Emery explains how conductors show dynamics without saying a word. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be answered on Ask The…
Ask The MaestroDay 29: How do you balance conductingn your family life with conducting on stage?
Robert Emery shares how he balances family life with the demands of conducting. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be answered on…
Ask The MaestroDay 28: How do you transport your baton?
Robert Emery explains how conductors safely transport their baton. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be answered on Ask The…
Ask The MaestroDay 27: What do I carry with me in my conductor's pocket?
Robert Emery reveals what he carries in his conductor’s pocket. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be answered on Ask The Maestro…
Ask The MaestroDay 26: Has conducting made you change the way you listen to music?
Robert Emery reflects on how conducting has changed the way he listens to music. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be answered on…
Ask The MaestroDay 25: How do you hold a baton?
Robert Emery explains the correct way to hold a baton and why it matters. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be answered on Ask The…
Ask The MaestroDay 24: What do you do to get into the correct headspace?
Robert Emery shares how he gets into the right headspace before a performance. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be answered on Ask…
Ask The MaestroDay 23: What are the beat patterns?
Robert Emery explains what beat patterns are and why they’re so important. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be answered on Ask The…
Ask The MaestroDay 22: What is one piece of advice that you would give to an aspiring conductor?
Robert Emery offers one essential piece of advice for aspiring conductors. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be answered on Ask The…
Ask The MaestroDay 21: Do you play any other instrument apart from piano?
Robert Emery shares whether he plays instruments other than the piano. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be answered on Ask The…
Ask The MaestroDay 20: How much time do you have before a concert?
Robert Emery reveals how much time a conductor really has to prepare before a concert. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be…
Ask The MaestroDay 19: How do you tune a piano?
Robert Emery explains how a piano is tuned and why it takes so much precision. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be answered on Ask…
Ask The MaestroDay 18: What do you do if a violin string breaks in a concert?
Robert Emery explains what happens if a violin string breaks during a concert. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be answered on Ask…
Ask The MaestroDay 17: Do you have a requirements, like a rider for your dressing room?
Robert Emery reveals whether conductors have specific requirements or a dressing-room rider. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be…
Ask The MaestroDay 16: Who chooses the music for a concert, and who chooses the order?
Robert Emery explains who chooses the music for a concert and how the order is decided. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be…
Ask The MaestroDay 15: What do you do whilst an orchestra is tuning on stage and you're not yet on stage?
Robert Emery explains what a conductor is doing while the orchestra is tuning on stage. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be…
Ask The MaestroDay 14: Did you ever want to do anything else other than music when you were younger?
Robert Emery reflects on whether he ever considered a career outside of music. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be answered on Ask…
Ask The MaestroDay 13: What inspired you to be a conductor?
Robert Emery shares what inspired him to become a conductor. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be answered on Ask The Maestro…
Ask The MaestroDay 12: What is it like backstage, at a concert hall?
Robert Emery describes what it’s really like backstage at a concert hall. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be answered on Ask The…
Ask The MaestroDay 11: Your baton doesn't really make any music. Do you play a real instrument?
Robert Emery reveals whether conductors play real instruments despite the baton making no sound. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to…
Ask The MaestroDay 10: How does some conductors memorize whole pieces, and do you have to do that?
Robert Emery explains how some conductors memorize entire pieces and whether that’s necessary. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be…
Ask The MaestroDay 9: Has anything ever happened to you that is embarassing during rehearsal?
Robert Emery shares an embarrassing moment that happened during rehearsal. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be answered on Ask The…
Ask The MaestroDay 8: Why do some conductors tap the baton with their stick to set the tempo?
Robert Emery explains why some conductors tap the baton to establish the tempo. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be answered on…
Ask The MaestroDay 7: What is your pre-concert ritual?
Robert Emery shares his personal pre-concert ritual and why it matters. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be answered on Ask The…
Ask The MaestroDay 6: Can you conduct without using a baton?
Robert Emery explains whether it’s possible to conduct an orchestra without using a baton. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be…
Ask The MaestroDay 5: What are conductors’ dressing room like?
Robert Emery gives a behind-the-scenes look at what conductors’ dressing rooms are really like. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to…
Ask The MaestroDay 4: What does it mean when a conductor draws circles or does unusual shapes?
Robert Emery explains what it means when a conductor draws circles or uses unusual shapes in the air. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert…
Ask The MaestroDay 3: Why do conductors count beats before the orchestra starts playing?
Robert Emery reveals why a conductor has to count before the orchestra actually starts to play. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to…
Ask The MaestroDay 2: If the musicians have a part already, why do they need a conductor?
Robert Emery reveals why, even though a musician has their own dedicated part, they can't live without a conductor! Got a music-related question? Send it over…
Ask The MaestroDay 1: What does a conductor actually do when he waves his arms about?
Robert Emery reveals what a conductor actually does, and how an orchestra understands the movements. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery…