Recently, I received a question from the parent of a middle school-aged musician with low vision asking about options for watching the conductor with low vision. The student said that they have trouble seeing the conductor from where their section is located, and it often leads to them not knowing when to use certain dynamics or getting lost when playing a new piece. As part of Music in Our Schools Month, here are my favorite options for watching the conductor with low vision, and tips I have used in various ensembles.
Examples of information the conductor gives
When trying to figure out how to watch the conductor with low vision, it can be helpful to know what the musician needs to watch for. While every ensemble will vary, some examples of information the conductor will give their musicians include:
- The tempo of a piece
- Cues for when to play specific notes/when to start playing
- Hand gestures for dynamics
- Soloist cues
- Other tempo increases
- Information about repeats and alternative endings for pieces
I know that there is much more to conducting than just these six things, but these are the most common cues that I’ve encountered when playing in various ensembles.
Change the baton color
I know many conductors have a favorite baton, but one option for students with color or contrast sensitivities is to try changing the baton color to see if that makes it easier to watch the conductor with low vision. Another option is to place something on the end of the baton, either a tip or simply wrapping a piece of tape in a preferred color to see if that makes it easier to see the baton.
One of my friends has a Brite Stix light-up baton that they started using when teaching a student with neurological visual impairment who had trouble seeing the conducting baton in their dimly lit classroom.
Related links
Connect an external camera to a tablet or computer
For students who may be further away from the conductor, it can be helpful to attach a webcam or wireless camera to a stand that is zoomed in on the conductor, and stream the video feed to a tablet, phone, or computer. One of my friends does this by having their tablet on a music stand and a wireless camera clipped to the top of their stand, pointing at the conductor. Another option is to place the camera directly on the conductor’s podium or attached to a stand directly in front of it, which can stream a video feed of the baton or other movements without any obstructions or larger instruments blocking the view.
It helps to play around with this a bit and figure out if there is a significant lag issue, but this can be a great option for students who are able to follow the movement with this adaptation.
Related links
- iOS Magnifier and Low Vision Accessibility
- Choosing Accessible Microscopes For Low Vision
- A to Z of Assistive Technology For Low Vision
- Upcycling Music Stands into Assistive Technology
Have live or pre-recorded audio description of conductor movements
For beginning students or students who prefer to get information through sound, they can work with their director to have live or pre-recorded audio description of the conductor movements throughout a piece, so that they can have verbal cues. For example, if the conductor was raising their arms at a specific measure, the musician could hear the phrase “crescendo to mezzo forte” or similar phrases. This can be pre-recorded by the conductor for practice by having them speak over a recording of the score, or done live by having someone speak into a small microphone that is only heard by the student through an earbud or other small headphones.
For students with auditory processing disorder or hearing loss, a portable hearing aid microphone like the Roger On from Phonak could also be used to amplify the sound of the conductor’s voice, or the voice of someone else narrating description of their movements in real time. The audio would be streamed directly to the student’s earpiece, which could be helpful for students who have difficulty tracking or sustaining attention on movement.
Related links
- Fast Facts About Audio Description
- How To Create Audio Description For YouTube With YouDescribe
- How To Create Accessible Videos and Narrated Images With Clips
Make bold/large print notes in the music
One of the things that has helped me tremendously with being able to follow the conductor is making bold/large print notes in my music. In high school, I sat down with my director to figure out notes for specific parts, and typed them in large print so that I could insert the notes into the digital copies of my music. I also highly recommend making symbols bold and high-contrast whenever possible, as this can be invaluable for following along with music or making dynamics even easier to see; I would outline mine using digital marker tools or permanent markers on the page, using color-coding to make it easier to identify symbols on my large print music.
Related links
- How To Make Music Accessible With Microsoft PowerPoint
- My Large Print Music Binder
- Tips For Reading Music On An iPad With Low Vision
Have a partner communicate information with gestures
In college, I am a member of a very large pep band that plays in the stands of sporting events and other large events. It’s difficult for me to see the conductor from anywhere due to the sheer number of people in the group and the constant movement, so my friends who stand next to me in the band will often communicate information with hand gestures against one of the bright green stands, or tap me on the shoulder for specific cues, such as when we are about to start playing after a lot of rest or if we are doing a third repeat of a song. This isn’t something I asked my friends to do, rather it came naturally as I became more familiar with the music and how the group was organized.
Related links
- How I Play In GMU Green Machine/Pep Band With Low Vision
- Adapting Band Uniforms For Photosensitivity and Sensory Overload
- College Game Day and Sporting Events: College O&M
Have the student learn to conduct
Some students benefit from kinesthetic or movement-based activities when developing visual models or learning what to expect from the conductor. Another option for watching the conductor is to have the student learn how to conduct the piece and what the different baton movements look like/feel like. This can be as simple as having the student copy movements at different points of the song, or as complex as giving a lesson on what goes into conducting. With the student moving the baton to the recorded music, they can pick up on how their playing style should change, and when/how these movements are indicated in the music. The lesson itself can be given by the conductor in a private lesson time, or by another private instructor; this may be too distracting in a classroom environment or rehearsal time.
Sit in a place that is within the field of vision
For students that have a limited field of vision but that don’t want to use assistive technology, it can be helpful to sit in a place that is within their field of vision so they can see the conductor and their music. This might not be an option for every musician, depending on instrumentation, but it is worth asking if this would be a good option. As the only bass clarinet player in one of the ensembles I was in, I had a lot more flexibility from the band director to find a seat that would work well for me because I didn’t have to worry about other members of my section, which wasn’t the case when I was playing soprano clarinet and I had to consult with members of my section to figure out where I should sit.
Related links
More options for watching the conductor with low vision
- Some students with low vision may have no problem following along with the conductor in the classroom rehearsal space, but run into issues when in a darker performance venue. Practicing these strategies before a concert or performance can help students and conductors alike feel more confident about being in sync for showtime.
- More advanced musicians may not need to have conductor movements described, but still can benefit from listening to recordings of pieces with headphones on to capture subtle changes in how music is played. Learn more about choosing headphones in Mainstream Technology and Low Vision: Headphones
Published March 10, 2020. Updated November 2024