Leif Ove Andsnes play-directing; photo from PragueCulture blog

Over here in the world of classical music terminology, we need a new verb. Or at least a verbal expression: something to describe that very common practice of conducting an orchestra or ensemble while playing one’s own instrument. Many pianists do it, violinists too: it’s not at all unusual to see a soloist either nodding his head or gesticulating with her body to direct the accompanying ensemble while their fingers are busy making music on a keyboard or fingerboard. These flexi-omni-musicians will snatch opportunities during a performance to go into full-blown conductor mode whenever they know they have a lot of rests coming up on their sheet music, as Leif Ove Andsnes is doing in the photo above. But there’s no good single verb to capture this very skillful practice (at least not in English.) “Conducting from the keyboard” is one way of describing it, but as well as being a mouthful, it’s only appropriate for pianists — and technically it suggests that they’re simply conducting while sitting or standing next to a piano: there’s nothing in that phrase to suggest that the musician is actually playing at the same time (although we understand that’s what is meant.) Continue reading →