This is an esoteric question that likely has no relevance to most people on this fantastic board.
But it grew out of practicing on time with Justin’s metronome, and diligently working on my strumming time while playing my acoustic guitar. Timing, in many ways, has become second nature. I no longer think of strumming patterns, more just how what feels right while keeping time.
While listening to songs I can pick out the beat, tap my foot to it while driving. I was at a supper club recently watched an 8-piece band with a singer playing standards - Sinatra, etc. I could feel the feet, see how the drummer and bass laid it down, guitar playing on and off the beat, same with horn instruments.
Afterwards I congratulated them on their wonderful sense of time that made the group soar. Drove home what Justin has preached – timing, not just “chops” are vital.
I get it.
Except when it comes to classical music.
When I listen to it I can never figure out where the beat is.
My question is how classical players keep in time with no strong pulse?
I’ve watched conductors and can’t figure out when they are keeping time.
I am never going to play classical music. But the question of musicians keeping time in complex jazz or classical music fascinates me.
Not just classical but all orchestra type music. It’s all about the Baton. There is a lot to it but here is a very basic description to counting the different time counts when watching your conductor. You also watch the other hand for ques other instructions like crescendo/decrescedo, ect…
Different conductors have thier own flair of course. From mild to extriemly flamboyant and this can be a source of jokes among bolder members of the orchestra behind our conductors back. yeah lots of jokes can be had there, with respect mostly.
I’m likely not the one to answer, but will anyway.
I played trombone in orchestra in jr and sr. high school. Don’t know if that’s classical music or not. But I don’t remember it having much emphasis on beat usually.
Other than that. I practiced my trombone parts w/metronome. I counted the beats for whatever time signature I was playing in. I tried to play the proper notes (whole, half, quarter, sixteenth, etc), at the proper time and rest when I was supposed to rest. I just counted it out like ya’d do (count) for any other song.
Just my best recollection.
I think I find it easier to do when there is a definite beat for sure, but the time and counting is the same whether the beat is emphasized or not.
imho, it near has to be this way for a orchestra (or any band of people playing together) to play all parts at the proper time to make music. Everyone has to be playing at the same tempo/time.
That’s my notion anyways.
And yep, the pics Jason provided are the general patterns ya follow from the conductor. The conductor is the metronome.
Thank you. Looking at those baton movements looks like trying to learn mutliple foreign languages. I plan to stick me just me, a pick and my acoustic guitar!
I had piano lessons as a kid/teenager and - much to the disapproval of my teacher - hated to use a metronome and just didn’t (stupid me, yes!). Of course I played classic music and what I did is counting and “tapping”. But instead of tapping, my whole body rocked in time and even chewing my chewing gum at the same tempo. (By the way, it’s not too different from guitar, except I’m using the metronome now)
Further, I tried to listen to the pieces over and over and I sort of gained a good feeling where the 1 is or what the rhythm is. Maybe my ears just got used to it. Never played in an orchestral setting, though. But as Jason said, there’s the conductor to keep all in time.
Thanks for that, it’s something I’ve often wondered as my son who now plays guitar also plays or played a Euphonium and when I asked about keeping time he just said it’s easy
So I don’t play in an orchestra, but I’ve been researching IEMs recently for the band and this is interesting …
If a band (or orchestra) is spread over 110 feet then it will take sound 0.1 seconds to travel from one side to the other. If musicians separated by these sorts of distance are trying to keep in time by listening to each other it’s not going to end well. This is one of the important advantages of a conductor. Trained classical musicians take their timing cues from their eyes more than their ears apparently!
And let’s not forget the fact that classical musicians know the pieces they’re about to play mostly by heart too.
Every year i watch the new year concert of the Wiener Philharmoniker or the Vienna Philharmonic and it’s always a pleasure to hear and see these musicians play.
Watching them looking at the sheet music and the conductor, while playing classical pieces is truly amazing.
yeah lots of jokes can be had there, with respect mostly. 
(By the way, it’s not too different from guitar, except I’m using the metronome now)
