As if they don't have enough fun dressing up and waving those sticks about, orchestra conductors harbor an ill-disguised desire to take over Miss Manners's job. Once again, a prominent concert was followed by a tirade on the subject of manners delivered by the...

a new musical tradition flowers at the american academy of conducting any time a string player wants to practice, all he or she needs to do is pick up the instrument and play. But what if you're a conductor? How many hours a...