Steady vs. shaky– Salonen conducting is steady, but can be shaky whenever he uses his wrist and fingers, together, more than needed. The ictus can still be seen; however, it can be frustrating to watch.
b. Conducting Technique
i. Beat-patterns– After further study, Salonen has a good constant beat pattern and does a great job of keeping pulse for the orchestra. Although, his wobbly wrist motion can sometimes hinder the precision of his beat placement. ii. Preparation beats– Salonen gives a very accurate prep-beat. During intense sections when there’s a lot going on within the piece, he still gives appropriate preparation beats. iii. Size of gestures– Salonen conducts with very big arm movements. During loud sections, he freely uses his arms as a guide for the orchestra, but doesn’t neglect to give cues or drag the tempo. iv. Style of gestures– Salonen’s gestures are not as conserved as Slatkins. When giving a cue in a loud section, he formed his hand as if he was throwing a baseball. Much like Slatkin, Salonen’s gestures also include nodding his head and closing his eyes.
v. Anticipation (is there a gap between the conductor beat and