In Good Hands: The Making of a Modern Conductor

by Alice Farnham

Alice Farnham, who has conducted prestigious orchestras worldwide, here combines her personal story with insights from 16 fellow conductors whom she has interviewed. Revealing what this unusual but fulfilling career entails, she explains the different challenges of conducting concerts, opera and ballet, reflects on the importance of communication and leadership and highlights the prejudice faced by women on the podium.

Genres: Music, Biography, Nonfiction

298 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 2023

Reviews

[Michael Kohn]

Totally inspiring, an engaging read regardless of how much you know about conducting (I'd recommend it to everyone especially people who want to know why I spend so much of my time doing this); dragged a little in a few sections but maybe that's my own biases against certain aspects of conducting that I need to get over!

[Matthew Harper · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a read! I was lucky enough to work with Alice Farnham as a young clarinettist in Cumbria Youth Orchestra. I never pursued music as a career, but always kept a fond love of it. This book truly helped me realise what music has meant and can mean for me, and has brought me so much understanding for what it is to be a conductor today (especially for women). Truly hilarious in places, it hit all the right notes (if you pardon the pun).

[Kath · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent book about the craft of musical conducting. I learnt so many new things and it was written in a very easy style with no ego seeping through.

[Adie · Rating 5 out of 5]

For context, I'm an organist/teacher for my church choir. I've never had formal training, especially in teaching, and so I mostly I learned from the others around me were in a similar position.

I picked this book up by chance as I was navigating a bit of a stump in my teaching, and to my surprise this book and Alice's frank retelling of her experience and others' was incredibly timely, relatable and inspiring.

Her stories, opinions and worries validated my own experience of vulnerability when teaching. But her passion for leading and pure joy for music also equally mirrored mine.

I felt her honesty, passion and wit in every page, it was like witnessing an expert Ted Talk, except in my own pace and in the comfort of my home. A delightful read!

[James Kinsley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Engaging and fascinating, the blend of personal and industry insight is perfectly judged and it undoubtedly passes that most important of non-fiction tests: is the book enjoyable despite being on a subject I've next-to-no experience of. Bravo.

[Hilary Apfelstadt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read. Honest, insightful, and revealing writing about her experiences as a conductor in a largely “man’s world,” where women often have to work harder to be noticed. This is a fascinating book.

[Paul Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating insight into the development of the conductor's career. Autobiographical augmented with quotes from other conductors add authenticity to the narrative.

[Joshua Clayton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

[indy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I randomly spotted this book in the music section of Dymocks. It's an enjoyable book about music and conducting. Alice is likeable as an author and her writing is a pleasure to read.