Robert Emery

Ask The Maestro

Music EN ↓ 190 episodes

Ask The Maestro is your daily front-row seat to the hidden world of classical music. Conductor Robert Emery steps onto the podium to answer the questions you’ve always wondered about — from the drama of the orchestra to the secrets behind the score. Engaging and straight to the point, each episode uncovers the stories, traditions, and secrets of the concert hall — one question at a time. Listen daily and stay curious. Send your question to ask@robertemery.com

Author

Robert Emery

Episodes

Day 65: What’s your opinion on tuning apps for orchestra playing? The apps D seems too high for my hearing and the G seems too low. Is it true that orchestra players should use the app tuning? 17.03.2026 1:08

Robert Emery explains his opinion on tuning apps and whether orchestral musicians should rely on them. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be answered on Ask The Maestro: ⁠⁠robertemery.com/ask-the-maestro⁠⁠ --- Robert Emery is a conductor, presenter, and lifelong musical storyteller. Through 'Ask The Maestro', he answers the questions audiences have always wanted...

Day 64: So your first/only instrument is the piano, how about a very short tutorial and show us what you can do? 17.03.2026 2:19

Robert Emery reassures a new learner that it’s never too late to start the piano and shares what someone might aspire to play. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be answered on Ask The Maestro: ⁠⁠robertemery.com/ask-the-maestro⁠⁠ --- Robert Emery is a conductor, presenter, and lifelong musical storyteller. Through 'Ask The Maestro', he answers the questions audie...

Day 63: How do you deal with nerves? 16.03.2026 3:03

Robert Emery shares how he manages nerves before stepping on stage to conduct. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be answered on Ask The Maestro: ⁠⁠robertemery.com/ask-the-maestro⁠⁠ --- Robert Emery is a conductor, presenter, and lifelong musical storyteller. Through 'Ask The Maestro', he answers the questions audiences have always wanted to ask about classical m...

Day 62: How do you deal with the acoustics in a room? 16.03.2026 1:31

Robert Emery explains how conductors adapt when performing in rooms with challenging acoustics. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be answered on Ask The Maestro: ⁠⁠robertemery.com/ask-the-maestro⁠⁠ --- Robert Emery is a conductor, presenter, and lifelong musical storyteller. Through 'Ask The Maestro', he answers the questions audiences have always wanted to ask...

Day 61: What is the layout of the orchestra? 16.03.2026 0:47

Robert Emery explains the traditional layout of an orchestra and why the instruments sit where they do. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be answered on Ask The Maestro: ⁠⁠robertemery.com/ask-the-maestro⁠⁠ --- Robert Emery is a conductor, presenter, and lifelong musical storyteller. Through 'Ask The Maestro', he answers the questions audiences have always wanted...

Day 60: What is one of your favourite pieces to conduct? 16.03.2026 1:00

Robert Emery shares one of his favourite pieces to conduct and explains why it’s so special to him. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be answered on Ask The Maestro: ⁠⁠robertemery.com/ask-the-maestro⁠⁠ --- Robert Emery is a conductor, presenter, and lifelong musical storyteller. Through 'Ask The Maestro', he answers the questions audiences have always wanted to...

Day 59: Is there any point in faith? 16.03.2026 1:03

Robert Emery reflects on whether faith or belief has any place in music and performance. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be answered on Ask The Maestro: ⁠⁠robertemery.com/ask-the-maestro⁠⁠ --- Robert Emery is a conductor, presenter, and lifelong musical storyteller. Through 'Ask The Maestro', he answers the questions audiences have always wanted to ask about c...

Day 58: Show me some unusual things about an orchestra. 16.03.2026 1:46

Robert Emery shares some unusual and surprising facts about orchestras that most audiences never notice. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be answered on Ask The Maestro: ⁠⁠robertemery.com/ask-the-maestro⁠⁠ --- Robert Emery is a conductor, presenter, and lifelong musical storyteller. Through 'Ask The Maestro', he answers the questions audiences have always wante...

Day 57: If you weren’t a conductor, what career would you choose? 16.03.2026 1:01

Robert Emery shares which career he might have chosen if he weren’t a conductor. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be answered on Ask The Maestro: ⁠⁠robertemery.com/ask-the-maestro⁠⁠ --- Robert Emery is a conductor, presenter, and lifelong musical storyteller. Through 'Ask The Maestro', he answers the questions audiences have always wanted to ask about classical...

Day 56: Do you have a lucky charm? 16.03.2026 0:51

Robert Emery reveals whether he has a lucky charm before performances. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be answered on Ask The Maestro: ⁠robertemery.com/ask-the-maestro⁠ --- Robert Emery is a conductor, presenter, and lifelong musical storyteller. Through 'Ask The Maestro', he answers the questions audiences have always wanted to ask about classical music. Prov...

Day 55: Why do orchestras play on a specific layout? 13.03.2026 1:31

Robert Emery explains why orchestras sit in a specific layout on stage. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be answered on Ask The Maestro: ask@robertemery.com --- Robert Emery is a conductor, presenter, and lifelong musical storyteller. Through 'Ask The Maestro', he answers the questions audiences have always wanted to ask about classical music. Providing real an...

Day 54: Who invented the piano? 13.03.2026 1:15

Robert Emery explains who invented the piano and why it changed music history. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be answered on Ask The Maestro: ask@robertemery.com --- Robert Emery is a conductor, presenter, and lifelong musical storyteller. Through 'Ask The Maestro', he answers the questions audiences have always wanted to ask about classical music. Providing...

Day 53: Do you watch any other conductor and learn from them? 13.03.2026 1:31

Robert Emery explains why watching other conductors is an important part of learning. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be answered on Ask The Maestro: ask@robertemery.com --- Robert Emery is a conductor, presenter, and lifelong musical storyteller. Through 'Ask The Maestro', he answers the questions audiences have always wanted to ask about classical music. Pro...

Day 52: What instruments do you play and how does it help you conduct? 13.03.2026 1:45

Robert Emery shares which instruments he plays and how they help his conducting. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be answered on Ask The Maestro: ask@robertemery.com --- Robert Emery is a conductor, presenter, and lifelong musical storyteller. Through 'Ask The Maestro', he answers the questions audiences have always wanted to ask about classical music. Providin...

Day 51: Can an orchestra play without a conductor? 13.03.2026 1:02

Robert Emery explains whether an orchestra can perform without a conductor. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be answered on Ask The Maestro: ask@robertemery.com --- Robert Emery is a conductor, presenter, and lifelong musical storyteller. Through 'Ask The Maestro', he answers the questions audiences have always wanted to ask about classical music. Providing rea...

Day 50: What does a conductor do during a cadenza? 12.03.2026 1:06

Robert Emery explains what a conductor does during a soloist’s cadenza. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be answered on Ask The Maestro: ask@robertemery.com --- Robert Emery is a conductor, presenter, and lifelong musical storyteller. Through 'Ask The Maestro', he answers the questions audiences have always wanted to ask about classical music. Providing real an...

Day 49: Why are musical terms in Italian? 12.03.2026 1:16

Robert Emery explains why so many musical terms are written in Italian. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be answered on Ask The Maestro: ask@robertemery.com --- Robert Emery is a conductor, presenter, and lifelong musical storyteller. Through 'Ask The Maestro', he answers the questions audiences have always wanted to ask about classical music. Providing real an...

Day 48: Why is sheet music written on 5 lines? 12.03.2026 1:24

Robert Emery explains why sheet music is written on five lines. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be answered on Ask The Maestro: ask@robertemery.com --- Robert Emery is a conductor, presenter, and lifelong musical storyteller. Through 'Ask The Maestro', he answers the questions audiences have always wanted to ask about classical music. Providing real answers fr...

Day 47: How do you get the players to stop playing at the end of a music? 12.03.2026 1:20

Robert Emery explains how conductors signal the exact moment an orchestra should stop playing. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be answered on Ask The Maestro: ask@robertemery.com --- Robert Emery is a conductor, presenter, and lifelong musical storyteller. Through 'Ask The Maestro', he answers the questions audiences have always wanted to ask about classical m...

Day 46: What do you do when things go wrong? 12.03.2026 2:48

Robert Emery shares what he does when things go wrong on stage. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be answered on Ask The Maestro: ask@robertemery.com --- Robert Emery is a conductor, presenter, and lifelong musical storyteller. Through 'Ask The Maestro', he answers the questions audiences have always wanted to ask about classical music. Providing real answers fr...

Day 45: How do you deal with mistakes during live performance? 12.03.2026 1:52

Robert Emery explains how conductors handle mistakes during live performances. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be answered on Ask The Maestro: ask@robertemery.com --- Robert Emery is a conductor, presenter, and lifelong musical storyteller. Through 'Ask The Maestro', he answers the questions audiences have always wanted to ask about classical music. Providing...

Day 44: Why do all orchestras tune to a equals 440 hz? 12.03.2026 1:35

Robert Emery explains why standard orchestral tuning is set to A equals 440 hertz. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be answered on Ask The Maestro: ask@robertemery.com --- Robert Emery is a conductor, presenter, and lifelong musical storyteller. Through 'Ask The Maestro', he answers the questions audiences have always wanted to ask about classical music. Provid...

Day 43: Why do orchestras tune to an a and why is it usually the oboe that provides the A? 12.03.2026 2:10

Robert Emery explains why orchestras tune to an A and why the oboe usually provides it. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be answered on Ask The Maestro: ask@robertemery.com --- Robert Emery is a conductor, presenter, and lifelong musical storyteller. Through 'Ask The Maestro', he answers the questions audiences have always wanted to ask about classical music. P...

Day 42: What was so special about the conductor Toscanini? 11.03.2026 1:15

Day 42: What was so special about the conductor Toscanini? Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be answered on Ask The Maestro: ask@robertemery.com --- Robert Emery is a conductor, presenter, and lifelong musical storyteller. Through 'Ask The Maestro', he answers the questions audiences have always wanted to ask about classical music. Providing real answers from the podium...

Day 41: What is the history of the baton? 11.03.2026 1:18

Robert Emery shares the history of the conducting baton. Got a music-related question? Send it over to Robert Emery to be answered on Ask The Maestro: ask@robertemery.com --- Robert Emery is a conductor, presenter, and lifelong musical storyteller. Through 'Ask The Maestro', he answers the questions audiences have always wanted to ask about classical music. Providing real answers from the...