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 40: How do you give a cue to a single instrument when it’s their turn to play? 11.03.2026 0:42

Robert Emery explains how conductors cue a single instrument at exactly the right moment. 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....

Day 39: How do you conduct unusual beat patterns like 7/8, 5/4, or 12/8? 11.03.2026 1:54

Robert Emery explains how to conduct unusual time signatures like 7/8, 5/4, or 12/8. 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 re...

Day 38: How do you signal to an orchestra about speed changes like accelerandos and ritenutos? 11.03.2026 1:18

Robert Emery explains how conductors signal speed changes like accelerandos and ritenutos. 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...

Day 37: How do musicians keep the pulse if they're playing syncopated rhythms or off-beats? 11.03.2026 0:47

Robert Emery explains how musicians keep the pulse during syncopated or off-beat rhythms. 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....

Day 36: What's the difference between a choir conductor and an orchestra conductor? 11.03.2026 1:01

Robert Emery explains the difference between a choir conductor and an orchestra 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...

Day 35: Who was the first-ever conductor? 10.03.2026 0:38

Robert Emery explores who the first-ever conductor was. 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 p...

Day 34: Do you need to learn every instrument to be able to be a conductor? 10.03.2026 0:10

Robert Emery explains whether conductors need to learn every instrument. 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 a...

Day 33: What piece of classical music inspired you when you were younger? 10.03.2026 1:13

Robert Emery shares which piece of classical music inspired him when he was younger. 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. Prov...

Day 32: What's the biggest mistake does the audience make about conductors? 10.03.2026 0:40

Robert Emery reveals the biggest misconception audiences have about conductors. 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 31: Have you ever had a performance go off-script? 10.03.2026 1:16

Robert Emery shares a moment when a performance went off-script. 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 f...

Day 30: How do you show dynamics? 09.03.2026 1:43

Robert Emery explains how conductors show dynamics without saying a word. 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...

Day 29: How do you balance conductingn your family life with conducting on stage? 09.03.2026 1:08

Robert Emery shares how he balances family life with the demands of 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. Providing...

Day 28: How do you transport your baton? 08.03.2026 0:42

Robert Emery explains how conductors safely transport their 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...

Day 27: What do I carry with me in my conductor's pocket? 08.03.2026 0:51

Robert Emery reveals what he carries in his conductor’s pocket. 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 26: Has conducting made you change the way you listen to music? 02.03.2026 1:02

Robert Emery reflects on how conducting has changed the way he listens to music. 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 25: How do you hold a baton? 28.02.2026 1:32

Robert Emery explains the correct way to hold a baton and why it matters. 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...

Day 24: What do you do to get into the correct headspace? 28.02.2026 1:05

Robert Emery shares how he gets into the right headspace before a performance. 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 23: What are the beat patterns? 27.02.2026 2:25

Robert Emery explains what beat patterns are and why they’re so important. 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...

Day 22: What is one piece of advice that you would give to an aspiring conductor? 27.02.2026 1:10

Robert Emery offers one essential piece of advice for aspiring conductors. 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...

Day 21: Do you play any other instrument apart from piano? 27.02.2026 0:48

Robert Emery shares whether he plays instruments other than the piano. 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 ans...

Day 20: How much time do you have before a concert? 27.02.2026 0:53

Robert Emery reveals how much time a conductor really has to prepare before a concert. 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. Pr...

Day 19: How do you tune a piano? 27.02.2026 1:20

Robert Emery explains how a piano is tuned and why it takes so much precision. 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 18: What do you do if a violin string breaks in a concert? 27.02.2026 0:46

Robert Emery explains what happens if a violin string breaks during a concert. 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 17: Do you have a requirements, like a rider for your dressing room? 27.02.2026 0:53

Robert Emery reveals whether conductors have specific requirements or a dressing-room rider. 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 mus...

Day 16: Who chooses the music for a concert, and who chooses the order? 27.02.2026 0:46

Robert Emery explains who chooses the music for a concert and how the order is decided. 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...