Archive
IJMSTA - Vol. 8 - Issue 2 - July 2026
ISSN 2612-2146
Pages:
17
Artificial Intelligence for Orchestral Conducting and Rehearsal Management: Current Applications, Research Gaps, and Human-Centered Directions
Authors:
Simone Caparrucci, Agostino Marengo
Categories:
Journal
Abstract -
This structured critical review examines what artificial intelligence (AI) and related computational systems actually do in orchestral conducting and rehearsal, and what evidence supports their use. We distinguish virtual conductors that cue musicians, systems that infer or generate conducting gesture, responsive practice environments, machine listening and accompaniment, and tools that might support a human conductor's preparation or rehearsal decisions. The evidence ranges from small musician trials and conductor interviews to motion-generation benchmarks and an orchestra concert application; its tasks and outcome measures are not interchangeable. Virtual-conductor prototypes demonstrate limited cues and elementary rehearsal logic, while recent motion models are principally assessed for resemblance or beat alignment. A 2026 responsive virtual orchestra offers exploratory evidence about practice experience, but no demonstrated transfer to live-ensemble conducting. Research on professional rehearsal places score study, collaborative interpretation, communication and constrained time at the centre of the work. Accordingly, the most defensible near-term role for AI is bounded, inspectable support for preparation, navigation and reflective practice, with the conductor and musicians retaining artistic decisions. We identify the evaluations needed before stronger claims about rehearsal efficiency, learning and ensemble quality are justified.
Keywords:
Artificial intelligence, Orchestral conducting, Rehearsal management, Gesture analysis, Virtual conductor, Human-AI collaboration
Download paper
