What I Have Learned • Conducting gestures guide the performance of a musical group. The purpose of conducting is to keep the whole orchestra, choir, and band coordinated, so that all the participating musicians will start and stop at the right time through the cue of the conductor. e In conducting, the first beat of every measure is the down beat. 2 The counting pattern for time signature is 1, 2. 4. 3 • The counting pattern for time signature is 1, 2, 3. 4 4 The counting pattern for time signature is 1, 2, 3, 4. 4​