Why does an orchestra conductor always hold that little stick?

Answer 1

Actually, the directors baton is used as a focal point for the musicians and to clarify the nuances of the beat including tempo, volume and style.

The choice to use a baton or not is purely personal. I know directors who use a stick for one style of music and use just the hands for another style.

Answer 2

Not all conductors hold a baton. Some use their hands, preferring to 'sculpt' to music.
Notice how the baton is always white? This is so it's easily visible in a dimmed concert hall to even the percussionists standing at the back of the orchestra with bunches of metal instruments reflecting all around them.
In this way, a flicking baton would be much more precise than waving hands but a good conductor can use either to good effect.

Answer 3

The conductor's baton is used for timing. It is supposed to show accelerations and decelerations. How it does it better than hands I don't know, maybe the conductor want an instrument too.

Answer 4

It looks better than waving his hands all around; not all of them use the stick. They used to beat the orchestra people with the stick.

Answer 5

To throw at someone who is off key!

Answer 6

tradition?