Likewise, the vast majority of orchestral music is not done to a regular tick. The phrasing can be very different between different conductors, as they all spee

Likewise, the vast majority of orchestral music is not done to a regular tick. The phrasing can be very different between different conductors, as they all speed up / slow down / etc. to the conductor's individual interpretation of the piece. So the conductor is also a visual time keeper.