Some conductors think they’re mutually exclusive.
But they’re not. The best conductors find ways to express high expectations for their students and give them the tools to reach them while giving them grace for when they fall short along the way. We all fall short, and we all deserve grace; students especially, as they develop not just musical skills but also organizational, interpersonal, and emotional skills.
Grace without high expectations leads to a musically unfulfilling experience.
High expectations without grace leads to an emotionally trying experience.
And without the tools, neither grace nor high expectations will be worthwhile.