Conducting Crash Course
Course Contents
PART I: BASIC CONDUCTORSHIP
1: Introduction to Conducting
- Brief History of Conducting
- Definition of a conductor
- Components of a good conductor
2: Components of Conducting Gestures
- Meter Patterns
- Right Vs. Left Hand
- Ambidexterity
- Cues
- Synchopation
- Other Significant Gestures
Course Contents
PART II: VOCAL PEDAGOGY 5: Singing Pathologies I
3: The Human Voice Physiology - Common Vocal Problems
- Parts of Vocal Production - Treatments
- Vocal Anatomy
6: Singing Pathologies II
4: Classifying the Voice - Common Section Vocal Problems
- Parts of an audition - Treatments
- Classifying sections
7: Vocal Exercises for Choir
- Formulation and Function
- Warm Up analyses
Course Contents
PART III: CHORAL LITERATURE
- General Styles
- Notable works
- Sample Conducting
8: Renaissance, Baroque
9: Classical, Romantic
10: Contemporary, Current trends and styles
11: Church (INC) Music
Course Contents
PART IV: REHEARSAL 14: Rehearsal Makeup
TECHNIQUES - Components of a choral
12: Score Analysis and rehearsal
Preparation I - Pacing
- Overall Marking - Evaluation of rehearsals
- Interpretation
- Anticipating Challenges 15: Choral Seating
- Acoustics of sections
13: Score Analysis and - Examples
Preparation II
- Application to chosen piece
16: Performance Analysis
Introduction to Conducting
Content
• Brief History of Conducting
• Definition of a Conductor
• Components of a good conductor
Brief History of Conducting
Brief History of Conducting
• Conducting per se — 19th Century
• Evidence of leadership in large musical groups
Title and Content Layout with Chart
Series 1 Series 2 Series 3
6
0
Category 1 Category 2 Category 3 Category 4
I Chronicles 16:5
• Asaph the chief, and second to him Zechariah, Jeiel, and
Shemiramoth, and Jehiel, and Mattithiah, and Eliab, and
Benaiah, and Obed-Edom, and Jeiel, with stringed instruments
and with harps; and Asaph with cymbals, sounding aloud;
Conductor in the Eighteenth Century
What is a Conductor?
Conductor by Definition
• a person who directs the performance of an orchestra or choir.
(Oxford)
• someone who directs the performance of musicians or
a piece of music: (Cambrige)
• a person who stands in front of people while they sing or play
musical instruments and directs their performance (Brittanica)
Requirements of a good
conductor
Requirements of a good conductor
• … must possess certain personal characteristics of leadership as
neatness and personality and be a competent, extemporary
verbalizer…
• …should be well rounded and exposed to, and interested in a variety
of nonmusical disciplines…
• …an intense commitment to people…
• …must be a competent educator…
• … must be thoroughly competent in the elements of basic
musicianship…
• … a thorough practical knowledge of vocal production and
pedagogy…
Training the choral conductor
1. The training of the choral specialist must emphasize a vocal
approach to choral conducting.
2. The training of the choral specialist must provide the best
musical education possible.
3. The training of the choral specialist must emphasize the
service dimension of choral performance.
4. The training of the choral specialist must include intensive
study in musical styles and their relationship to the
performance practices of all periods of music literature.
Training the choral conductor
5. The training of the choral specialist must provide varied
opportunities to learn repertoire as well as gain practical teaching
experience.
6. The training of the choral specialist must provide positive
stimulation for the nonmusical interests of the student
7. The training of the choral specialist must provide a learning
environment which will allow the young conductor to become
thoroughly familiar with both the aesthetic and historical
perspectives of the choral performance.
References
• The Choral Experience: Literature,
Materials, and Methods
• Ray Robinson, Allen Winold
