Introduction to Conducting Techniques

Teaching Methodologies

– Individual work in regarding to reading of scores and gestuare coordination.

-Group work  in the realization of scores, their analysis, conducting, auditions, thecnical sessions and debates on interpretation.

– Score reading exercises diagonally, vertically, horizontally, with and without request for internal listening.

– Exercises in vocal technique, breathing, vocal positioning, vocal tract, passages, and timbre balance.

– Instrumental technique exercises.

 

Continuous evaluation:

Gesture technique/Pattern marking – 50%

Score reading – 20%

Warm-up/Tonality – 30%

Assessment by exam:

Exam – 100%

Learning Results

– Develop  gesture coordination, when applied to score reading.

– Develop techniques for reading scores and writing specifics.

– Acquire choral and orchestral conducting techniques.

– Develop stylistic and aesthetic analysis skills.

– Acquire specific knowledge of each instrument or voice, their families and performance in the orchestra or choir.

Program

– Motor and gesture coordination. Techniques and performance.

– Gesture coordination and manual unfolding, with metronomic and expression marking.

– Polyphonic conducting including entries, “Arsis”, “Thesis”, dynamics, agogical, breaths, attacks, “fermatas”, suspensions, musical speech, style and aesthetic assuptions.

– Gesture technique:

       Patterns (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 12) symmetrical and asymmetrical;

       Inputs and endings;

       Time and counter-time.

– The coral warm-up.

– Reading and analysis of 4-voice choral scores:

        Harmonic reduction;

        Sing one voice and play another voice on the piano.

– Reading and analysis of string quartet scores.

– Reading and analysis of scores for orchestra:

        Reading the lines of transposing instruments.

Grading Methods

Continuous evaluation
  • - Gesture technique / Pattern making - 50.0%
  • - Score reading - 20.0%
  • - Warm-up / Tonatility - 30.0%
Exam
  • - Exam - 100.0%

Internship(s)

NAO

Bibliography

Beck, A. (2013). Vocalize! Alfred Music Publishing.

Brinegar, D. (2020). Conducting primer: Seven principles of choral conducting. Goshpa publications.

Heizmann, K. (2003). Vocal warm-ups: 200 exercises for chorus and solo singers. Schott Music.

Kemp, M. (2005). Innovative warm-Ups for the volunteer choir: Creative concepts to improve choral sound. GIA Publications.

Labuta, J., & Mattews, W. (2018). Basic conducting thecniques (7th ed.). Routledge.

Robinson, R., & Althouse, J. (1995). The complete choral warm-up book: A sourcebook for choral directors. Alfred Music.

Willetts, S. (2000). Beyond the downbeat: Choral rehearsal skills and techniques. Abingdon Press.