KUTZTOWN UNIVERSITY

KUTZTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA

DEPARTMENT OF MUSIC

COLLEGE OF VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS

MUS 326 Advanced Conducting

Approved by Department: Oct. 6, 2009

I. Course Description

This course is a study of advanced techniques of conducting vocal and/or instrumental music

through lecture, demonstration, reading, discussion, and recitation. The primary focus of this

course is on developing effective and efficient rehearsal methods and techniques.

Prerequisites: MUS 325 Conducting. 3 Clock hours

3 Semester hours

II. Course Rationale

All music majors are required to successfully complete one semester of Conducting which is a

beginning course in developing the basic manual techniques of Conducting. The next step

toward becoming a conductor is to concentrate on developing effective and efficient rehearsal

methods in order to successfully get musicians to best perform the music. This course will fulfill

that need. Students will meet in a seminar session to discuss issues related to rehearsal methods

and advanced conducting techniques. Students may meet additionally with the instructor in

private conducting lessons. Students will rehearse and conduct Kutztown University music

ensembles, as assigned.

III. Course Objectives

Upon completion of this course the student will be able to:

1. demonstrate an understanding and manual facility of advanced techniques of conducting.

2. demonstrate an understanding of the elements of musicianship which are idiosyncratic to

producing the best musical sound from specific ensembles: band, orchestra, or choir.

3. demonstrate the development of a conducting style which is conducive to evoking the best

musical sound from the various types of ensembles: band, orchestra, or choir.

4. demonstrate the ability to study the score and “internalize” it as an aural vision of sound.

5. demonstrate the ability to teach the score in effective and efficient rehearsal. The student will

conduct specific pieces of music with university ensembles, as assigned.

IV. Assessment

Assessment of each student’s level of accomplishment with reference to the course objectives

will be based upon a subset of the following:

1. regular recitation.

2. written analysis of assigned music scores, including a conductor’s preparation of the score,

with suggested rehearsal planning.

3. observation of rehearsals, choral, band, or orchestral, with written critique on the procedures

and rehearsal techniques involved.

4. demonstration of rehearsal techniques through conducting rehearsals of university choral,

orchestral, or band ensembles, as assigned.

V. Course Outline

1. Score Study and Preparation

a. Mechanics of the Full Score: Orchestra, Band, and/or Choir

b. Clefs and Transpositions

c. Special Considerations of the Instruments and Voices

d. Marking the Conductor’s Score

2. Conductor’s Analysis

a. Historical Background

b. Style Considerations

c. Authenticity Considerations

d. Interpretation of the music

3. Advanced Baton Technique

a. Traits of the Conductor

b. Expressive Conducting Technique: Choir, Orchestra, and Band

3. Effective Rehearsal Methods

a. Production of Tone

b. The Temporal Element

c. Pitch Considerations

d. Dynamics

e. Ensemble Issues: Blend, Balance, Articulation

f. Planning and Directing the Rehearsal

VI. Instructional Resources:

Bailey, Wayne. Conducting: The Art of Communication. New York: Oxford University Press.

2008.

Bailey, Wayne, Aural Skills for Conductors. Mountain View, Calif.: Mayfield Publishing

Company, 1992.

Bamberger, Carl, ed., The Conductor’s Art. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1965.

Battisti, Frank. On Becoming a Conductor: Lessons and Meditations on the Art of Conducting.

Galesville, MD: Meredith Music Publications, 2007.

Boonshaft, Peter, Loel. Teaching Music with Passion: Conducting, Rehearsing and Inspiring.

Galesville, MD: Meredith Music Publications, 2002.

Bowen, Jose Antonio, The Cambridge Companion to Conducting. Cambridge: Cambridge

University Press, 2003

Carse, Adam von Ahn, Orchestral Conducting; A Textbook for Students and Amateurs.

Greenwood Publishing Group, 1929.

Decker, Harold A., and Julius Herford. Choral Conducting Symposium. Prentice-Hall, 1987.

Decker, Harold A., and Colleen J. Kirk, Choral Conducting: Focus on Communication. Upper

Saddle River, N.J.: Prentice Hall, 1988.

Demaree, Robert W., and Donald V. Moses, The Complete Conductor. Prentice-Hall, 1994.

Der Mar, Norman, Anatomy of the Orchestra. Berkeley and Los Angeles: University of

California Press, 1983.

Dickreiter, Michael. Score Reading: A Key to the Music Experience. Portland, OR: Amadeus

Press, 2000.

Emmons, Shirlee, and Constance Chase. Prescriptions for Choral Excellence. New York:

Oxford University Press, 2006.

Garnett, Liz. Choral Conducting and the Construction of Meaning. Burlington, VT: Ashgate,

2009.

Garretson, Robert L., Conducting Choral Music, 8th

ed. Prentice-Hall, 1998.

Gehrkens, Karl Wilson. Essentials in Conducting. Valde Books, 2009.

Green, Elizabeth A. H., and Nicolai Malko, The Conductor’s Score, 7th

ed.. Upper Saddle River,

N.J.: Prentice Hall, 2004.

Grosbayne, Benjamin, Techniques of Modern Orchestral Conducting, 2nd ed. Cambridge,

Mass.: Harvard University Press, 1973.

Harris, Frederick. Conducting with Feeling. Galesville, MD: Meredith Music Publications,

2001.

Heffernan, Charles W., Choral Music: Technique and Artistry. Upper Saddle River, N.J.:

Prentice Hall, 1982.

Holden, Raymond. The Virtuoso Conductors: The Central European Tradition from Wagner to

Karajan. Yale University Press. 2005.

Hunsberger, Donald, and Roy Ernst. The Art of Conducting. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1992

Kahn, Emil, Elements of Conducting, 2nd ed. New York: Schirmer Books, 1975.

Knight, John W. The Golden Age of Conductors. Galesville, MD: Meredith Music

Publications, 2010.

Knight, John W. The Interpretive Wind Band Conductor. Galesville, MD: Meredith Music

Publications, 2007.

Kohut, Daniel L. Learning to Conduct and Rehearse. Prentice-Hall, 1990.

Labuta, Joseph A. Basic Conducting Techniques 6th ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson

Prentice Hall, 2009.

Labuta, Joseph A., Teaching Musicianship in the High School Band. Ft. Lauderdale, Fl.:

Meredith Music Publications, 1997.

Lamb, Gordon, H., Choral Techniques, 3rd ed. Dubuque, Iowa: Wm. C. Brown Publishers,

1988.

Lisk, Edward S. The Creative Director: Conductor, Teacher, Leader. Galesville, MD:

Meredith Music Publications, 2007.

Long, R. Gerry. The Conductor's Workshop: A Workbook on Instrumental Conducting.

Dubuque, Iowa: Wm. C. Brown Publishers, 1977.

Maiello, Anthony. Conducting—A Hands-On Approach. NP: Belwin-Mills, 1996.

McElheran, Brock, Conducting Technique, 2nd ed. New York: Oxford University Press, 1989.

Moe, Daniel. Basic Choral Concepts. Minneapolis: Augsburg Publishing House, 1972.

Moe, Daniel. Problems in Conducting. Minneapolis: Augsburg Publishing House, 1973.

Moses. Don V. Face to Face with Orchestra and Chorus. Bloomington, IN: Indiana University

Press, 2004.

Nowak, Jerry, and Henry Nowak. Conducting the Music, Not the Musicians. New York: Carl

Fischer, 2002.

Phillips, Kenneth H. Basic Techniques of Conducting. New York: Oxford University Press,

1997.

Scherchen, Hermann, and M. D. Calvocoressi, and Norman Del Mar. Handbook of Conducting.

New York: Oxford University Press, 2007.

Schuller, Gunther. The Compleat Conductor. New York: Oxford University Press, 1997.

Sharpe, Roderick L. Maestros in America: Conductors in the 21st Century. Scarecrow Press,

2008.

Shepherd, William. A Conducting Workbook. New York: Schirmer, 2001.

Wagner, Richard. On Conducting. NP: Hard Press, 2006.

Watkins, John J. The Art of the Conductor: The Definitive Guide to Music Conducting Skills,

Terms, and Techniques. Lincoln, NE: iUniverse, 2007.

Wittry, Diane. Beyond the Baton. New York: Oxford University Press, 2007.