Foundations of Conducting Technique

A comprehensive beginning conducting text - complete with pictures, online videos, and supplemental conducting etudes - to facilitate the development of a clear and expressive conducting technique. This volume addresses three major areas for beginning conductors: gestural technique, score study, and leadership. For gestural technique, the text details a number of technical skills, including the appropriate use of the body, the roles of the right and left hand, basic conducting patterns and their derivatives, an application of Laban movement analysis, the importance of the conducting planes, and conducting with varied articulations (staccato, legato, and marcato), among others. In addressing score study, rather than advocating for one particular approach, this volume presents a number of possible score study methods for the student to explore. Finally, the text addresses how to be an effective and ethical leader from the podium. It also presents the transformational leadership model as a positive pathway for improving the conductor's effectiveness on and off the podium. Also included are music etudes to help students develop the technical skills of the conductor. A major contribution to conducting pedagogy and an extraordinary resource that distills the essence of effective conducting gesture.